Trofeo Magazine N. 2

Maserati Trofeo World Series 2014 N.2 July 2014

MAGAZINE

THE LADY Racers

Maserati Trofeo World Series 2014

.01

THE CHALLENGE BETWEEN THE FOUR GIRLS

SPA FRANCORCHAMPS RACE 1 Gabriele Gardel - RACE 2 Mauro Calamia

03.05.2014 SPA- BELGIUM Length of the Circuit 7.395 Km

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HUNGARORING RACE 1 Mauro Calamia - RACE 2 Mauro Calamia - RACE 3 Mauro Calamia

01.06.2014 BUDAPEST - HUNGARY Length of the Circuit 4.381 Km

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SILVERSTONE RACE 1 .................. - RACE 2 .................. - RACE 3 ..................

20.07.2014 SILVERSTONE - UK Length of the Circuit 5.891 Km

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VIR INT’L RACEWAY RACE 1 .................. - RACE 2 .................. - RACE 3 ..................

24.08.2014 ALTON - USA Length of the Circuit 5.260 Km

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SHANGHAI RACE 1 .................. - RACE 2 .................. - RACE 3 ..................

12.10.2014 SHANGHAI - CHINA Length of the Circuit 5.451 Km

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W

omen drivers have featured throughout Maserati’s racing history. The first woman to appear in Formula 1, Maria Teresa de Filippis, made her debut in 1958 at the Belgian Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F, the car in which Juan Manuel Fangio claimed the world title just a year earlier. The female presence has also been high in Maserati’s single-make series, from model Jodie Kidd to Angelique Detavernier - who competed in the opening round at Spa this season. The number of women drivers shot up at the Hungaroring where four lady drivers, divided into two teams, took part. Dubbed the Lady Racers, the four Hungarians lined in two specially decked out Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeos: in the No.42 car were Adrienn Dansco and Edina Bus while Adrienn Vogel was in the No.44 alongside Anita Toth. Toth was making a series comeback after teaming up with real-life partner Béla Csiszer in 2011 and 2012. The four Hungarians put in determined displays and, at the end of each race, the best of them climbed onto the podium to receive a special prize. In Race 1, Edina Bus finished highest while Adrienn Vogel’s tenth spot overall, after starting in twentieth, saw her claim the award in Race 2.

The 60-minute endurance event, with its compulsory pit stop, saw the Adrienn Dansco-Edina Bus crew come out on top.

Anita Toth’s comeback Making a welcome return after a year away from Maserati’s single-make series, Anita has not lost any of her confidence behind the wheel. “You really notice the changes made to the Trofeo when you are driving it but this didn’t put me off too much. I managed to settle into a groove and am satisfied at the end result on this circuit. I think I have improved my displays; I feel more secure even though I haven’t driven a car as fast as this since 2012. It would be nice to get back into a Maserati and, one day, have one of my own to enjoy every day!”

Vogel’s amazing comeback Did you know that it is possible to overtake at the Hungaroring?

Just check out Adrienn Vogel’s drive if you have any doubts: Vogel started race 2 in twentieth spot and produced an incredible comeback to finish in tenth. She was over the moon when she described the race at the press conference: “I am really pleased at how the race went and with my final position. The car is hard to drive and I am still getting to know it but, I have to admit, it is amazing and I was impressed with its performance. I would like to thank Maserati for giving me the opportunity to compete in this series”.

RACE 1 .................. - RACE 2 .................. - RACE 3 ..................

THE MYSTERY DRIVER FROM THE BBC’S HIT SHOW TOP GEAR, HAS HAD A TASTE OF THE MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC TROFEO.

12.12.2014

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STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 2 81 P. 61 P. 45 P.

SINGLE DRIVER CUP 1. Alberto Cola 71 P. 2. Alan Simoni 64 P. 3. Riccardo Ragazzi 56 P.

TWIN DRIVERS CUP 1. Mathijs Bakker - Andrea Cecchellero 2. Massimo Mantovani - Sandro Bettini 3. Mark Turley - Michael Cullen

78 P. 52 P. 48 P.

OVER 50 1. Roberto Silva 2. Roberto Rayneri 3. P.M. De Leener

55 P. 39 P. 29 P.

UNDER 30 1. Mauro Calamia 86 P. 2. Alberto Cola 61 P. 3. Adrien De Leener 42 P.

