BRC Green Hybrid Cup - fight until the end

To be specific, one of them was held on the famous Nürburgring circuit, Germany, and the other – on the Poznan Circuit in Poland. The remaining rounds were held on various Italian tracks. However, the two "foreign” rounds proved very successful and will be also held next season, at least as far as the Poznan round is concerned.

© BRC Green Hybrid CupWinners of the 2013 BRC Green Hybrid Cup (left to right): Jimmy Ghione (2), Alessandra Brena (winner) and Marco Brioschi (3)

The first training session was won by Jimmy Ghione, who achieved lap time of 1:34,123 min on wet track. Jacopo Lombardelli came second and Arturo Merzario, an F1 veteran, was third. Marco Brioschi managed to come right behind the top three, with newcomer Marco Costamagna following in fifth. As for session two, Alessandra Brena, leader of general, women's and junior standings, was the fastest at 1:28,379 min. Marco Costamagna, Jacopo Lombardelli and Andrea Portatadino followed.

Jacopo Lombardelli came first in qualifications for the first racing run at 1:27,692 min. Jimmy Ghione stood beside him on the starting line, with Alessandra Brena and Marco Costamagna behind them. When the race commenced (in rainy conditions), Ghione remained in the lead for the first 3 laps, followed by Brena, Lombardelli and Portatadino. Ghione ultimately won, with Brena coming second, Marco Brioschi third, Jacopo Lombardelli fourth and Fulvio Ballabio fifth.

For the second race, also run in the rain, Giuseppe Gulizia and Andrea Portatadino started from the first row. Portatadino and Ballabio soon managed to overtake Gulizia, while Jimmy Ghione fell to tenth position. Alessandra Brena took no chances and drove safely and steadily in the fifth. Ultimately, Andrea Portatadino won, coming before Marco Brioschi and Paolo Palanti. Incidentally, the latter was awarded extra points for the fastest lap. Brena, coming fourth, secured an Italian championship for drivers of alternative energy-powered cars. Being the only woman in the cup, she also topped the women's standings and junior standings (not until November 2013 will she turn 18). Jimmy Ghione, last year's winner, was second entire season-wise and Marco Brioschi third.

As for team standings, Rotopim won, having beaten Giannitti and Tunap. Last year's winners, STAKO Worthington, came 12^th this season.

General standings for the 2013 season: