Archive for category: Championships

At the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, Joao Vieira has taken his first steps driving an Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Among the 28 drivers who have taken part of the first day of collective tests, the Brazilian driver has got behind the wheel of JD Motorsport team’s car for a first contact with this single-seater car, after having filed away his Tricolor Formula 4 season. 

For Joao it has been the first contact with the Spanish circuit and the single-seater which animates the trans-alpine brand, with the purpose of first evaluations in view of 2016.This first contact has been characterized by uncertain weather with a wet track in the morning and a dry one in the afternoon that have not anyway let Joao to make mistakes.“It was a really useful day to me because I had the opportunity to test a totally new car. Renault is more aerodynamic than Taurus F4. You can feel it especially in bend. Also the engine is more powerful. We are working for 2016 and in the next few weeks we are going to test another car to evaluate the best choice”,  Minardi Management driver Joao Vieira comments.

“We can only be glad about Joao’s work. Despite the changing conditions of the track have made his first contact more difficult,he has done well anyway not making any mistakes. Everything was new to him, from the track to the car.  We have to thank Renault for its invite and JD team for its work. We are looking around in view of 2016 and in the next few weeks we are going to test another car” manager Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti comment. 

The Brazilian flag flies high thanks to Joao Vieira that won race-2 at the Misano World Circuit where the Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth took place. A good result especially after the terrible crash occurred two weeks ago in Imola.

Unfortunately, after so many problems related particularly to the engine, the celebration and happiness for having won the first victory of the season, lasts little. The wet blanket of penalization (for not respecting the track limits beyond which warming up the tires during the sighting lap isn’t allowed ) falls upon our Joao and other four drivers.

An uphill week-end for the yellow-gold driver. After conquering the sixth place in both qualifying sessions, the commissioners canceled the chrono to the three cars of Antonelli Motorsport. Spriting from the last row in race-1, Joao becomes protagonist of the umpteenth comeback and closes in tenth which gives him the pole in race-2 where he gains a clear victory on track, that unluckily was annulled at the end of the race. As a precaution, also due to the after-effects of the accident in Imola, Joao doesn’t compete in race-3. “In a way I am happy because despite all the difficulties I succeeded in making a good comeback, winning then the sprint race. What a pity the penalization. It changes nothing in the standings, but it is a question of personal satisfaction. In race-3 I didn’t compete following the suggestion of my manager because I had suffered some pain during the previous races. Before thinking about 2016, I’ll continue the medical checks and exams” Joao Vieira comments.

“Joao closes a bitter season due to a lot of engine complications. This penalization have been the icing on the cake. I am very satisfied about his reaction on track. He didn’t discourage, proving all his worth in race. In race-1 he made a wonderful and incredible comeback that took him in pole for race-2. Now we’ll continue physical checks before starting our plans for 2016” manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

Aci Team Italia Velocità saw daylight in 2015 with Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello as color-bearers of Trident team, respectively in GP3 and GP2 Championship. This is only the last step of a long term program conceived by the Federation with the aim to help youngs along the Motorsport curvy path starting from karting.
In recent weeks, in an exclusive interview granted to www.minardi.it, Aci President Angelo Sticchi Damiani has taken stock of the situation: “The gained results clearly suggest that we are on the high road and we can say we achieved two important victory from now on. The first is against skepticism which has affected this project from the start. Always the same people, some on line magazines especially passed from an initial irony to a general no-comment. Even so, I don’t expect any support from them. The majority of media and “insiders” have soon understood that it was about the first steps of a serious project that will gain great results in the very near future. We achieved the second victory on the field making sure that the two guys at Trident could have a financial and communication support. So they could face at their best the season gaining good ,sometimes excellent, results”.After Monza, with three remaining scheduled week-ends, Luca Ghiotto leads the GP3 general standings, with Marciello at eight in GP2.

When you are talking about youngs you have to involve a talent-scout like the manger from Faenza, Gian Carlo Minardi, present at Monza during the F1 Italian Gp. “Team Italia has been rewarding the work of the Scuola Federale through Aci Sport selections aimed to go with and endorse guys in their advancement.We are talking about a sport which is extremely conditioned by raising finance and economy. Despite  difficult times, we have some young Italian and foreign guys, who “were borned”  in our minor formula and  have been putting themselves in the spotlight at international level”.
The work proceeds exactly from karting. “We look after the guys engaged in Kart and then in F4 Championship to find new Fuoco, Ghiotto, Marciello or Giovinazzi.
As a Federation, we have been absolutely the first to believe in this new formula, that will be able to give us great satisfactions”. An example of this is the the FDA Canadian, Lance Stroll, champion of the Italian F4 and now at the seventh place on the demanding European FIA Formula 3. At the second place we have, a handful of points away, our color-bearer Antonio Giovinazzi.
“We have to remind that Italy contributed to write very important pages in the History of Motorsport along with Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. I saw an example first-hand at Monza when Luca Ghiotto’s car has been subjected to many controls to the limit of patience. This kind of controls haven’t involved his competitors who strangely enough run for Art Gran Prix.

