NASCAR GP Of Italy – PRACTICE: Kumpen And Rabello Lead The Field

Anthony Kumpen (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) posted the fastest lap time of the the day on Friday at the Autodromo di Franciacorta in the two practice sessions that opened the Semi Finals weekend in Italy. Brazilian Rookie Felipe Rabello (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) topped the charts in ELITE 2 Division.

Kumpen clocked a 1’14.470 lap around the 2.5 Km track in the final practice session, distancing points leader Borja Garcia (#7 Racers Motorsport Ford Mustang) by .116 seconds in a tight battle for the lead. Alon Day (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), who was fastest in the first session and showed an impressive potential but got his best lap of the afternoon canceled due to a yellow flag infraction was third, two tenths behind the leader.

Gianmarco Ercoli (#9 Racers Motorsport Ford Mustang) and Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) rounded out the top-5 with the Italian leading the Junior Trophy. Frederic Gabillon (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang), Freddy Nordstrom (#44 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS), Lucas Lasserre (#33 Mishumotors Chevrolet SS), Marc Goossens (#90 Braxx Racing Ford Mustang) and Christophe Bouchut completed the top-10.

In what was his first day at the wheel of a NASCAR Whelen Euro Series car, motorsport icon Nicola Larini posted the 16th fastest time on the #1 Alex Caffi Motorsport Ford Mustang.

Fabrizio Armetta (#41 The Club Motorsport Ford Mustang) led the Challenger Trophy in 13th place.

It was Felipe Rabello (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) who took the lead in the ELITE 2 Division, by lapping around the Autodromo di Franciacorta in 1’15.761 in the first practice session. The Brazilian bested by .123 seconds Final Practice leader Guillaume Dumarey (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS). The two rookies were the only drivers to lap below the 1’16 mark.

Justin Kunz (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) was third in 1’16.312, just ahead of points leader Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) and Nicki Petersen (#33 Mishumotors Chevrolet SS).

Ulysse Delsaux (#3 RDV Compétition Ford Mustang), debutant Denny Zardo (#2 Alex Caffi Motorsport Toyota Camry), Claudio Giudice (#4 Scuderia Giudici Ford Mustang), Roberto Benedetti (#41 The Club Motorsport Ford Mustang), who led the Legend Trophy and Paul Guiod (#73 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) completed the top-10.

Carmen Boix Gil (#1 Alex Caffi Motorsport Ford Mustang) was fastest in the Lady Cup.

Qualifying for the NASCAR GP Of Italy will be up on Saturday at 10:00 and all the sessions will be streamed live on Fanschoice.tv and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series Facebook page.

Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard