Backstage –………towards F1

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Last weekend represented not only the second appointment of the F1 racing season, but it was also the opening weekend of those preparatory championships which have the important mission of forging the future world champions.

Just in concomitance with the Malaysian GP, the GP2 racing season took its start at Sepang circuit. The GP2 Championship was created to complete drivers’ apprenticeship and facilitate their access into the top category, “I think we reached the 80% of our goal. The economic crisis didn’t help the programme, as F1 teams have to face with their financial resources, as well. This is the reason why, especially over the last few 3-4 years, the drivers who could bring a great amount of money to teams were favoured. It is still a valuable championship, as the car used to race is powerful and demanding. Driving that car, you can learn how to control yourself and it’s a good training for a future step into F1”, said the manager Giovanni Minardi.  “I’m expecting this championship to be hard-fought and difficult, as showcased by qualifying where 16 drivers crossed the line within 1 second. Tyres will rule the race, as well as drivers’ consistency. Now 6-7 drivers are competing for the world title. Among them we can find Coletti, Cecotto, Ericsson, Calado and Bird, five young drivers whose performance level wasn’t consistent in the past”.

 

At the same time the curtain rose over the Auto GP and the FIA International F3 Championship at Monza National Circuit “It’s still too early to make a prediction regarding Auto GP, as the grid is composed both by very young drivers (who are just 18) and more experienced ones. It will be so interesting to see how many of them will contest the whole season, because, starting from the next race, there will be more cars involved. Riccardo Agostini powerfully got the pole, but some issues during the race made him lose the podium”, said also Minardi “Regarding the FIA F3 Championship, the driver Marciello is contesting his second Championship, so he must win it. He took a great start of season, but he has to pay attention to many other drivers who are competing for the title: his teammate Lynn and some outsiders such as Auer, Buller, who delivered very good performances during practices at the wheel of the Dallara-Nissan and Rosenqvist with the Dallara-Mercedes. To Marciello’s benefit, Wehrlein will be promoted to DTM, starting form next race. We should also keep eyes on Giovinazzi (Dallara-Mercedes), who is at his first experience in such a demanding championship.”

 

Giovanni, in his long experience as a manager, helped drivers such as Maldonado to make his first step into the world of F1 by making him test a Minardi F1 car. He’s presently the manager of another great driver, Davide Rigon, “There isn’t a recipe to understand if a driver has that extra oomph. All is given by the match of different aspects. First of all it’s very important to follow a driver and see him acting on track to know his driving style. Then, it’s so important to have a deep knowledge of the championship, of the team he runs with and of the curriculum. The driver’s improvement throughout the season is also another important item to be carefully taken into consideration. To end up, you have to know the racing environment in details, as it changes so quickly”, ended up the manager from Faenza.

Examination passed with flying colours for Bhai Tech

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A lot of work was done over the past few days at the Bhai Tech Advanced Vehicle Centre, the new cutting-edge vehicle centre located in Mestrino (not far from Padua) and conceived by the businessman Mr. Ferdinando Bada. The Centre hosted a three-day-event dedicated to all the young promises of the international motorsport.

Seven young drivers, racing in the main national and international championships – Formula ACI CSAI Abarth, Formula 3, GP3 and GT – had the opportunity to test the cutting-edge full motion driving simulator and experience mental and physical training. All the work done was made thanks to the presence of a gym equipped with advanced equipments and motorsport specialists, all supported by the staff of the Forlì based Driver Program Centre.

The centre was established to sustain the professional growth of drivers and teams by technologically contributing to tweak racing cars, as Mr. Roberto Costa, the technical manager, told to Autosprint: “A team which wants to cooperate with us conveys everything about tyres, set-up and downforce. All data are put into the system and, after defining a basic set-up, we start simulating.” Bhai Tech main facility is just the 6-DOF driving simulator, which is equipped with 5 outboard headlamps and an 8m210° curved screen with rear-view images. “In many F1 teams usually a hundred people are involved in this field”, says Mr. Costa, “we’re able to offer clients this kind of advanced technology by only involving few people, so to get costs down and make it affordable for teams”.