MOTORS TV, the Maserati Trofeo World Series’ television par-

tner since 2013, has increased its coverage and is now at every round, ready to interview drivers on the grid or the podium. Reporting from the first two rounds was English journalist Gemma Scott; she will be substituted by colleague Lou Beckett at Silverstone.

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02

The congratulations and photo requests rolled in for Edina Bus and Adrienn Dansco after they finished ninth in the endurance race. The pairing won their personal battle with the other all-female crew and Edina Bus’ beaming smile said it all: “I managed to climb a few places at the start. It wasn’t easy as this is a very competitive championship. I am pleased at securing this result and at handing over the car to my team-mate in a decent position. I would like to thank Maserati for giving me the chance to race in the GranTurismo MC Trofeo”. Partner Adrienn Dansco shared her feelings: “After the pit stop I built on Edina’s hard work. Luckily, I was all alone once I came back out onto the track and focused on setting quick laps.

It was a great experience and one I would like to repeat soon”.

ABU DHABI

ABU DHABI - UAE Length of the Circuit 5.554 Km

OVERALL 1. Mauro Calamia 2. Gabriele Gardel 3. Alberto Cola

Bus-Dansco’s joy

he scene was Tuesday 10 June at Monza for the promotional launch of Top Gear Live, the programme that sees presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond and The Stig travel the world. The show have been broadcasted in Italy exclusively on the Discovery Channel and on DMAX and have been touched down at Turin’s Palaolimpico on 5-6 July. Top Gear Live has arrived in Italy after a hugely successful tour around four continents. The Stig took selected journalists for a drive around Monza with guests and curious VIPs also going for a spin. While everyone was eager to work out who the mystery driver was, they were also taken in by the the stunning Maserati’s charm and engine roar.

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03

03.SILVERSTONE

R

ound 3 in the Maserati Trofeo World Series, scheduled for the weekend of 20 July at Silverstone, will be the last European round. The action will coincide with the GT Open International and, after the three races, (two 30’ and one 60’) on the English Formula 1 circuit, the season’s first title will be awarded. The Trofeo Europa is bestowed on the driver who tops the standings after the European rounds. Swiss driver Mauro Calamia is still the most likely candidate thanks to the onetwo-three at Budapest; he now leads on 81 points. Behind him is another driver from Switzerland: Gabriel Gardel on 61.

Still in with a shout (with 46 points up for grabs) is Alberto

Silverstone, UK Length of the Circuit 5.891 Km

Cola (on 45 points) and Alan Simoni (on 42). The surprise this year is not seeing Renaud Kuppens’ name among the leaders. The Belgian is off the pace and, this year, will not be able to add the Trofeo Europa to the ones he picked up in 2012 and 2013. The reigning champion has not had much luck this season and suffered a series of mechanical problems that have forced him to retire on more than one occasion. Italian singer and motor-racing fan Max Gazzè will line up at Silverstone. The star is making a return to Maserati’s single-make series after taking part in the Vallelunga test session. Another coming back of Giorgio Sernagiotto, who finished third in 2012 when paired with Giuseppe Fascicolo.

ITA

Alberto Cola

04

GER

05

Andreas Segler

ITA

07

Giuseppe Fascicolo

TIMETABLE 2014 JULY 18 FRIDAY 09.00 - 09.30 EUROFORMULA OPEN FP1 09.45 - 11.00 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN FP1 11.15 - 12.00 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES FP1 12.15 - 12.45 EUROFORMULA OPEN FP2 13.00 - 13.30 SEAT LEON EUROCUP FP1 14.15 - 15.30 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN FP2 15.45 - 16.30 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES FP2 16.45 - 17.15 EUROFORMULA OPEN FP3 17.30 - 18.00 SEAT LEON EUROCUP FP2

