Archive for category: News

Alfa Romeo possible return to racing, announced by Ferrari President Sergio Marchionne during the year-end press conference, did not surely go unnoticed rekindling fans’ passion.

The so called “Big snake” has a glorious past in Motorsport, from F1 World Championship to Touring car race with Nicola Larini’s successes in 90s DTM. “Those were the golden years of Italian Motorsport, during which the team from Turin was engaged on all fronts: F1 with Ferrari, Rally and prototypes with Lancia, and Touring with Alfa Romeo, without forgetting Maserati” Gian Carlo Minardi consulted by Minardi.it comments about a possible Alfa Romeo return to races.“Surely, their come back would be terrific and an important news. I keep sustaining that Sports is the best means for a brand promotion. Even the most distracted young remembers Lancia success in the Rally World Championship with Delta or Nicola Larini’s seals under the wheel of his 155. Thanks to these programs, our boys then found a way towards professionalism. Drivers like Larini, Nannini and Pratese are the result of that kind of experiences. I can evaluate an Alfa Romeo return to races only in a positive way”.

Giulia, their last creature that will enter the market from 2016 has been launched in recent months. Along with Ferrari, the group from Turin has been conquering the scene with Abarth, thanks to a partnership with Formula 4 that saw his debut precisely in Italy two years ago with a project made in Italy thanks to Tatuus frames and Pirelli tyres.“As ACI’ we have been the first in the world to believe in FIA project linked to new Formula 4, and we have created a very strong product. Until now, F4 is the most important championship numerically speaking, and 2016 data are astounding. Abarth is a brand that attracts attention, so much than in Germany national F4 is the only race that includes a not German group. We must be proud of that” the manager from Faenza concludes.

Two days of hard work on Barcelona’s track for Joao Vieira, who almost two months later his debut in Jerez, was back under the wheel of a Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 belonging to JD Motor-sport team. 

At his first contact with the Spanish track, the Driver from Brazil curated by Minardi Management had kept working with the engineers of the team from Novara for next season; he achieved over 100 laps with interesting lap times and without any mistakes. After becoming familiar with 4655 mt of Catalan track, a lot of setup tests were made to study the performance of the single-seater.Returning from Formula 4 Tricolore, Joao and his entourage are assessing the best solution for 2016.

“These two days have been important, I had the opportunity to do a lot of work along with JD team and I a lot of kilometers under the wheel of the car without doing any mistakes, with good time lap times. Surely, I still have a good improvement margin, but I start from a good base. Unfortunately, these were the last two test days granted by regulation. Now I have to wait until February to get back in the car. I really like the car, and I get on with the team. So, i hope to be able to define as soon as possible my next schedule. Meantime I am going to keep studying English” Joao Vieira comments.

“These test sessions have been very important and positive to Joao it has been a very important and positive test session. He had the opportunity to make a lot of kilometers under the wheel of F.R. 2.0 without any mistakes. So he could work with continuity. After studying the track along with JD engineers, we made a lot of setup tests with the purpose of helping Joao’s perception with the new car. I must thanks all the team staff for their excellent work. I admit that we would like to race in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and we are working to find an agreement as soon as possible”, Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti comment. 

He has just closed his TCR International Series season with Honda Civic, but he defended the colors of Minardi Team in Formula 1 World Championship from 1990 to 1992. Minardi.it has met Gianni Morbidelli just back from Argentine to relive those years along with Gian Carlo Minardi and his boys.

After joining Scuderia Italia, you made your debut with Minardi in 1990 during the US Grand Prix that was preparatory to entire 1991 season.
The two last grand prix of 1990 season were the prelude to two beautiful years with Gian Carlo Minardi. It was like a family life with true human relationships. I had the opportunity to learn a lot and to grow professionally. From the point of view of results, we had some difficult races because we lacked reliability. In qualifying we could safeguard ourselves at first thanks to Ferrari and then to Lamborghini engines, but during the race we have always had a lot of problems due to reliability. M191 was the first car signed by a very young Aldo Costa who proved all his value in Mercedes, and with whom I have maintained a wonderful relationship. In 1991 he managed a difficult very long 12-cylinder which also created some twisting complications on the frame.

