September 16, 2024: The 2024 Alfa Revival Cup reached its exciting halfway point during a sunny weekend at Vallelunga. The win and fastest lap of Round 4 came in the final laps, secured by the duo of Emilio Petrone and Giacomo Barri of the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team in their GTAm, delivering a performance to remember.
In Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session, Giacomo Barri, racing with Emilio Petrone, set the fastest lap time, but their GTAm #50 was penalized, relegating them to the back of the grid. As a result, pole position went to the second-fastest time, recorded by Niccolò Mercatali and his co-driver Walter Ben from the Scuderia Clemente Biondetti.
The one-hour race began with a strong start from Davide Bertinelli, who moved from second to first place at the Curvone. Bernhard Laber, partnered with Lukas Stojetz in the GTAm for the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team, advanced from third to second, while Ambrogio Perfetti moved up from fifth to third. Starting from the back, Emilio Petrone immediately gained four positions and was already up to 11th by the end of the first lap. The battle in the H1 T 2000 class was immediately intense, with several position changes among the GT Veloce 2000 cars of Fausto Amendolagine and Gianluca Bardelli (Scuderia Capannone Garage), Carlo Fabbrini, Edoardo Acciai and Fabio Gimignani (Scuderia Clemente Biondetti). Giulio Sordi, driving alongside Mattia Sordi for the OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team, also had a strong start, gaining two places from 25th to 23rd.
Raffaele Raimondi, teamed up with Carlo Barbolini Cionini in the GTAm for Circolo della Biella, held onto fourth place. Petrone’s charge continued, and by lap 5, he had moved up to ninth. On lap 7, Ambrogio Perfetti overtook Laber-Stojetz for second place. Meanwhile, Massimo Guerra and Giovanni Serio of the Carrera Team found themselves mid-pack, posting strong times in their Giulia Sprint GTA.
When the pit window opened after 20 minutes, it shook up the order. Walter Ben handed over to Niccolò Mercatali, who began a charge from 14th place, battling other GTAm cars. Two minutes after the window opened, Petrone, now in eighth place, swapped seats with Giacomo Barri. At this stage, Francesco Pantaleo and Antonio Crescenti of the Carrera Team were in 13th place, while Stefano Barbieri and Kevin Giovesi from AMG RS were in 19th.
By lap 19, Barri was third, closing in on Ambrogio Perfetti, while Bertinelli continued to lead the race. Peter Praller, driving the Giulia Sprint GTA for the Formula GT team, retired due to a mechanical failure. On lap 20, Barri overtook Perfetti at the Semaforo corner to move into second. After a brief battle, Barri emerged ahead. Marco Guerra and Emanuele Benedini of the Carrera Team secured seventh place, which they held until the end. Meanwhile, Mercatali’s comeback brought him to ninth place, and Caponi advanced to sixth during one of the race’s most intense moments. On lap 21, Carlo Fabbrini’s GT Veloce 2000 #60 (Scuderia Clemente Biondetti) went off at the Semaforo corner, ending up in the gravel, prompting the Safety Car to come out.
The Safety Car pulled in with about eight minutes left. At the restart, Bertinelli remained in the lead. Mercatali continued his push, reaching fifth place, which he held to the finish. On lap 26, Barri set the fastest lap and closed in on Bertinelli. At the next corner, Barri attacked at the Tornantino and, after a fierce battle, took the lead. Meanwhile, there was contact between Stojetz, who had taken over from Laber and Perfetti, but Perfetti was still able to hold on to third place. After 29 laps, Barri and Petrone crossed the finish line first, completing a stunning comeback from last place. Bertinelli finished second, just two-tenths behind, while Perfetti took third.
Emilio Petrone commented: “I’m thrilled with the race. I went from P26 to P11 by the end of the first lap. It was a great performance after a tough penalty at the start, which only motivated us to focus even more on the details. Despite the competition, we managed to win in the final moments. I had a strong start and didn’t want to jeopardize Giacomo’s race. When he came in, he was as fast as ever. The car was perfect thanks to the work of Roberto Restelli and Fabrizio Fantin, our mechanic from OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team.”
Giacomo Barri added: “It was an all-out race and we pushed from start to finish. Most of the credit goes to Emilio, who made up so many places and handed me the car in eighth. I just had to step on the gas. The Safety Car helped, but we lost five valuable seconds due to a backmarker. Thanks to Emilio and the team.”
The next event will be in Mugello Circuit: Round 5 will take place from October 11 to 13, 2024. The Alfa Revival Cup is appreciated for its friendly atmosphere, and its competitive yet relaxed and fair spirit. All this is made possible once again by the excellent organization of Canossa Events.
Race podiums by class:
F TC 1600
1st: Francesco Pantaleo – Antonio Crescenti, Carrera Team, Giulia Sprint GTA
2nd: Giovanni Serio – Massimo Guerra, Carrera Team, Giulia Sprint GTA
G1 GR.5 1600
1st: Jürgen Ludwig, Formula GT, Giulia Sprint GTA
G2 TC 2000
1st: Emilio Petrone – Giacomo Barri, GTAm, OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team
2nd: Davide Bertinelli, GTAm, Team Gatti
3rd: Ambrogio Perfetti, GTAm, OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team
H1 T 2000
1st: Fabio Gimignani, GT Veloce 2000, Scuderia Clemente Biondetti
2nd: Fausto Amendolagine – Gianluca Bardelli, GT Veloce 2000, Scuderia Capannone Garage
3rd: Edoardo Acciai, GT Veloce 2000, Scuderia Clemente Biondetti
H1 TC 1600
1st: Marco Milla – Massimo Lupoli, Giulia Super, Scuderia Capannone Garage
H2 TC 1600
1st: Mattia Sordi – Giulio Sordi, Giulia Super, OKP Alfa Delta Racing Team
I TC 2500
1st: Francesco Liberatore – Marco Pescosolido, Alfetta GT 6 2500, Scuderia del Grifone
I GR. 5 1600
1st: Julio Diaz Magallanes, GT Junior 1.6, Scuderia Capannone Garage
