From Campos to Sainz Jr.: the Faenza-Spain's axis

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Speaking about the Spanish Grand Prix, we can not forget Faenza-Spain’s axis, a twinning grown stronger and stronger over the years, through every Spanish driver, without only Pedro De La Rosa. The Minardi team led the way in 1987 hiring Adrian Campos. Today the baton has passed to Scuderia Toro Rosso, which can rely in its ranks on Carlos Sainz Jr., paired with the Dutchman Verstappen.

After its debut at the wheel of the M187, with its fourteenth placement as the best result exactly in Spain, Adrian Campos stopped in Faenza also the following season, along with Luis Perez Sala, before leaving the wheel of the M188 to Pierluigi Martini. For the team managed by Gian Carlo Minardi these were the first years in Formula 1 World Championship with its debut in 1985, but already in Detroit the first championship point was celebrated, thank to the sixth positiona of the manger from Romagna.

We arrive to the late 90’s and early 2000 with Marc Gené and Fernando Alonso. Before moving into Williams’ ranks ans then  Ferrari as test driver, Gené defends the colors of the Minardi team in the 1999 and 2000 seasons, together with Luca Badoer and Gaston Mazzacane, winning points in the European Grand Prix at the wheel of the M01 with Ford engine, before passing the baton to his compatriot and future bi-world champion Fernando Alonso. The last Minardi’s Spanish driver was Antonio Garcia, who in 2002 fallen was at the wheel of Mark Webber’s PS02 for a test-drive, before moving successfully in competitions. In his record of achievements, it appeared in fact the ninth place in the WTCC ’05, along with 2008-2009-2011 victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the wheel of Aston Martin and Corvette and 2009-2015 successes in the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Considering the TR, 2009 was the year of Jaime Alguersuari and this year of son Carlos Sainz Jr. “They were really many Spanish drivers and I am pleased that since the Minardi Team signed his F1 debut in 1985, all drivers, except one, are passed to Faenza. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was the house race“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “I have wonderful memories of both Spanish fans and drivers, an I am still in good terms with them. The last Spanish arrived in Faenza is Sainz Jr; he has all the skills to do well. I hope he’ll have better luck than his proceeded Alguersuari, victim of RB’s mistakes. In 2006, I attended his debut in Formula, at Imola: pole, victory and fastest lap in both races. I thought about a future in F1, that there has been, bout too short“, the manager from Faenza concludes. He will in Barcelona to follow also Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello, busy in GP3 and GP2 as bearers of ACI Team Italia.

F.1 – Road to Barcelona

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The Spanish Grand Prix is traditionally an important sign for season’s performances. In these three weeks of apparent silence all big teams have worked to bring to Barcelona the developments they’ve studied, both on chassis and power-unit.

Rumors speak about an improvement of 3/4 tenths for Ferrari, but only the circuit will give us the final report. Mercedes has still frozen the engines, while Ferrari and Williams have worked on all fronts. Unfortunately, we read too little of Lotus, Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso. This signal is not positive.

Therefore, Formula 1 prepares his arrival in the old country, with Hard and Medium compounds. A good test for tyres, on an abrasive track characterized by lateral forces that don’t stress just stress just tyres. We’ll see if Mercedes will be able – as I believe – to maintain its leadership and if Maranello confirms his second place at Williams’ expenses.

Behind the top four driver, there’s battle for the fifth position. Excluding Manor – for obvious reasons – they are all very close. It will be interesting to follow their battles. As I mentioned in recent weeks, the days following Barcelona GP will be crucial, with several boards of directors at Renault-BMW-Audi, which could reorganize the F.1. We also have Mr. Red Bull eager to join Bernie Ecclestone’s CVC. It could trigger a vortex.

With regard to Spain, I have to talk about the Spanish drivers and the Spain-Faenza’s axis. With the exception of Pedro De La Rosa, every Spanish F.1 driver started from Faenza, and many of them from the Minardi team. We start in ’87 -’88 with Adrian Campo and Sala in the ’88 -’89 season, to get to Marc Gene in 1999-2000, Fernando Alonso in 2000-2001 and Antonio Garcia who tried with us in 2002. Moving to Toro Rosso in 2009, Alguersuari arrived, till today with Sainz Jr. For Minardi Team, along with Monza and Imola, the Spanish GP was a little ‘house’ race. I do have a very good relationship with all the drivers who still meet gladly.