The GT driver Nicola De Marco, along with Juan Branger and Santiago Urrutia, two other young drivers running in the Formula Abarth, were invited to test Bhai Tech’s driving simulator. The rookie champion Santiago Urrutia, who was at his first experience at the wheel of a simulator, commented as follows “It was an amazing experience. I had the chance to run 20 laps on the Monza track at the wheel of a GP2 car. Everything was new to me, except the track. The simulator is an absolutely realistic and wonderful vehicle. I think it could be a good substitute for on-track tests”, said the future Open F3 driver. Alessandro Cicognani, the 21-year-old driver who ran in the Carrera Cup Championship last season, thinks the same, too “I think the centre is really fantastic, the simulator is so professional and realistic. It can perfectly simulate reality. When I got off the vehicle I felt like I had run on track. Arms and legs are stimulated just like when you’re racing on track, even though you have to be more concentrated. I think it’s an ideal device for the drivers racing in the GP2 and WSR 3.5 Championships, where you don’t have much time to test the track and private tests are so expensive”, ended up the driver from Ravenna.

His thoughts were also echoed by the Open F3 Champion Niccolò Schirò and the Trident GP3 team racer David Fumanelli “I think the simulator could be a good substitute for on-track tests. I drove a GP2 car for the first time and I got along so well with it, even if I had a little bit of headache, so I didn’t manage to race for too long”, said Schirò “I was astonished by the centre, which is so modern and advanced. It’s equipped with all sort of equipment, just like a F1 Team. The simulator is so developed and it’s even better than the ones used by F1 Teams, because it was built using better materials. Given the fact they’re at their first stages, I have to say that the base is so good. I drove a GP2 car, too, but on Barcelona track”, said Fumanelli “I had never driven this kind of car before and I was amazed by braking. I think it could be so useful to get ready for a GP3 or GP2 racing weekend, since you don’t have much time to test the track. For example, you can train to find the right braking point, besides working on the set-up.”
Nicolò Granzotto, who will be the next Antonelli Motorsport Team driver in the Carrera Cup Championship, was enthusiastic about the simulator, too “The centre is amazing and it’s run by a very professional staff. Nothing is left to chance. The driving simulator is astonishing, as it can perfectly simulate reality. Just after a few laps, everything becomes so automatic, as if you were on track. It’s an essential device and I think it should be tried, as it allows you to work both on car balance and braking points. Along with the engineers support, telemetry can also be analyzed. I want to praise the staff of the Driver Program Center who made us do some physical and mental training before and after the simulator session.”

BHAI TECH EXPERIENCE DAY

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By the joint effort of “bhai tech”, the new advanced vehicle centre located in Mestrino (Padua-Italy), which has been established to develop the professional growth of drivers and technologically contribute to the set up of racing cars, and the Minardi Management of Mr. Giovanni Minardi, a new event has come about: the “bhai tech experience day. It’s a 3-days event dedicated to a selected group of drivers who have been invited to attend it considering their experience in running different Championships such as GP2, GP3, WSR 3.5, Formula 3, F. Renault Eurocup and Formula ACI CSAI Abarth.
From February 18 to 20 at “bhai tech”, the young drivers will test the cutting edge full motion driving simulator and will experience mental and personal training, thanks to a gym equipped with advanced equipments and to the presence of sport specialists.

