From eighth on the grid, Felice Jelmini (PMA Motorsport) won a thrilling race one at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. With the win ahead of new Clio Cup Europe leader Anthony Jurado (Milan Compétition) and poleman David Pouget (GPA Racing), the Italian takes the lead in Clio Cup Italia. At the same time, Serbian Nikola Miljkovic (Tempo Racing Team) and Italian Alex Lancellotti (Faro Racing) won respectively the Challengers and Gentlemen Drivers categories. The 23rd race of 2022 also saw Juuso Panttila (Carpek Service) clinch the Challengers Cup title in the Clio Cup Eastern Europe to become the first driver to be crowned this year !

As soon as the Clio Cup returned to the track on Friday morning, Italian Felice Jelmini dominated the two collective tests, but qualifying provided a completely different hierarchy. The session was marked by a red flag caused by Stephan Polderman (Chefo Sport). David Pouget won the pole ahead of Jerzy Spinkiewicz (Uniq Racing) and Anthony Jurado. Mattia Lancellotti (Faro Racing) and Nicolas Milan (Milan Compétition) completed the top five while Gabrielle Torelli (Faro Racing) lost his eighth place and all his times as his tank didn’t have the minimum quantity of fuel required for the technical scrutineering.

Although David Pouget held onto the lead at the start, the running order changed after the first braking point as Adrian Schimpf (Cotauto Motorsport) and Mattia Lancellotti collided, leading to another collision between Jerzy Spinkiewicz and Nicolas Milan. Anthony Jurado took advantage to claim second place ahead of Felice Jelmini, who made up five positions in the first chicane.

While the leading trio quickly escaped, the fight was raging in the chase group. Nicolas Milan resisted Juuso Panttila before being attacked by Nikola Miljkovic, despite a big scare for the Serbian at the outset of lap two. The tension increased at each corner as Styve Juif (GM Sport), Cristian Ricciarini (Essecorse), Gabriele Trebbi (MC Motortecnica) and Marc Guillot (Milan Compétition) also joined this group while the battles multiplied throughout the field.

On lap three, Anthony Jurado launched his first attack on David Pouget at the Parabolica, but the duel between the two French drivers worked to the advantage of Felice Jelmini. Once in the lead, the Italian had to defend against his two rivals lurking in his wake to take advantage of his slipstream, but he had a respite when Anthony Jurado went wide two laps later. David Pouget then tried to pressure Felice Jelmini. The Italian remained in control until the safety car intervened to allow for the removal of the damaged Clio Cup of Horn (GPA Racing).

The race resumed for a final lap sprint to the chequered flag. Felice Jelmini kept the lead over David Pouget, who locked a wheel under braking at the first chicane. Styve Juif tried his luck, but the Clio Trophy France Asphalte competitor eventually tucked in behind Anthony Jurado. Back in contact with Anthony Jurado, David Pouget made an excursion into the gravel between the two Lesmo’s before a breath-taking end to the race marked by the collision between Lin Chen Han (Uniq Racing) and Juuso Panttila in the pack.

Felice Jelmini remained composed despite the incidents in his rear-view mirrors to go on for the win ahead of Anthony Jurado and David Pouget. Gabriele Torelli drove a superb race with the fastest lap to finish fourth, followed by Styve Juif and Challengers Cup winner Nikola Miljkovic. Marc Guillot, Tomas Pekar (Carpek Service), Cristian Ricciarini and Andreas Stucki (Stucki Motorsport) completed the top ten at the end of an intense battle. Local driver Alex Lancellotti was 15th overall and first in the Gentlemen Drivers category.

CLIO CUP EUROPE

Victor of his duel with David Pouget, Anthony Jurado scored a large tally of points with his seventh success this season, allowing him to take the Clio Cup Europe lead from Nicolas Milan, seventh today. David Pouget and Nikola Miljkovic rounded out the podium. The Serbian also won in the Challengers Cup ahead of Cristian Ricciarini and Jacopo Giuseppe Cimenes (Essecorse) to keep the suspense alive against the leader Jerzy Spinkiewicz, who retired. In the Gentlemen Drivers Cup, René Steenmetz took advantage of the misadventures of his main rivals to get back into the title race, winning ahead of Michel Faye (GM Sport) and Daniele Pasquali (Tuder Motorsport).

CLIO CUP EASTERN EUROPE

Anthony Jurado also won the Clio Cup Eastern Europe, where he will challenge leader Marc Guillot for the crown on Sunday. Tomas Pekar, who is now no longer in contention for the title, completed the podium. Juuso Panttila sealed the Challengers Cup title with his ninth victory in 11 races this year ahead of Lin Chen Han (Uniq Racing) and Henrik Seibel (Carpek Service). Meanwhile, René Steenmetz took advantage of the problems of his teammate Stephan Polderman, who did not start due to a technical issue, to win the Gentlemen Drivers Cup and thus finds himself in an ideal position to be crowned in this category tomorrow !

CLIO CUP ITALIA

Felice Jelmini’s overall victory is also a win in Clio Cup Italia, where he now takes a two-point lead over Gabriele Torelli (Faro Racing), who made a superb comeback from the back of the grid. Third, Cristian Ricciarini won the Challengers Cup ahead of his closest rival Giacomo Trebbi, and Gianalberto Coldani (MC Motortecnica). Alex Lancellotti made a remarkable return by dominating the Gentlemen Drivers Cup ahead of Due (Oregon Team) and Andrea Cordini (Oregon Team), while Quinto Stefana (Oregon Team) took another step towards the title with his sixth-place result in the class.

Collective tests 1 - Collective tests 2 - Qualifying 1 - Starting grid - Race 1 - Clio Cup Europe - Clio Cup Eastern Europe - Clio Cup Italia

The Clio Cup Series drivers will be back in action Sunday morning at 8:30 for qualifying session two. Race 24 of the season, to be streamed live on the Renault Clio Series Facebook page and YouTube channel, will start at 1:40 in the afternoon.

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