1996 Italian Superturismo Championship

The 1996 Italian Superturismo Championship was the tenth edition of the Italian Superturismo Championship. The season began in Mugello on 14 April and finished in Vallelunga on 6 October, after ten rounds.

The season started with an unexpected double victory of Giovanardi in a semi-official Alfa Romeo. In the following 3 rounds, due to slow tracks and bad weather condition in Monza, Capello and his Audi were able to score 6 wins in a row.

In order to avoid a strong dominance like in 1995, it was decided from the 4th round in Binetto to penalise Audi with 30kg extra bringing the weight from 1040kg to 1070kg. Thanks to this decision and together with the car developments, BMW emerged as dominant car winning 11 races (6 Cecotto and 5 Naspetti) on 12 until the end of the season. Only in race 1 in Imola, Capello was able thanks to his talent to achieve a victory with his heavier Audi.

In the last round in Vallelunga, BMW decided to add 3 more cars for Ravaglia, Winkelhock and Soper while Audi (finally come back to the original weight at 1040kg) added 2 more cars for the new German champion Pirro and his team mate Peter but although a starting grid nearly close to the FIA World Touring Car Cup, none of those drivers was able to help the 3 contended. BMW scored once again a double victory with Cecotto, but Capello thanks to a second and a third place was able to win the title. Naspetti after a race 1 finished only 6th due to a wrong tyre choice, tried his best to catch up Capello in race 2 but after a collision with Muller (Audi), he was penalized with a stop and go giving automatically the title to Capello.

Rinaldo Capello was the new Italian champion after the 2 titles in a row of Pirro, while BMW thanks to the 11 victories against 7 of Audi and 2 of Alfa Romeo was the constructors' champion.

Roberto Colciago was instead the privateers' champion with his Alfa Romeo.

Teams and drivers[edit]

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Class
Italy Audi Sport Italia Audi A4 Quattro 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello All
2 France Yvan Muller All
Italy Nordauto Engineering Alfa Romeo 155 TS 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi All
4 Italy Gordon de Adamich 2-10
Italy CiBiEmme Engineering BMW 320i 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto All
6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti 1-8, 10
BMW 318iS 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer 1-6
BMW 320i Italy Gianni Morbidelli 7-8, 10
Italy Audi Sport Italia Audi A4 Quattro 8 Germany Frank Biela 9
France A.Z.K./ROC Audi A4 Quattro 9 Austria Philipp Peter 10
11 Italy Emanuele Pirro 10
Italy Scuderia Bigazzi BMW 320i 12 Italy Roberto Ravaglia 10
14 United Kingdom Steve Soper 10
15 Germany Joachim Winkelhock 10
Italy Motortrend Peugeot 405 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto 1-6, 9 P
52 Italy Giambattista Busi 1, 5-6 P
53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato 1-6, 8 P
54 Italy Luigi Moccia 1 P
Italy Alessandro Belloni 3 P
Italy Giampaolo Vicarelli 4 P
Italy Gianluca de Lorenzi 5 P
Italy Marco Antonelli 9 P
Italy Massimiliano Blancardi 10 P
Italy Soli Racing Team Alfa Romeo 155 TS 55 Italy Moreno Soli All P
58 Italy Massimo Pigoli 6, 8-10 P
Switzerland Felipe Ortiz 6, 8-9 P
Italy EC Motorsport Alfa Romeo 155 TS 56 Italy Roberto Colciago 1-6, 9-10 P
Italy Tecnica Racing Team Alfa Romeo 155 TS 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi 3-10 P
58 Italy Massimo Pigoli 1-5 P
59 Italy Alessandro Gabrielli 1-3 P
Italy CiBiEmme Engineering BMW 320i 60 Italy Emanuele Naspetti 9
Italy Capannelle Racing Opel Vectra 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro 1-3, 5-6, 9-10 P
62 Italy Fabrizio Fede 10 P
Italy Varese Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi 1-6, 8-10 P
Italy Augusto Rossetti 5, 9 P
Italy Ciemme Corse Opel Vectra 64 Italy Marco Brand 1-3 P
Italy Varese Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 65 Italy Tarcisio Bernasconi 10 P
Italy Augusto Rossetti P
Italy Tecnica Racing Team Alfa Romeo 155 TS 66 Italy Gianluca Sansoni 6-10 P
Italy Falessi Racing Alfa Romeo 155 TS 67 Italy Lorenzo Falessi 5-6, 9-10 P
Czech Republic Bychl Euroracing BMW 318i 68 Czech Republic Miloš Tesar 5 P
Italy Erre Team BMW 318i 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi 3, 5-6, 8-10 P
Italy Stefano Gabellini 3, 5-6, 8 P
Italy Giampiero Pindari 9 P
Italy CiBiEmme Engineering BMW 320i 70 Italy Gianni Morbidelli 9
Serbia and Montenegro Optima Modica Beograd Alfa Romeo 155 TS 82 Serbia and Montenegro Milovan Vesnić 10 P
Germany Engstler Motorsport Alfa Romeo 155 TS 83 Germany Marco Bromberger 10 P
84 Germany Franz Engstler 10 P
Icon Class
P Private Drivers

