Michael Schumacher won the Desafio Internacional das Estrelas kart race for the second time in three years by finishing second in today’s second heat.
Schumacher won the first race in Florianopolis yesterday and came in second today behind his former team mate – and event organiser – Felipe Massa.
Schumacher worked his way up from eighth on the grid, passing Rubens Barrichello and Indy Car racer Vitor Meira before catching Massa.
Massa and Schumacher spent the final two laps nose-to-tail but Schumacher either couldn’t find a way past or decided he didn’t want to deprive Massa of a home win.
Second place was enough to secure the victory for Schumacher. Vitantonio Liuzzi, who finished second yesterday, ended today’s race 11th after contact with Massa and a heavier collision with Lucas di Grassi.
Video from the races and full points standings below.
Desafio Internacionaldas das Estrelas 2009 pictures
See Leandro Carlo’s photo stream on Flickr for more great pictures.
Piquet (white kart, orange helmet) motored off into the lead from the rolling start. Meanwhile Schumacher (Italian flag kart, red helmet) – who looked very racy on the warm-up lap – got held up by Pizzonia at the start and fell from sixth to eighth.
Liuzzi (Force India-coloured kart) passed Meira at the start of lap two to take second. Piquet had built a lead of more than a second, but Liuzzi gradually cut into it, bringing the chasing pack along with him including Schumacher, who worked his way up to fourth.
Meira re-passed Liuzzi as the Italian tried to go around the outside of Piquet. The Indy Car driver then took Piquet for lead, and the former Renault driver began tumbling down the order. As he dropped back a three-way battle for the lead between Meira, Liuzzi and Schumacher developed.
The tight battle for the lead was resolved when Liuzzi made to pass Meira but their pair collided, allowing Schumacher through.
At the end of the race Liuzzi finally got past Meira for second. Massa and di Grassi also got through demoting Meira to fifth.
Desafio Internacional das Estrelas 2009 results
| Driver | Total | Race 1 | Race 2 | |
| 1 | Michael Schumacher | 42 | 25 | 17 |
| 2 | Felipe Massa | 36 | 16 | 20 |
| 3 | Vitor Meira | 26 | 11 | 15 |
| 4 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | 25 | 20 | 5 |
| 5 | Rubens Barrichello | 23 | 10 | 13 |
| 6 | Tony Kanaan | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 7 | Lucas Di Grassi | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 8 | Marcos Gomes | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 9 | Max Wilson | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 10 | Antonio Pizzonia | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 10 | Christian Fittipaldi | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 12 | Nelsinho Piquet | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 12 | Enrique Bernoldi | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| 12 | Raphael Mattos | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Duda Pamplona | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Bia Figueiredo | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 17 | Ricardo Zonta | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | Tarso Marques | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | Joao Paulo Oliveira | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 20 | Mario Moraes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Xandinho Negrao | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Luciano Burti | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Popa Bueno | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Felipe Giaffone | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Eduardo Berlanda | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Desafio Internacional das Estrelas
Katy
29th November 2009, 13:49
I didn’t see much of yesterday’s race, but today’s was really good! F1 drivers (and from other racing series) should do kart races more often :)
Giuliano Vilela
29th November 2009, 13:58
Yeah, it seemed like a lot of fun. Good for Felipe and Schumi. Barrichello was in good shape at the beginning but his kart wasn’t as good during the race.
Looks like next year will be even better. It was announced that Alonso was already invited by Massa. Hope more drivers follow him :D
Guilherme Teixeira
29th November 2009, 14:07
Great racing, and I’m glad with the result.
Schumi’s driving style was unique among all others, really pleasant to watch.
—
And Keith, I don’t want to be a nitpicker, but it is Desafio Internacional, not Internacionale =P
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
29th November 2009, 15:40
Sorry, not my native language! Have fixed it, thanks.
Daniel
29th November 2009, 14:51
Schumacher only had one real opportunity to pass, with two or three laps to go, but Massa closed the door at the end of the start-finish straight. Great race!
Great track layout, Lucas di Grassi was really inspired and should give Hermann Tilke a couple of lessons :)
David Bénard
29th November 2009, 16:20
Great report and pics !
Bud
29th November 2009, 16:27
Is he match fit?
Bud
29th November 2009, 16:28
Is he match fit?
Thanks Keith and happy hols….dare I say Christmas
Patrickl
29th November 2009, 17:27
How characteristic that Piquet spins off …
Elliott
29th November 2009, 17:28
People comment on Button’s driving style, but Michael Schumacher is the real master of smooth, calculated driving. I miss watching him race, he seems so calm and calculated.
Dave
29th November 2009, 19:05
I loved the first race. Anyone notice the Santander logo on Massa overalls.. 2010 Ferrari overalls maybe ?
Alex`
29th November 2009, 19:08
Oh my god, these plastic kart support are so ugly :/
Becken
29th November 2009, 20:27
Second and first heats HERE
Becken
29th November 2009, 20:27
…in video!
steph
29th November 2009, 20:57
My personal favourite picture of the event
http://tazio.uol.com.br/kart/textos/15285/imagens/11214/
wasiF1
30th November 2009, 0:56
Great report with picture,I agree with many now as they have nothing to do for 2 months they should do some karting which will help them to keep themselves in racing mood,good for the spectator & will encourage young people to start karting & begin there career in motor racing.
Congratulation to Schumacher & Massa.
Kayser
30th November 2009, 2:35
this was more exciting to watch than F1.
Bacteria
30th November 2009, 6:17
off topic: I have observed that the famous mp4-19b has stopped commenting on this blog.He was one person who used to post comments daily. Even though I used to completely disagree with him on all accounts, I used to really enjoy reading his long comments. I don’t know if he is from England, but if anyone knows him can you please tell him to get back to commenting?
thanx.
steph
30th November 2009, 8:44
I have told him to come back! I miss his posts. He said after the Felipe thread row on the forum that he wouldn’t comment for a while and keep a low profile.
Jonesracing82
30th November 2009, 6:41
this is awesome, and gives me an idea.
why dont they have a Kart race for F1 drivers at each track they race at? it’d cost next to nothing to transport 26 odd go karts to each track……..
David
30th November 2009, 11:28
I think the very hot news is:
“Michael, what about the neck?”
“It was ok”
“So, what about a coming back in formula 1?”
“Everything is possible”.
Everything is possible?????????????? :-)
Mf1s
30th November 2009, 18:36
Source?
José Baudaier
1st December 2009, 2:12
Here he says: “Who knows”, not “Everything is possible”, but still…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TcW-nGxuy8
ColoradoF1
30th November 2009, 15:20
An Italian flag on Shumi’s kart….
Patrickl
30th November 2009, 19:15
Yeah, what was that all about? Did they gave him a leftover cover from someone else? Badoer’s maybe?
Efe
30th November 2009, 21:51
race two video link is here.Click!
Sush Meerkat
30th November 2009, 22:52
is that what Karts look like nowadays?, I’m getting old, karts used to look like this to me
http://www.xtremekarting.co.uk/Images/Full/EVO%205%20karts.jpg
those things that are racing look like wacky racers.
Imran_Moussa
1st December 2009, 18:24
Great race, karting is the purest form of motorsport with the most overtaking and close battles, why did they have to go unpurify it with those STUPID BODYWORK??? i hope Massa puts his footdown next time so we dont see the stupid things, it was embarrassing the way the bodywork makes the kart look
Jonathan
3rd December 2009, 8:42
In karting the top class drivers really stand out – unlike in F1!