Rigon winks at the WSR 3.5 and thinks about the GT2

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The past season was full of important events for Davide Rigon, who was engaged in his first GT racing season behind the wheel of the Ferrari 458 in the Blancpain Endurance Series and at Ferrari, where he was and still is at the “Scuderia” disposal for sport and commercial activities “It was a fantastic year, full of engagements. I spent so many days working on the simulator to help the team developing the car, going on with my apprenticeship behind the wheel of a F1 car. It’s exciting to see how important details are. Nothing is left to chance. During each simulator session you have to be constant and give specific clues to engineers, in order to make them follow the right guidance”, says Davide.
The most exciting event was the Rookie Test on the Magny-Cours track, driving a Ferrari F2012, during which the talented driver from Vicenza didn’t spare his energy by running more than 700 km and 165 laps “I really fulfilled my dreams. After working on the simulator and making several aerodynamic tests, it’s really exciting to have the opportunity to take part in an official test with the team from Maranello. It was so good to work with an official team and collaborate with it like official drivers do. This testing session represented another step towards the top series.”
The experience with the Kessel Team in the Blancpain Endurance Series was so positive, even if unfortunately, some unlucky events affected the final result “I contested the first two races as an apprentice, as I had never tested the car before. However, I got along so well with the Kessel Team and my team mates. We were the fastest out of 60 drivers, but unfortunately, having only 6 races to contest, it was so difficult to make up for lost ground, even because of some unlucky events.”
Now it’s time to think about the new season in which Davide, after contesting a race at Paul Ricard with the BVM-Target Team, winks at the World Series by Renault 3.5, and he’s also interested in the GT2 “It’s early now, but I would like to race with a competitive team, starting to work with it since winter testing. I’m still so young but experienced and the format of the WSR Championship is the most similar to the F1 Championship.
On the contrary, in the GP2- 30-minutes sessions, most of the times, on-track results doesn’t reflect a driver real skills. We’re talking about the two most important Championships, after the F1. I just want to keep my feet on the ground, so I would like to continue my experience in the GT. I’ve had the chance to test the Ferrari GT2 and I was positively surprised by that. Running races like Le Mans wouldn’t be less important. I will continue to work with the “Scuderia”, trying to make the most of the work done over the last years. I know the working methods and I’m faster to give clues and recognize details. So I hope to take part in other tests, as my main goal is F1. I’m so glad and honoured to be part of this amazing family, even because it’s the most important and valued team all over the world.”

Rigon at Silverstone to emulate Monza’s successful racing weekend

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More than one month after Monza successful racing weekend, Davide Rigon gets ready to drive the Ferrari 458 of Kessel Team, again.

The Blancpain Endurance Series’ second round will be competed on the charming historical track of Silverstone, where F.1 World Championship competitions take place since 1950s. On the 5891 m long track, the talented driver, along with his teammates Zampieri and Ramos, will try to keep the lead of the Championship, displaying the same stunning performances he had previously displayed at Monza circuit.

The circuit landmarks are the three famous corners named Maggots, Becketts and Chapel which lead to the long straight called Hangar Straight “Those are the circuit’s three most important corners to set a good lap time, especially if you drive a GT car which has a low downforce. It is so important to keep a good race pace since the first corner”, says Davide Rigon “I cannot wait for driving the Ferrari 458 again. Almost one month has passed since my last successful race at Monza. We’re charged-up to race at Silverstone as we’re aware we can drive a successful race, even if it won’t be easy. We’ll have to pay attention to McLaren and Audi. I’m also very satisfied with Pirelli tyres as they fit our car almost perfectly.” When we talk about Silverstone, we know that weather is always a wild card “Silverstone has always been a rainy track, so rain will be one more variable.”

“At Monza they demonstrated to be powerful, as they were the fastest drivers on track and kept an unbeatable pace from the beginning to the end. So I feel confident also for the race in Silverstone. They’re leading the Championship. I just want to wish good luck to Davide and the team”, says the manager Giovanni Minardi.

The racing weekend will start on Saturday at 11am with the only 90 min. free practice session, followed by pre-qualifying to start at 16.35. The qualifying session will start on Sunday at 9 am and will be followed by a three-hour-race session to start at 14.50.

