Italian seven -time world Formula I champion, Gudio Cappellini notched up his 48th career win after pummeling the rest of the fleet at the Italian Grand Prix on Lake Como
Italian seven -time world Formula I champion, Gudio Cappellini notched up his 48th career win after pummeling the rest of the fleet at the Italian Grand Prix on Lake Como.
Although Cappellini led at the start defending champion Scott Gillman of the United States soon took control passing the Italian at the first turning mark before moving ahead setting a lap speed of a 59.75 seconds.
The pattern of the race changed dramatically on the 17th lap when Gillman hit a rouge wave from craft traveling farther up on the lake, fell in a hole and barrel-rolled ending his afternoon and giving the race back to Cappellini.
“We did our best and picked the right propeller and had the field covered, said the American. “We hit a large wave and I almost saved it, but at such a high speed it was impossible and the next thing I knew I was upside down.”
Cappellini had a perfect restart and went on to win by more than 15 seconds.
While Cappellini was cruising; a wild battle for second place was narrowing every lap. Sami Selio, who started fourth diced with Frenchman Philippe Dessertenne for second place until the Ligier Sports sponsored driver ran into problems with his boat in the last ten laps finally retiring on the 35th lap.
Englishman Andy Elliott had the ride of his life moving up from 13th to finish third and take a place on the podium for the first time since 1991.
Italian Francesco Cantando finished fourth with Saudi driver Laith Pharaon fifth.
Fabio Comparato was sixth in a close race that separated second from sixth by little more than eight seconds.
The race ended three laps early when Australian Bob Trask hit a large buoy in the inner harbor forcing the race to be stopped on the 42nd of 45 programmed laps.
The 2005 U.I.M. F1 race season now heads east and leaves its European schedule with Cappellini now holding a two win championship points lead.