Drivers changes[edit]

Changed Cars

Entering Superturismo 1996

Leaving Superturismo 1996

Race calendar and results[edit]

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team
1 R1 Italy Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello 14 April Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
2 R1 Italy Autodromo di Magione 21 April France Yvan Muller France Yvan Muller Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
R2 France Yvan Muller Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
3 R1 Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 12 May Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
R2 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
4 R1 Italy Autodromo del Levante 26 May Italy Rinaldo Capello France Yvan Muller Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
5 R1 Italy Circuito Internazionale Misano 7 June Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Emanuele Naspetti Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
6 R1 Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 21 July Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
R2 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
7 R1 Italy Autodromo di Pergusa 4 August Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
8 R1 Italy Autodromo di Pergusa 1 September Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
9 R1 Italy Autodromo Riccardo Paletti di Varano 15 September Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
10 R1 Italy ACI Vallelunga Circuit 6 October Italy Roberto Ravaglia United Kingdom Steve Soper Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Germany Joachim Winkelhock Venezuela Johnny Cecotto Italy CiBiEmme Engineering

Round 1 Italy Mugello[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.57.663 TQ Group 1
2 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.57.808 TQ Group 1
3 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.57.873 TQ Group 1
4 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.992 TQ Group 1
5 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.198 TQ Group 1
6 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 1.59.409 TQ Group 1
7 64 Italy Marco Brand Opel Vectra GT 2.01.399 TQ Group 1
8 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 2.01.691 TQ Group 1
9 52 Italy Gianbattista Busi Peugeot 405 2.01.534 TQ Group 2
10 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 2.05.145 TQ Group 2
11 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.940
12 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 2.03.345
13 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 2.03.522
14 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.756
15 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 2.05.069
16 59 Italy Alessandro Gabrielli Alfa Romeo 155 2.05.509
17 54 Italy Luigi Moccia Peugeot 405 2.08.271

Championship standings after Round 1[edit]

Round 2 Italy Magione[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.14.266 TQ Group 1
2 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.14.607 TQ Group 1
3 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.15.320 TQ Group 1
4 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.15.404 TQ Group 1
5 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.15.547 TQ Group 1
6 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 1.16.514 TQ Group 1
7 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 1.17.283 TQ Group 1
8 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 1.17.501 TQ Group 1
9 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 1.17.725 TQ Group 1
10 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 1.18.365 TQ Group 1
11 64 Italy Marco Brand Opel Vectra GT 1.18.636 TQ Group 2
12 59 Italy Alessandro Gabrielli Alfa Romeo 155 1.19.497 TQ Group 2
13 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.19.776 TQ Group 2
14 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 1.20.114 TQ Group 2
15 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.17.800
16 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 1.21.093

Championship standings after Round 2[edit]

Round 3 Italy Monza [edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.55.537 TQ Group 1
2 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.55.673 TQ Group 1
3 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.55.808 TQ Group 1
4 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.56.255 TQ Group 1
5 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.56.315 TQ Group 1
6 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.850 TQ Group 1
7 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 1.58.928 TQ Group 1
8 64 Italy Marco Brand Opel Vectra GT 1.59.552 TQ Group 1
9 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 318iS 2.02.395 TQ Group 2
Italy Stefano Gabellini
10 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 1.59.014
11 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 1.59.374
12 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 no time TQ Group 2
13 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.00.998
14 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 2.01.011
15 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.495
16 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 2.02.152
17 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 2.02.495
18 59 Italy Alessandro Gabrielli Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.676
19 54 Italy Alessandro Belloni Peugeot 405 2.05.716

Championship standings after Round 3[edit]