The Silverstone race will be streaming live on the Championship’s official website, Bloomberg Television and Eurosport. It could be watched all over Europe.

Gian Carlo Minardi “ Vallelunga confirmed the value of our Championships”

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Last week the “Piero Taruffi” circuit at Vallelunga hosted those young talented drivers who enlivened the exciting Italian-European F.3 and F.ACI CSAI Abarth racing season.
The two F.Abarth young drivers Luca Ghiotto ( born in 1995 and vice-Italian Champion) and Santiago Urrutia (born in 1996, Uruguayan 2012 Rookie Champion) made their debut into the F.3, doing battle with each other over the four days of the ninth ACI-CSAI Federation Supercorso, while the kart drivers Zani, Corberi and Iacobacci, selected by the Federation School and the Ferrari Driver Academy, undertook the Tatuus FA provided by the Federation itself, for the first time.
“ Once again the guys kept up with the situation. Despite their young age, they paid so much attention to the Federation School instructors’ advices and to the FDA Engineers’ suggestions, demonstrating an aptitude for open wheels. The kart drivers Zani, Corberi and Iacobacci had the chance to “taste” the power of a single-seat car for the first time, while with Ghiotto and Urrutia, the drivers who enlivened the Italian and European F. ACI CSAI Abarth Championships, we’ve had a further confirmation of how competitive and training the series is. The two drivers did a hard battle with each other behind the wheel of a F.3 car, the “elder sister” of F.Abarth, running very fast times compared to the ones run by the league winners few weeks ago during the Championship “, says Gian Carlo Minardi.
The “five racing days” on the Roman track ended up with the Italian F.3 Champions running the traditional test behind the wheel of a F.1 car such as the Ferrari F60, provided by the FDA. Along with Riccardo Agostini and Eddie Cheever Jr, the European F.3 Championship winner Juncadella was capped to take part in the race, as well “ It was so interesting to technically test guys coming from different driving experiences. Once again this event showed the value of the Italian F.3, which represents the first step for those drivers coming from promotional Championships. We’ve been so pleased to notice that both Agostini and Cheever, two drivers who have run in all stages (from kart to F.3), managed to be a match for a more experienced racer such as Juncadella, who is older than them and has much more technical experience.
Last week results are a proof that the work done by the Federation School and FDA is bearing fruit. No doubt Italy doesn’t lack talents, it only lacks financial resources to support their career into the world of motorsport. We shall work harder to find the right synergy and, as ACI CSAI we’re all working to support as best we can drivers and Championships”, ends up Minardi, a former Italian constructor and current Federation advisor.
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Gian Carlo Minardi: “ A heart-stopping end of season also for the Italian F.3”

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dallara-mygale.jpg'It’s a heart-stopping finish for the Italian ACI CSAI Formula and F.3 Championships. After the Formula Abarth struggle on the edge of a thousandth, an exciting Italian F.3 season has come to an end on Monza track. The verdict has been returned only after a vibrant struggle in which three drivers, members of two different teams, were involved.
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F.3 – At Monza Latifi finishes a racing season during which he has so much progressed

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nicholas_latifi.jpg'The races run on Monza track marked the end of the Italian F3 European Series Championship and the end of Nicholas Latifi’ first racing season behind the wheel of a Formula car.
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GT – Davide Rigon draws attention on himself at Navarra