With Barcelona also the preliminary series are getting going. GP2 will reach its second appointment, while the spotlights will switch on GP3. The ACI Team Italia with Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello will start; they are both Trident bearer respectively in GP3 and GP2. I’ll be personally in Barcelona to closely observe our young drivers and see what device put to use in order to enhance their growth. It’s a very important step of the work planned by Aci-Sport.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F.4 – Joao Vieira, a second place to start the Championship

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This result is certainly not enough for Joao Vieira and the team of Antonelli Motorsport at Vallelunga circuit, scene of the opening round of the second season of the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth.

The first racing weekend started under the best star for the yellow-gold Brazilian driver from Gurupi, leading his Tatuus #50 in the top positions and taking the lead in the second free practice session, prelude to the P3 and P2 won in two rounds of Qualifying, valid for race 1 and race 3. In the opening race Joao signed his first podium, thanks to the second place at the end of 28 ‘+ 1 lap of the race, followed by a good fourth in the sprint-race. With the rule of grid inversion, the driver managed by Minardi Management moved from the ninth position, succeeding in a great comeback in just 13 laps, getting to the foot of the podium and confirming the second place in the drivers’ standings, with 24 points. The biggest regret comes in race 3. The staff of Marco Antonelli is forced to change the Abarth engine, but Tatuus performances are no longer the same. A good battles with David Alexander Beckmann began: the Russian driver tried to overcome several times the Brazilian, until, unfortunately, the contact, which penalized Vieira with a drive-through, closing in twelfth place and out of the score zone.

“The biggest regret is what happened in race 3. I do not find correct the drive-through that has been assigned me. Commissioners saw the video, but there was nothing to do. Unfortunately, it cost me a third / fourth place. Important points in the championship. A real shame. It will be a hard-fought championship, but we have proven to be there for the victory too. Now, I wait for Monza for the speedy redemption. We are only at the first of seven rounds. The season is still long“, Joao Vieira says.

“Up to race 2, the weekend was going in the right way. Joao proved to be among the fastest drivers on track, managing to win the second place in race 1, putting together a good recovery in race 2. Unfortunately, the result of race 3 leaves us a very bad taste in mouth. Between race 2 and race 3, the team had to change Joao’s engine. Being a new unit, it was still to test and therefore not 100%. Unfortunately, there’s been the drive-through that has denied a final fourth place and, consequently, important points for the championship. Honestly, we do not agree with this decision, but we accept it and we remain focused in view of the appointment of Monza “, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

Next round of the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth is scheduled in Monza, for the weekend of May 31st.

F.4 – Joao Vieira is determined visiting Vallelunga circuit

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Vallelunga Circuit is ready to get up the curtain on the second edition of the F.4 Italian Championship powered by Abarth. Among the major players, along with about 25 cars, there will also Joao Vieira who will appear at the start of the big favourites.

The yellow-gold bearer of Antonelli Motorsport get to the first of seven Racing weekends after several months of training, both athletic and on track, gaining the new record at Monza and Imola. In the last test session, just along the 4,085 mt of “Piero Taruffi” circuit, Joao excelled with his Tatuus F.4, ranking leaving the top of the second day, slowed only by a gearbox problem. “I can not wait to get on track for the first free practice session. Since that time, it will be true Championship. The season will begin. My goal, and that of the whole team, will be start with the right foot and pointing to the title will certainly not be easy though. I can count on one more year of experience, knowing curves, car and team. The novelty compared to 2014 will only Franciacorta and Misano circuits. I had the opportunity to learn about the MWC during a test day”, the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, comments. For pleasantries, Franciacorta were sent back.

“Finally we start, after many kilometres on track and so many hours of training in and outside the centre where he trains. From what I’ve seen in recent months working with Joao, he is ready to fight for the championship win. We do not know the true values of the Championship, because during testing we did not get to all join together on track, but I’m sure both Joao Antonelli and the team are ready for the first challenge“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

The appointment of the inaugural Formula 4 Italy will start Friday, May 1st with the two free practice sessions of 30’each, in preparation of the two Qualifying rounds on Saturday (9:10am and 9:35am), crucial for the deployment of the two races from 28′ + 1 lap (Saturday at 02:10 pm and Sunday at 02:20pm). Traffic lights of spint-race of 18 ‘+ 1 lap will switch off instead on Sunday morning at 9:00am.