Round 4 Italy Binetto [edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 47.846 TQ
2 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 48.116 TQ
3 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 48.137 TQ
4 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 48.231 TQ
5 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 48.573 TQ
6 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 50.058 TQ
7 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 50.160 TQ
8 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 50.255 TQ
9 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 50.345 TQ
10 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 50.354 TQ
11 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 49.671
12 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 50.258
13 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 50.883
14 54 Italy Gianpaolo Vicarelli Peugeot 405 51.196
15 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 51.359

Championship standings after Round 4[edit]

Round 5 Italy Misano Adriatico[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.36.810 TQ
2 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.36.920 TQ
3 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.37.173 TQ
4 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.37.418 TQ
5 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.38.512 TQ
6 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 1.39.440 TQ
7 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 1.39.631 TQ
8 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.40.926 TQ
9 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 1.41.504 TQ
10 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 1.41.515 TQ
11 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 1.41.078
12 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.41.193
Italy Augusto Rossetti
13 52 Italy Giambattista Busi Peugeot 405 1.41.499
14 68 Czech Republic Miloš Tesar BMW 318iS 1.41.914
15 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 318iS 1.41.986
Italy Stefano Gabellini
16 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 1.42.150
17 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 1.42.322
18 54 Italy Gianluca De Lorenzi Peugeot 405 1.43.026
19 67 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 1.44.859
20 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 1.55.136

Championship standings after Round 5[edit]

Round 6 Italy Imola[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.57.479 TQ
2 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.57.680 TQ
3 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.57.882 TQ
4 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.659 TQ
5 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 2.00.254 TQ
6 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 2.01.846 TQ
7 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 2.02.270 TQ
8 7 Switzerland Yolanda Surer BMW 318iS 2.02.969 TQ
9 52 Italy Giambattista Busi Peugeot 405 2.03.541 TQ
10 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 no time TQ
Switzerland Felipe Ortiz
11 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.780
12 66 Italy Gianluca Sansoni Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.034
13 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.101
14 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 318iS 2.04.401
Italy Stefano Gabellini
15 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 2.05.601
16 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.06.149
17 67 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 2.07.048
18 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 2.11.305
19 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 2.27.606

Championship standings after Round 6[edit]

Round 7 Italy Pergusa[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.44.179 TQ
2 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.44.319 TQ
3 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 1.44.554 TQ
4 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.44.615 TQ
5 7 Italy Gianni Morbidelli BMW 320i 1.45.463 TQ
6 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.45.655 TQ
7 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 1.51.366 TQ
8 66 Italy Gianluca Sansoni Alfa Romeo 155 1.51.435 TQ
9 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.51.613 TQ
10 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 no time TQ

Championship standings after Round 7[edit]

Round 8 Italy Pergusa[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.44.701 TQ
2 7 Italy Gianni Morbidelli BMW 320i 1.44.721 TQ
3 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.45.204 TQ
4 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 1.45.884 TQ
5 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 1.47.906 TQ
6 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 1.50.156 TQ
Switzerland Felipe Ortiz
7 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.52.111 TQ
8 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.52.636 TQ
9 6 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.53.411 TQ
10 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i no time TQ
11 66 Italy Gianluca Sansoni Alfa Romeo 155 1.50.485
12 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 1.50.617
13 53 Italy Raffaele Fortunato Peugeot 405 1.51.642
14 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 318iS 1.52.211
Italy Stefano Gabellini

Championship standings after Round 8[edit]

Round 9 Italy Varano De Melegari[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Top Qualifying
1 5 Venezuela Johnny Cecotto BMW 320i 47.985 TQ
2 2 France Yvan Muller Audi A4 Quattro 48.050 TQ
3 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 48.243 TQ
4 3 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 48.676 TQ
5 8 Germany Frank Biela Audi A4 Quattro 48.691 TQ
6 60 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 48.808 TQ
7 4 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 49.686 TQ
8 56 Italy Roberto Colciago Alfa Romeo 155 50.109 TQ
9 57 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 51.031 TQ
10 58 Italy Massimo Pigoli Alfa Romeo 155 51.114 TQ
Switzerland Felipe Ortiz
11 51 Italy Massimiliano Pezzuto Peugeot 405 50.451
12 55 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 51.055
13 54 Italy Marco Antonelli Peugeot 405 51.095
14 69 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 318iS 51.370
Italy Gianpiero Pindari
15 66 Italy Gianluca Sansoni Alfa Romeo 155 51.495
16 63 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 51.638
Italy Augusto Rossetti
17 61 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 51.706
18 67 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 55.152
19 70 Italy Gianni Morbidelli BMW 320i no time