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In the final racing weekend of Blancpain GT Endurance Series which took place at the Spanish circuit of Navarra, Davide Rigon drew attention on himself by keeping a top driver pace and leading his Ferrari 458 to the second place, before yielding the wheel to his team mate Gattuso.
Two years after winning the Superleague Formula Championship for the second time, the talented Italian driver is now ready to go back to the Spanish track behind the wheel of his Ferrari 458. In a cool and rainy Sunday, Davide took the lead of the car during the second hour of the race and soon managed to get up to the 2nd position, next to McLaren.
When the rain was getting harder and harder and the race was getting into the final part, Rigon had to pit to change tyres and yielded the wheel to his team mate. Due to heavy rain, the track was impracticable, so the race director decided to stop the race a little bit in advance, just after the safety car dominated the track for a long time.
“ It was a good weekend, I like the Navarra circuit so much. Last time I raced here was in 2010, when I won the Superleague Formula Championship for the second time. We handled a good race since qualifying and during the race I managed to get up to the 2nd position under a rainy weather, and got next to the McLaren. As rain was getting harder and harder, we decided to pit and that was the moment I yielded the wheel to my team mate. It was a hard season and the Championship was very selective. I want to thank Kessel Team for giving me such a great opportunity.”
With the race at Navarra, Davide Rigon’ first racing season in the GT Blancpain Endurance Series ends up. It’s a magnificent Series in which more than 50 cars were involved throughout the six venues scheduled for the Championship.
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F.3 – Nicholas Latifi ready for the final race in Monza

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nicholas_latifi.jpg'This weekend the circuit of Monza will host the final race of the Italian F3 European Series Championship and the Italian F3 Championship. It’s been 6 months since the opening race in Valencia and, weekend after weekend Nicholas Latifi has been able to rise in grid, obtaining the podium in the last two races, in fact he finished second in Imola and scored an impressive win at Vallelunga.
The 17 year-old Italian-Canadian driver, to whom the series represents his debut behind the wheel of a single-seater car, has managed to go as far as fighting against more experienced runners who have a deeper knowledge of the car and of all the International tracks which hosted both series. In these months Latifi has not only demonstrated his exceptional talent behind the wheel of the Mygale F.3, but he has also shown resolve and obduracy.
In the “speed mecca”, the driver of JD Motorsport Team, will try to end up his first season at best, aiming at scoring as many points as possible to preserve the 4th place in the rookie standing and the 7th in the general standing.
“ I think that Top 5 is within my reach. After finishing second in Imola and winning at Vallelunga, my next goal is to obtain another important result to raise in the standing further. Compared to other tracks, qualifying will be not so decisive to get a good final result, considering the long straights which compose the track. The layout of the Monza circuit gives you several opportunities to make a pass.”, says Nicholas Latifi.
“We are all focussed and highly motivated coming off such an incredible Vallellunga race weekend. Nicholas’ impressive victory in the final sprint race on Sunday was an incredible accomplishment, he is determined to continue his momentum going into Monza. His progression this year has been extremely impressive and once again has demonstrated his immense driving talent and natural ability”, says David Tennyson, the driver coach.
“ We’ve come to the final race, so we want to end up the season by obtaining another good result, in the wake of race-3 at Vallelunga. In this way we’ll also help our team mate to win both Championships, given the fact he’s the leader of both standings.”, says Giovanni Minardi, the sport advisor.
The racing weekend will start on Friday with one session of free practices ( 9.00-09.30 )to be followed by qualifying which will determine the starting grid of the two races. The 22 minutes- long first race, scheduled for Saturday, will start at 14.15 and the 30 minutes- long second race will start on Sunday at 09.00. The sprint race, which is the final race of the season, will start at 16.00.
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F.3 – Nicholas Latifi discovers the Monza track

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nicholas_latifi.jpg'Waiting for the last racing weekend of the Italian Formula 3 – European Series, scheduled for the next October the 21st on Monza track and also valid for the tricolour series, Nicholas Latifi has been back to work behind the wheel of his Mygale 18, to take part in the collective test which took place just on the track located in Northern Italy.
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WSR 3.5 – Davide Rigon with BVM-Target at Paul Ricard

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rigon.jpg'These are exciting days for Davide Rigon. After experiencing the rookie test at Magny-Cours behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2012 and running the 5th race of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the wheel of the Ferrari 458, It’s time for the talented Italian driver to race back behind the wheel of a single-seater car in an official competition.
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