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

IRL

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Mark Turley

08

GBR

10

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Barrie Baxter

ESP

12

Daniel Diaz Varela

2014 JULY 19 SATURDAY 09.00 - 09.35 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN Q1 09.45 - 10.15 EUROFORMULA OPEN Q1 10.25 - 11.10 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES Q1Q2 11.20 - 11.55 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN Q2 12.05 - 12.35 SEAT LEON EUROCUP QUALYFING 14.00 - 14.35 EUROFORMULA OPEN RACE1 15.00 - 16.10 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN RACE1 16.30 - 17.10 SEAT LEON EUROCUP RACE1 17.30 - 18.00 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES R1

BACK IN THE DAYS

20 13

20 03

The Maserati Trofeo World Series, featuring the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo, made its debut at Silverstone, in 2013. The three-race format saw Andrea Cecchellero come out on top in Race 1, beating Mauro Calamia and Riccardo Ragazzi. Race 2 went to surprise package Brian Wong, on his debut. The American was awarded the win after the officials slapped the top three finishers with a 25-second penalty for not making a drive through given for not respecting the track limits. Taking the other podium slots were Alberto Cola and Renaud Kuppens. In the endurance event, victory went to Belgian driver Kuppens (who also claimed the Trofeo Europa) from Ange Barde and the Riccardo Ragazzi/Alan Simoni crew.

The first Trofeo Europe race, disputed in the Maserati GranSport Trofeo, dates back to 2003. Emanuele Smurra took the opening tie from the English pairing of M o u n t a i n / Wi l son and Italian Sergio Rota. In 2004, the third round of the single-make series saw the first win by a woman driver when journalist Vicki Butler Henderson, teaming up with colleague Matthew Marsh, took the Ermenegildo Zegna VIP car to success. Also making the podium were Fabris/Macari and Petrini/Grimoldi. Round 4 in the 2005 Trofeo Vodafone Maserati Europe season saw Alberto Cerrai claim victory ahead of Hans Notter/Max Cattori. In third came Ioannidis/Alessi. In 2006 the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europe came to Silverstone for the second time and saw another Italian, Diego Alessi, take the win from Alberto Cerrai and Maurizio Fabris.

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

2014 JULY 20 SUNDAY 09.00 - 09.30 EUROFORMULA OPEN Q2 09.55 - 10.25 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES R2 10.30 - 10.55 VIP LAPS 11.30 - 12.05 EUROFORMULA RACE2 12.30 - 13.30 INTERNATIONAL GT OPEN RACE2 14.00 - 14.40 SEAT LEON EUROCUP RACE2 15.00 - 16.00 MASERATI TROFEO WORLD SERIES R3 16.15 - 18.00 VIP LAPS

20 05

The Maserati MC12 first appeared at Silverstone in the 2005 FIA GT championship when Fabio Babini and Thomas Biagi took third for Vitaphone Racing Team. The result pushed the Italian duo into top spot in the Drivers standings alongside Andrea Bertolini and Karl Wendlinger (in the MC12 fielded by JMB Racing), who finished fourth, and Michael Bartels/Timo Scheider (in the other Vitaphone Racing Team MC12), who came home fifth. The first victory in the Tourist Trophy came in 2006 courtesy of Michael Bartels and Andrea Bertolini (Vitaphone). In 2007 the MC12 doubled up, this time with Thomas Biagi and Mika Salo (Vitaphone) at the wheel. The 2008 season saw Bartels/Bertolini finish second, a position they also filled in 2009 when the Vitaphone Racing Team crew were pipped by Karl Wendlinger/Ryan Sharp’s Saleen S7 after being held up by back markers. In the 2010 GT1 World Championship, the highest-placed of the four MC12s was the No. 34 prepared by Triple H Team Hegersport and driven by Matteo Bobbi/Bert Longin, classifying fifth.

