Starting from P2, just behind pole-sitter Diego Alessi, Cerrai held second place until lap 14 when he eased into the lead and increased his advantage lap after lap.

The safety car was called onto the track in lap four, after Brazilian Beto Richa went off at the Ascari curve. The group compacted once more, with Alessi in the lead. During the following lap, Nicolò Oddi overshot turn one and ran into Moz Fabris’s car first then into Alberto Radaelli's. Oddi, who races with Matteo Cambi, owner of Italian fashion label Guru, was forced to retire while Fabris continued to finish the race and Radaelli managed to keep going until the 17th turn, before his damaged car finally gave in.

Luigi Moccia and Stefania Grassetto finished a great seventh in the Toora VIP car. They were beaten by Alberto Pizzicannella (fifth) and Alberto Vescovi (sixth). The third VIP car, bearing Audemars Piguet colours, finished 15th with former WRC driver Jean Claude Andruet and Philippe Liechti on board.

The other UK driver, Phil Burgan, at his debut in the Maserati Trofeo series, finished a respectable 11th.

The next round of the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa will take place at Silverstone (UK) on 7th May 2006. The event will support the FIA GT International Championship.

Final standings:

1. Cerrai 23 laps in 51'38"907
2. Fabris + 23"294
3. Villa + 31"154
4. De Megni + 31"592
5. Pizzicannella + 33"806

Drivers’ classification:

1. Cerrai 25 points
2. Fabris 20
3. Villa 16
4. De Megni 13
5. Pizzicannella 11

Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa – Race 2006 Calendar

1.  2 April Monza (I) - WTCC
2.  7 May Silverstone (UK) - FIA GT
3. 28 May Brno (CZ) - FIA GT
4.  2 July Oschersleben (D) - FIA GT
5. 29 July Spa (BE) - FIA GT (24h)
6. 17 September Mugello (I) - FIA GT
7.   8 October Valencia (E) - WTCC

About the Maserati Trofeo GranSport

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