DECEMBER 5, 2008

Liuzzi shows his class

The Formula 1 team principals may be blind to it, but Tonio Liuzzi's talent is still there. The Italian, who now tests for Force India, dominated the opening race of the Speedcar season at the Dubai Autodrome.

The Formula 1 team principals may be blind to it, but Tonio Liuzzi's talent is still there. The Italian, who now tests for Force India, dominated the opening race of the Speedcar season at the Dubai Autodrome. At the start Liuzzi came under attack from former F1 winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Christopher Zoechling. The pair tripped over one another and Liuzzi was then able to nip back into the lead. He pulled out a lead of three seconds in the first two laps and then a Safety Car negated the advantage after Jean Alesi and Stefan Johansson collided and the Swede rolled. When the race restarted Liuzzi held off Zoechling again and ythe latter then fell under attack from Gianni Morbidelli. The pair later tangled and let Speedcar champion Johnny Herbert up to second, as Frentzen fell back to seventh. The German later charged back to third and then managed to catch and pass Herbert. He chased after Liuzzi but the Italian held off the challenge all the way to the flag. Morbidelli finished third ahead of Herbert, the highest-placed non-F1 driver Hasher Al-Maktoum and Jacques Villeneuve, who had an exciting race from the back, including a pitstop after an off.