Superstars Series

The Superstars International Series was a production-based touring car racing championship held between 2004 and 2013. It was managed by the "Superstars World of Racing SpA", SWR, a company of FG GROUP with headquarters in Rome[1] and sanctioned by the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI) and the Commissione Sportiva Automobilistica Italiana (CSAI).[2] FG GROUP, led by Maurizio Flammini, is famous for having promoted the FIM World Superbike Championship from its beginnings in 1988 until its sale to Infront Sports & Media in 2007.[3]

Superstars Series logo used from 2010 to 2011
Superstars Series
CategoryTouring cars
CountryInternational
Inaugural season2004
Folded2013
Drivers28 (2014)
Teams10 (2013)
Tyre suppliersHankook
Last Drivers' champion Francesco Sini
Last Teams' champion Audi Sport Italia
Official websitewww.superstarsworld.com

After the shutdown of the promoter SWR in late 2013, the competition has been re-branded as EuroV8 Series and organized by FG Group and ATT (Associazione Team Top cars). SuperTouringSeries is going to be performed by Pan Asia Racing Enterprise Ltd. (PARE Ltd) in 2015.[4] However, it has been cancelled.

The new championship’s identity, partners, teams, sporting regulations and calendar was unveiled at the Autosport International show in January 2014.[5]

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).

BMW racing in the Superstars Series

In 2007 the series started to visit circuits in other European countries with the FIA approved International Superstars Series. Since then every season awards two different drivers' titles, one for the International Series and one for the Italian Championship. Points are gained for the Italian Championship at each Italian and one European race meeting.

With the 2010 season a new series was added, the International GTSprint Series allowing GT2, GT3 and nationally-homologated GTs. Uniquely, however, it has two 25 minute sprint events per weekend rather than the usual two-driver, long-distance runs that are the norm in GT competition.

The 2012 season saw the growth of the series in terms of media and spectators - attracting 33,000 fans to its race at Vallelunga in Rome on October 7, 2012.[6] Johan Kristoffersson won the championship in his KMS Audi RS5 after a season long battle with Vitantonio Liuzzi and his CAAL Racing Mercedes AMG C63. Kristoffersson's success in Superstars proved a strong element in advancing his career.[7]

The 2013 calendar contains eight races in 6 countries. The series promoters have given the series an umbrella name "The Superstars World of Racing" that reflects its international growth and refers to the entire weekend of events which includes The Superstars International Series, the GT Sprint International Series, local support races and entertainment events.[8]

Format and philosophy
Audi RS4 of the Superstars Series

Since 2009 the Series has run a two sprint race format. Race 1 to take place Sunday morning and Race 2 to take place Sunday afternoon.

The technical regulations are designed to bring the largest touring cars together in a balanced competition that limits costs, maximizes spectacle and limits driver assistance. A total of 10 brands will be represented in the 2013 edition: Audi RS5, BMW M3, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Lumina and Camaro, Chrysler 300C SRT8, Jaguar XF, Lexus ISF, Maserati Quattroporte, Mercedes C63AMG, Porsche Panamera.[9]

Technical regulations

Current season

The 2013 Superstars championships are reserved for production-based saloon cars with the following basic characteristics:

  • Otto cycle engines with 6 to 12 cylinders (Wankel engines not allowed)
  • forced induction (turbochargers or superchargers) allowed if used in the production car
  • minimum displacement of 3800 cc
  • production H-pattern gearbox or approved mechanical sequential gearbox (automatic and semiautomatic transmission are forbidden)
  • four or two doors body style
  • 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.