ITA

Lino Curti

18

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

NED

28

Mathijs Bakker - Andrea Cecchellero

ITA

ITA

Alan Simoni

23

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

ITA

27

Alessandro Iazzetti

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Riccardo Ragazzi

29

ITA

ITA

30

Roberto Silva

28

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

GBR

04

MASERATI GRANTURISMO MC TROFEO SPOTTER GUIDE

2014 HUNGARORING

RACE 1

ESP

31

Charly Conde

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

CH

50

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

GER

56

70

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Max Gazzè

33

Gabriele Gardel

Swiss Team

Thomas Herpell

ITA

51

Massimo Mantovani - Ermanno Dionisio

60

Roberto Rayneri

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Giorgio Sernagiotto

ITA

81

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

35

ITA

53

Mauro Calamia

Swiss Team

GBR

65

IRL

88

30:32.842 +05.064 +05.822 +06.202 +10.052 +11.794 +13.873 +26.597 +27.002 +39.269 +49.326 +53.212 +57.619 +1:06.474 +1:20.127 +1:23.379 +1:28.299 +1:30.128 +1:31.245 +1:44.270 1 Lap 1 Lap 4 Laps NC

RACE 2

02.HUNGARORING Philip Burgan

A CALAMIA ONE-TWO-THREE

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Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Carlo Curti

Mauro Calamia Andrea Cecchellero Gabriele Gardel Riccardo Ragazzi Simone Di Luca Alberto Cola Alan Simoni Roberto Silva Adrien De Leener Giuseppe Fascicolo Michael Cullen Andreas Segler Massimo Mantovani Carlo Curti Alessandro Iazzetti Roberto Rayneri Edina Bus Anita Toth Daniel Waszczinski Pierre Marie De Leener Lino Curti Alexander Wensky Renaud Kuppens Thomas Herpell

Simone Di Luca

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

ITA

CH

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

ITA

ITA

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Michael Cullen

he second round in the Maserati Trofeo World Series, disputed at the Hungaroring, Budapest, was dominated

by Swiss driver Mauro Calamia. Representing Swiss Team, he was the undoubted star of the weekend and didn’t leave his rivals a single crumb of hope. After collecting his first ever win in Maserati’s single-make series at Spa, the Swiss driver scored a superb one-two-three to lead the Overall standings. Having topped the timesheet in the two free practice sessions, Calamia moved into an early lead after sweeping past poleman Andrea Cecchellero. The Italian did not get off to the best of starts but then managed to keep his second spot by holding off Gabriele Gardel and Riccardo Ragazzi, who went on to finish third and fourth, respectively. It was Gardel’s third pole of the season and followed his win in Belgium. Also doing well was new entry Simone Di Luca, fifth, and Alberto Cola, tucked in behind in sixth. Things did not go so smoothly for reigning champion Renaud Kuppens. In Race 1 at Spa, the Belgian was caught up in a crash that was to also rule him out of the second race while a transmission problem forced him out in Hungary. Calamia continued to lay down the law in the second 30-minute race, this time winning from Alberto Cola and Riccardo Ragazzi. Eventually finishing second

and third, Cola and Ragazzi battled it out until the very last lap in an event that saw Kuppens return to form. The Belgian Konvex Motorsport driver took fourth as he edged out Gardel and Simone Di Luca. However, Kuppens’ luck was again out in Race 3, the 60-minute endurance event, when he was once more forced to retire. This time the disappointment came in the warm-up lap and again the transmission was at fault. The flipside of the coin was Calamia’s procession to his hat trick; not even an added 20 seconds in the pits could hold him back in what was a majestic drive. The 20” penalty given to Calamia, 15” to Ragazzi, 10” to Gardel and Cola and 5” to Bakker/ Cecchellero had little impact on the overall order with only Simoni managing to climb the field and close out in fourth. Di Luca hoped to make the most Kuppens’ retirement but had to pull out following a clash with Ragazzi while in second place.

The driver from Veneto, second across the line, headed Gardel, Simoni and Cola. The Cecchellero/Mathijs Bakker crew put on a fine display to finish sixth, beating Adrien De Leener and Andreas Segler. With relatively little action on the track, the fans’ attention was drawn to the fight for tenth spot between Lino Curti, the Turley/Cullen crew, Carlo Curti, Roberto Silva and Mantovani/Bettini - the order in which they ended the race.