At this point a question is instinctive: what our drivers ad Italy lack to reach the top and F1? “We need a series B team, or as I call it, a “Mattress Team” to make grow these guys and put them to the test. A solution that Ferrari misses to complete the FDA projet which has been very criticized in recent days”, Gian Carlo Minardi continues. “Other groups can rely on a young team to appraise the breeding grounds, sometimes gaining important results. Sebastian Vettel, himself, setted aside by Red Bull, passed at BMW arising thanks to the free practice of Friday morning that are open to youngs. Got back by “the Soft-drinker” and parked in Toro Rosso, he had the chance to grow up winning his first race at Monza. Then he passed to Red Bull Racing and became four-time World Champion. This should be a cause of reflection. In Italy we have only Ferrari. We urgently need a secondary team”.

It was a bittersweet week-end for Joao Vieira. Once again he missed out a sure podium due to an engine complication of his Tatuus #50. Since the opening race the Antonelli Motorsport Brazilian driver has been slowing down by motor unit problems that affected heavily and negatively his path along the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth.

After signing the seventh place in qualifying, he started the fifth week-end gaining the second row in qualifying 2, thanks to the fourth Cronus just 2 dec from the pole position.
Unlucky the opening race lasts just a few hours forcing him to start from the 25th position in the 18’+ 1 round sprint race. Despite the entrance of two safety-cars, in a trail of just 2,702 km, Joao makes a wonder putting together 17 good over-takings in less than 10 laps with the green flag. With great determination, he was able to perform an outstanding comeback reaching the eight final place.
Straightened by this result he presented himself at the starting line of race 3 with the desire to go up the podium.
Meanwhile he was occupying the third place, the engine shattered any dream.“It has been a really discouraging week-end. Once again I narrowly failed the podium and once again it was because of the engine. Anyway I am very happy about the beautiful comeback in race 2. Making all that over-takings in a so few laps has been exciting”, Joao Vieira comments.

“There ‘s not much to say about it except that Joao’s potential and technical value has been showed during the race. Move from 25th place to 8th , despite two safety car, in 19’ of race is amazing. Surely with a podium in race 3 the week-end would have gained meaning. Unfortunately once again we have been stopped by an engine complication. It’s frustrating. In any case, we don’t capitulate, we wait Imola with anxiety and desire of payback” manager from Faenza, Giovanni Minardi, analyzes

Drivers Riccardo Negro and Gianni Vigorito spent two testing days at the Lonato Internation circuit with the aim of getting ready for Le Mans.

Riccardo and Gianni are going to defend IP Kating group’s colors in France, respectively in the International KZ2 Super Cup and in the World KZ Champs, with OK1 material managed by Lorenzo Foschiani. Therefore, after a forced break, Riccardo will reappear in an official group also thanks to the participation of Iame which is going to provide authorized motors. Whereas the “beating heart”of the vehicle used by the driver from Sturno will be TM motor managed by FR Racing from Udine. These two testing days allowed the two drivers to acquaint themselves with the kart and the new material in time for the momentous race of Le Mans.

“Looking ahead to Le Mans World Championship, test sessions in Lonato were excellent. I experienced many advantageous innovations and I am very satisfied. Bridgeston tires require a more meticulous drive compared with LeCont tyre compound” Gianni Vigorito comments.

“I was very satisfied with the material and the exclusive presence of Iame. After a long break I could put together few consecutive laps, but I gained interesting chronometric lap times. In these weeks before Le Mans I am going to work hard on the track to get ready” Riccardo Nigro comments.

“These were two really hard-working and profitable days because we had immediately important results. It was the first time Riccardo drove our material and he was particularly impressed by the brake system. Instead Bridgestone tires were the major unknown faced by Vigorito. Few laps were enough for him to cancel the lack of experience adapting quickly to the set-up. We ‘ll have the first official results during collective tests at Le Mans, but I am sure that bot Gianni and Riccardo will be able to drive very fast” OK1 Team Manager, Lorenzo Foschiani, comments.

“I am very happy about this new challenge with OK1. At last Riccardo returns to an official and such an important entity like IP Karting, thanks also to the support of Iame which are going to provide him the motor to attack KZ2. Instead Gianni will have a TM motor for the KZ1 race. After a forced break, Riccardo will have to return quickly to his rhythm while Gianni will have to get used to Bridgestone tires which requires a very clean drive” Alberto Tonti precisely analyzes.

“I am satisfied for both our bearers who will be able to be protagonist at the Le Mans World Championship with the support of such an official group. I am sure that they will both be able to attract attention” the manager from Faenza Giovanni Minardi comments.