Eligible cars
Homologation Make Model Engine Optional engine(s)
STS-0001/06 Audi RS4 (B7) Audi BNS (4.2 litre V8)
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 Coupé (E92) BMW S65B40 (4.0 litre V8)
STS-0011/09 Maserati Quattroporte Ferrari F136U (4.2 litre V8) Ferrari F136Y (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 CFS (4.2 litre V8)
STS-0014/10 Porsche Panamera S Porsche M48/20 (4.8 litre V8)
STS-0016/10 Lexus IS-F Toyota 2UR-GSE (5.0 litre V8)
STS-0017/12 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé (C204) Mercedes-AMG M156 (6.2 litre V8)
STS-0018/13 Chevrolet Camaro SS GM LS3 (6.2 litre V8)

Note: Chevrolet Lumina CR8 is a badge engineering of HSV Clubsport R8.

Expired homologations

Cars no longer eligible:

Homologation Make Model Engine Optional engine(s) Last season
Audi RS6 (C5) Audi BCY (4.2 litre V8 twin-turbo) 2006
STS-0002/04 BMW M5 (E39) BMW S62B50 (4.9 litre V8) 2011
STS-0003/04 Jaguar S-Type R Jaguar AJ-34S (4.2 litre V8 S/C) 2011
STS-0015/10 Jaguar XF SV8 Jaguar AJ-34S (4.2 litre V8 S/C) Jaguar AJ-133 (5.0 litre V8 S/C) 2011

Sporting regulations

Scoring system

The scoring system has been revised for 2009 season.

Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10thPoleFastest Lap
Points2015121086432111

Since 2012 an additional point is awarded to every driver in the starting grid of each race.

Champions
Superstars Series
Season Campionato Italiano Superstars International Superstars Series
Driver Champion Team Champion Driver Champion Team Champion
2004 Francesco Ascani (BMW M5 (E39)) CAAL Racing
not held
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)) 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)) Andrea Bertolini (Maserati Quattroporte) Team BMW Italia
2012 Johan Kristoffersson (Audi RS5) Johan Kristoffersson (Audi RS5) Dinamic
2013 Gianni Morbidelli (Audi RS5) Gianni Morbidelli (Audi RS5) Audi Sport Italia
EuroV8 Series
Season Driver Champion Team Champion
2014 Francesco Sini (Chevrolet Camaro SS) Audi Sport Italia

Trophies
Superstars Series
Season Rookie Trophy Senior Car Trophy Stars Drivers Trophy
2009 Pierluigi Martini (Chrysler 300C SRT-8) Mauro Cesari (BMW M5 (E39))
not awarded
2010 Alberto Cola (Audi RS4 (B7)) Alberto Cola (Audi RS4 (B7))
2011 Alberto Cerqui (BMW M3 (E92))
not awarded
 Francesco Ascani (BMW M3 (E90))
2012 Johan Kristoffersson (Audi RS5) Nico Caldarola (Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG)
2013 Laurens Vanthoor (Audi RS5) Gianni Giudici (BMW M3 (E92))

Media coverage

Television coverage

In 2012 the Superstars Series received live and as-live broadcast in 103 countries with total distribution reaching 195 territories. The 2012 TV media value, as per data from wige and sport+Markt, was €56 million.[10]

Video games

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.

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See also

References
  1. "FG Group". Archived from the original on 2013-03-15.
  2. 2009 Superstars Marketing Presentation Archived April 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "FG Sport become Infront Motor Sports". Motors TV.
  4. Hudson, Neil (25 January 2014). "New EUROV8 SERIES to fill-in for Superstars in 2014". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  5. Hudson, Neil (4 December 2013). "SuperTouringSeries to take over from Superstars". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Stockholm AB.
  6. Omni Corse. "33,000 a Vallelunga". Omni Corse. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  7. SUPERSTARS. "SUPERSTARSWORLD a perfect fit for young racers". Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  8. SUPERSTARS PRESS OFFICE. ""SUPERSTARSWORLD" reveals combined schedule for 2013 SUPERSTARS, GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES".
  9. SUPERSTARS, MARKETING OFFICE. "2013 Brochure". SWR SpA. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  10. SUPERSTARS. "MARKETING BROCHURE". MARKETING BROCHURE. SUPERSTARS MARKETING DEPARTMENT. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
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