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Mauro Calamia Alberto Cola Riccardo Ragazzi Renaud Kuppens Gabriele Gardel Simone Di Luca Mathijs Bakker Giuseppe Fascicolo Andreas Segler Adrienn Vogel Adrienn Dancso Adrien De Leener Carlo Curti Sandro Bettini Mark Turley Alexander Wensky Alessandro Iazzetti Lino Curti Roberto Rayneri Pierre Marie De Leener Roberto Silva Thomas Herpell Daniel Waszczinski Alan Simoni

30:24.143 +6.594 +6.897 +9.788 +10.946 +14.493 +31.764 +48.941 +57.829 +59.516 +1:00.692 +1:09.266 +1:09.590 +1:10.370 +1:22.473 +1:34.527 +1:35.717 +1:38.133 +1:39.694 +1:47.277 1 Lap 1 Lap NC NC

RACE 3 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Mauro Calamia Riccardo Ragazzi Gabriele Gardel Alan Simoni Alberto Cola Bakker / Cecchellero Adrien De Leener Andreas Segler Dancso / Bus Lino Curti Turley / Cullen Carlo Curti Roberto Silva Mantovani / Bettini Alessandro Iazzetti Vogel / Toth Roberto Rayneri Alexander Wensky Pierre Marie De Leener Thomas Herpell Daniel Waszczinski Giuseppe Fascicolo Simone Di Luca Renaud Kuppens

1:00:39.028 +7.506 +12.018 +14.684 +18.429 +19.831 +43.782 +1:14.490 +1:21.375 +1:26.725 +1:30.865 +1:31.375 +1:31.974 +1:32.486 +1:49.377 +1:53.160 1 Lap 1 Lap 1 Lap 1 Lap 15 Laps 23 Laps 29 Laps DNS

Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo

GBR

09

PIT & PADDOCK

Simoni’s fourth spot is no consolation

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lan Simoni was not over the moon about taking fourth in the endurance race as he had pinned his hopes on the event bringing him important championship points. The Ferrara-based driver was still too angry at the Race 2 drive through. “I am not at all pleased with my weekend in Hungary and think it is one of the worst since I started competing. Fourth place is not bad going and it means I come away with a few points. I think I deserve the wooden spoon for the mistakes I made in Race 2. These came as a result of being hit with a drive through (for making a false start, ed) that I thought was wrong. This is not the first time I have but overly punished but, unfortunately, episodes like this can condition an entire championship campaign. Calamia is already uncatchable and, if he carries on the way he is going, the best I can hope for is second. Heading into Silverstone I am very worried for two reasons: the first is that Calamia was quick on the circuit last year even when he wasn’t displaying the form he is now; the second derives from the fact that I am a bit unlucky this season regarding on-track decisions. So, knowing what awaits at Silverstone, I will have to be absolutely perfect and cannot afford to make any mistakes at all”.

Fascicolo, one step at a time Three questions for...

Andreas Segler

One of the Trofeo Maserati’s best-known names he is a true gentleman, both on the track and off. The man in question is German lawyer Andreas Segler. Once out of his work suit, this is the third season he has pulled on the overalls to have fun at the wheel of the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo.

Tell us about your great race: “I am pleased. It was a positive race for me and the car was well balanced. I got off to a fine start, steered clear of trouble and began setting the pace that saw me climb up the field and pull off some great overtaking moves. I had a lot of fun today”.

This is your third season but you still manage to improve race after race…: “It’s true: I manage to get better and this is especially satisfying. I prepare very well for each round and even when I am on the track I try to work out the best racing lines, the braking points and other drivers’ styles”.

What do you think of the changes made to the 2014 Trofeo?

“I really like them: I give them the thumbs up. The new aerodynamics have made the car much more stable in curves and, thanks to the downforce guaranteed by the new spoiler, the front splitter and new rear diffuser, the Trofeo is much better balanced and fun to drive”.

T

here are some drivers who find the Hungaroring an unpleasant track where overtaking is very difficult and then there is Giuseppe Fascicolo. The driver from Veneto was one of the most exciting drivers on the track in Hungary, above all for the number of overtaking moves he was involved in: “In three years in the Trofeo Maserati”, began Fascicolo, “I have never overtaken as much as during this weekend”. This was despite it being his first time at the Hungaroring: “To tell the truth, I am only just beginning to interpret the track better now, even though I realise it is pretty late in the day. I hope to apply what I have learnt in Race 3 but it will be tough”. As mentioned, there was a lot of overtaking going on but the one involving Turley was the most demanding: “The duel with Turley was intense, maybe too intense as I think I was nudged a bit unnecessarily while yesterday (against his team-mate Cullen) things were much more above board”.

