June 11, 2024: After the 2024 season opener in Vallelunga, the Alfa Revival Cup moved to the Red Bull Ring, bringing 25 Alfa Romeos to the Austrian circuit. An exciting and eventful race saw the Petrone-Barri duo from the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team secure pole position and their first victory with the GTAm after a strong comeback in the final stages. Daniele Perfetti from the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team and Davide Bertinelli also achieved brilliant podium finishes. The fastest lap was set by the Ben-Babini duo from Scuderia Clemente Biondetti.
The one-hour race started on Sunday, June 9 at 1:15 PM under a grey sky but with no promise of rain. At the green light, Daniele Perfetti, starting from the second row, took the lead, followed by Petrone, who will leave the wheel to Barri during driver’s change window, and Davide Bertinelli. On lap two, Petrone moved into second place, but the GTAm spun at turn 1 (dedicated to “Niki Lauda”), losing four positions and restarting behind Caponi-Sabatini from Jolly Car Squadra Corse. At the start of lap seven, Bertinelli, now in second place, decisively overtook Perfetti to take the lead.
Perfetti didn’t give up and seized his opportunity when Bertinelli lost control on lap nine at turn 10, spinning and restarting immediately. But Perfetti was now back in the lead. Moments later, an incident impacted the race: the number 100 GTAm of Mathias and Fabian Körber from the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team, which had been in the lead positions until that moment, went off at turn 6, ending up in the gravel. The yellow flag was raised, and the Safety Car remained on track for five laps.
At the green flag, the field was bunched up again, allowing the Körber’s Giulia sprint GTA to rejoin the race, with Stefano Roversi from Scuderia Bologna Corse, who had been third for a long time, taking the lead. Behind him were Caponi-Sabatini, followed by Bortolami-Ondrak from the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team and Daniele Perfetti. Everything had to be redone. In the final part of the race, the leading group lost the Raimondi-Barbolini Cionini duo from the Circolo della Biella team, forced to pit due to a fault that was later resolved. An intense finish: Petrone-Barri were now just two seconds behind Daniele Perfetti. On lap 25, they made the pass: Barri took first place. Bertinelli was third.
After 31 laps, the checkered flag at the Red Bull Ring crowned Petrone and Barri, who took home pole position and victory, their first behind the wheel of the GTAm. Daniele Perfetti finished second, and Davide Bertinelli was third. Finishing fifth, behind Laber-Stojetz from the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team, was the Ben-Babini duo, who set the fastest lap with a time of 1:51.208.
As for the classes, the winners were as follows:
- F TC 1600: Francesco Pantaleo – Antonio Crescenti, Carrera Team, Giulia Sprint GTA;
- G1 TC 1600: Christian Bonnet, Scuderia del Grifone, Giulia Sprint GT;
- G2 TC 2000: Emilio Petrone – Giacomo Barri, OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team, GTAm;
- H1 T 2000: Fausto Amendolagine, Capannone Garage, GT Veloce 2000;
- H1 TC 1600: Marco Milla, Capannone Garage, Giulia Super
- I GR.5 1600: Marco Guerra – Emanuele Benedini, Carrera Team, Giulia Sprint GTA.
A weekend of pure motorsport, which also saw the debut in the 2024 Alfa Revival Cup of two drivers: the German Stephan Rollwagen in the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce of OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team and Dario Domenichini alongside Luca Demarchi, driver of the Ferrari Challengein. The Round 2 has been hosted in a top-level facility and crowned by a lively celebration on the podium. The Alfa Revival Cup is appreciated for its family atmosphere and its competitive yet fair and relaxed spirit. This was all made possible once again by the organization of Canossa Events. We look forward to seeing you in Magione (PG) on July 27 and 28 for Round 3.
