Superstars Series
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| Category | Touring cars |
|---|---|
| Country or region |  Italy / International |
| Inaugural season | 2004 |
| Drivers | 51 (2010) |
| Teams | 18 (2010) |
| Constructors | 9 (2010) |
| Tyre suppliers | Michelin |
| Drivers' champion | Alberto Cerqui (Italian) Andrea Bertolini (International) |
| Teams' champion | Team BMW Italia |
| Official website | www.superstars.it |
 Current season |
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The Superstars Series is a production-based touring car racing championship held since 2004. It is managed by FGSport and sanctioned by the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) and the Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana (CSAI).[1] For 2012, the series will be racing in 6 countries, including a season final in Indonesia, across 9 race weekends and 18 sprint races.[2]
The series features two distinct championships: the Campionato Italiano Superstars (Italian Superstars Championship) and the International Superstars Series.
Only V8 engined cars are eligible.
Contents |
[edit] History
The series began in 2004 as Trofeo Nazionale Superstars (Superstars National Trophy) with a six race schedule, all the events held in Italian tracks. The initial field was made of BMW M5 and Jaguar S-Type models, entered by five teams.
Since 2005 the series earned the Campionato Italiano Superstars (Italian Superstars Championship) title, and soon became the main tin-top auto racing series of the country, replacing the Italian Superturismo Championship (folded in 2007).
In 2007 the series started to visit circuits in other European countries and in the same year a parallel international series, the International Superstars Series was added. Every season awards two different drivers' titles, one for the Italian Championship and one for the International Series. Since the launch of the International title and calendar, the series has grown immensely in participation from teams and public as well as in media value.[3]
Since 2009 each round has two races, a morning and afternoon sprint.
[edit] Regulations
[edit] Cars
The Superstars championships are reserved for production-based saloon cars with the following basic characteristics:
- V8 engines, naturally aspirated or supercharged (turbochargers are forbidden)
- displacement from 3800 to 7000 cc
- H-pattern or sequential gearbox
- four or two doors
- homologated for at least 4 passengers
Each homologated car must comply with a technical sheet issued by the Permanent Bureau, which contains the technical description of all the car's components, both originals and belonging to technical kits.
The eligible cars are the following:
| Homologation | Make | Model | Engine | Optional engine(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STS-0001/06 | Audi | RS4 (B7) | Audi BNS (4.2 litre V8) | |
| STS-0002/04 | BMW | M5 (E39) | BMW S62B50 (4.9 litre V8) | |
| STS-0003/04 | Jaguar | S-Type R | Jaguar AJ-34S (4.2 litre V8 S/C) | |
| STS-0004/06 | BMW | 550i (E60) | BMW N62B48 (4.8 litre V8) | |
| STS-0005/08 | Cadillac | CTS-V | GM LS2 (6.0 litre V8) | GM LS3 (6.2 litre V8), GM LS7 (7.0 litre V8) |
| STS-0006/08 | BMW | M3 (E90) | BMW S65B40 (4.0 litre V8) | |
| STS-0007/08 | Chrysler | 300C SRT8 | Chrysler Hemi ESF (6.1 litre V8) | Mopar 426 Hemi (7.0 litre V8) |
| STS-0008/08 | Mercedes-Benz | C63 AMG (W204) | Mercedes-AMG M156 (6.2 litre V8) | |
| STS-0009/08 | Chevrolet | Lumina CR8 | GM LS3 (6.2 litre V8) | |
| STS-0010/09 | BMW | M3 (E92) | BMW S65B40 (4.0 litre V8) | |
| STS-0011/09 | Maserati | Quattroporte | Ferrari M139A (4.2 litre V8) | Ferrari M139R (4.7 litre V8) |
| STS-0012/10 | Jaguar | XFR | Jaguar AJ-133 (5.0 litre V8 S/C) | |
| STS-0013/10 | Audi | RS5 (B8) | Audi 4.2 litre V8 | |
| STS-0014/10 | Porsche | Panamera S | Porsche M48/20 (4.8 litre V8) | |
| STS-0015/10 | Jaguar | XF SV8 | Jaguar AJ-34S (4.2 litre V8 S/C) | Jaguar AJ-133 (5.0 litre V8 S/C) |
| STS-0016/10 | Lexus | IS-F | Toyota 2UR-GSE (5.0 litre V8) |
Note: Chevrolet Lumina CR8 is a badge engineering of HSV Clubsport R8.
Cars no longer eligible:
- Audi RS6 (C5) - homologation expired at the end of 2006 season
[edit] Scoring system
| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | Pole | Fastest Lap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 20 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
[edit] Champions
| Season | Campionato Italiano Superstars | International Superstars Series | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Champion | Team Champion | Driver Champion | Team Champion | |
| 2004 | Francesco Ascani (BMW M5 (E39)) |
CAAL Racing |
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| 2005 | Tobia Masini (Audi RS6 (C5)) |
CAAL Racing |
||
| 2006 | Max Pigoli (Jaguar S-Type R) |
Audi Sport Italia |
||
| 2007 | Gianni Morbidelli (Audi RS4 (B7)) |
not awarded | Giuliano Alessi (BMW 550i) |
CAAL Racing |
| 2008 | Gianni Morbidelli (Audi RS4 (B7)) |
not awarded | Stefano Gabellini (BMW 550i) |
CAAL Racing |
| 2009 | Gianni Morbidelli (BMW M3 (E90)) |
CAAL Racing |
Gianni Morbidelli (BMW M3 (E90)) |
not awarded |
| 2010 | Thomas Biagi (BMW M3 (E92)) |
not awarded | Thomas Biagi (BMW M3 (E92)) |
Team BMW Italia |
| 2011 | Alberto Cerqui (BMW M3 (E92)) |
not awarded | Andrea Bertolini (Maserati Quattroporte) |
Team BMW Italia |
[edit] Media coverage
In 2009, the championship made its video game debut Superstars V8 Racing which features the 2008 championship.
A sequel named Superstars V8 Next Challenge was released in February 2010, featuring the 2009 season.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 2009 Superstars Marketing Presentation[dead link]
- ^ "INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES & GTSPRINT SERIES 201" (PDF). http://www.eurosuperstars.com/App_themes/calendario-VALLELUNGA-POST/STS+GTS-calendar-2012.pdf. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
- ^ "Superstars - International Series News". Superstars.it. 2012-01-25. http://www.superstars.it/Superstars-Series/News/CRESCE-IL-VALORE-TV-DELLA-SUPERSATRS-SERIES---Il-M.aspx. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
[edit] External links
- Official website (in English and Italian)
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