Herpell’s philosophy

CULLEN’S first maker of the year

H

erpell’s main aim, in the Trofeo events he has taken part in, was to enjoy the occasion. This means that the German’s finishing last was greeted with a smile and he didn’t shy away from the microphones at all. “I am struggling to get used to the speed and so haven’t found my tempo yet. I am still missing something and this will only come as the laps tick by so the most I could hope in was a fight not to finish last. I am setting consistent lap times but, unfortunately, I am not fast enough yet”.

A red ‘X’ on the calendar marks the Spa event because the Belgian meet was one to forget for the Irishman. In Hungary, on the other hand, Michael Cullen can write ‘11’ as this is where he finished in the weekend’s opening race. The result came after a positive drive that left him feeling satisfied: “I was involved in a couple of tight duels but I am not yet pacy enough to mix it with the big boys. I am pleased at how the race went, particularly as my car didn’t even make it past the first corner at Spa. Here I was happy to have made it through.

Together with my team-mate tomorrow, in Race 3, we will try to push on and trouble the top six”.

GBR

10

7

56 GBR

11

PRESSCONFERENCE .01

.02

Mauro Calamia

Andrea Cecchellero

“My second win of the season came down to getting a perfect start. This allowed me to close in on Andrea Cecchellero and overtake him at the first turn. I then focused on pushing hard and, once I had built up a lead, I just maintained it and tried not to make any mistakes”.

“The first turn influenced the entire race. Unfortunately starting on pole was not enough for victory. Mauro Calamia got past me and I couldn’t catch him. Still, I am happy at making the podium and I can’t complain at finishing second”.

.03

Gabriele Gardel “I am proud at the result in what was a very enjoyable race. I got off to a good start that allowed me to keep my rivals at arm’s length and went on to finish on the podium, the third this season”.

RACE 1 .01

RACE 2

Mauro Calamia

.03

“It was the perfect race: I managed to overtake the driver in pole, Kuppens, and held onto the lead until the finish line to celebrate my second victory at the Hungaroring. I had a few problems in the first few corners but, luckily, I soon settled into my rhythm to make up ground on the pack and close out without any problems”.

Riccardo Ragazzi “I can’t complain: a podium is a good result, breeds confidence and improves a season that had not begun well. I was quick late on but it is hard to overtake on this track. The same thing happened in Race 1 when I was in fourth but couldn’t find a way past the driver ahead of me. Third spot suits me fine!”

.02

Alberto Cola “This was the result we were looking for and I am pleased at how it came about: early on I was matching Calamia for lap times and this proves the value of our car and my performance. Then, in the second half of the race, the tyres suffered and this allowed Riccardo Ragazzi to catch me. We battled hard but fair and, in the end, I got the better of him”.

.01

Mauro Calamia

.03

RACE 3

Gabriele Gardel

“I have to be honest and say that the Hungaroring is not one of my favourites while I feel much more at home at Silverstone, for example. I am surprised at this fantastic one-twothree but, more than anything, I am pleased for Swiss Team. This afternoon’s race was really tough: it was very hot in the cockpit and the tyre pressure meant that I couldn’t keep the car stable. Things got better after the compulsory stop and I defended my lead despite having to spend extra time in the pit lane. Luckily, my main rivals also had to do the same”.

“It was important to finish in the points and I managed it in the endurance race. The only regret I have is not setting the best time in Qualifying 2 that would have also put me in a better grid position for Race 3, due to the combined times rule”.

.02

Riccardo Ragazzi “Di Luca got past me at the start and we began battling for position. Unfortunately we clashed a few laps later and Di Luca came off worse. I’m disappointed about it as he is a friend. I then found myself in second spot and I stayed there until the end. It is a significant result as I had to spend 15” longer in the pits than my main rivals. This was also the first time I have driven a 60-minute event on my own so I am pleased at the weekend in Hungary as I got better and better.

I picked up lots of points and this has boosted my confidence going into Spa”.

GBR

12

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