You spent with Gian Carlo Minardi’s team also ’92 season. Which moment do you remember more pleasantly?
The Mexican Grand Prix was one of the most beautiful one, I closed in seventh and missed the point zone just for a place. Unfortunately, unlike today, points were assigned in dribs and drabs at that time. Qualifying in Imola is another pleasant memory: Pierluigi Martini faced me till death, tenth after tenth, and we both gained the top 10. One can’t forget the excellent cuisine of Minardi. Drivers from other teams used to come and eat under our pavilion. I have maintained a good relationship with many of them and particularly with Luca Zama.

The most difficult moment?
It is linked to a tragicomic event. During qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps, I destroyed my Minardi due to an incomprehension with Jean Alesi. Into the pits, Gian Carlo made me get on the spare car to end my session. Then the suspension stopped to work and I crashed again. At that point, from the radio, Gian Carlo Minardi told me:” come back, but don’t hurry up, after all we are short of cars”. Even in the most difficult moments, he has always been able to defuse tensions with a joke or an adage from Romagna.

How did the Circus change your life?
In that period I had a double visibility, I was a first-string for a F1 team, and I was also a Ferrari test driver. The fame and all the events overpowered me. I was in a kind of limbo, also because I was very young. I was in the place where every guy would have liked to be. I didn’t realized what was going on. Everything was lived with enthusiasm. Instead, growing up I enjoyed the experience.

The transition period from 1991 to 1990 spectated the arrival of Ferrari engine in Faenza.
Compared to Ford…it was  totally a different world. At that time cars were constantly improved.We passed from 8 to 12-cylinder. Just because of the couple and the noise, they were two opposite “means”. 12-cylinder “sound” was a symphony. Driving it was a pleasure.

If you had to tell a particular and funny story about Gian Carlo Minardi and his Romagna?
The phrases that he was usual to say, something like “Let’s pack the violin and let’s go” or “Confident is dead”. I remember Gian Carlo’s humanity fondly. We were accustomed to eat piadina romagnola and tortellini, but once invited in Kyoto by a Japanese sponsor we had to stay in a typical Japanese hotel with all their customs and habits, from the cuisine to massages, very long ones. We laughed a lot.

You shared the pit with Martini-Fittipladi and Zanardi. Who was the nut harder to crack?
Definitely Piero Martini. A real bulldog and an integral part of Minardi team. He was fast and determined. I was an ambitious young, and he was a successful driver. He has been a great stimulus to push stronger and stronger.

You have just closed TCR International Series.
Among high and low moments. We have also led the championship, but in the second part of the season we experienced some problem with the turbo and the brakes that excluded us from the challenge for the title. Compared to others, our car was “unripe” due to a lack of kilometers. I am in an excellent relationship with the team and I have the will to continue with TCR. I hope to define my 2016 schedule by Christmas.

The curtain has fell on the World Championship, so let’s grade the protagonist of Abu Dhabi GP along with Gian Carlo Minardi.

Nico Rosberg – 9 his weekend was perfect. He waited the right moment to place his sixth consecutive pole position closing the season with an impeccable race. I remain dazed about his ending-season metamorphosis. Having a fight in family all the season would be very interesting from a motoring point of view.

Sergio Perez – 8 we must reward him because he has matured along all the season, leaving behind Nico Hulkenberg, who was considered the emerging driver. Perez got the largest part of points appraising himself and his team.

Kimi Raikkonen – 7 finally he was able to appraise what he had at his disposal without overdoing, avoiding the mistakes of last races and closing in a positive third place. Unfortunately he can’t take advantage of his Ferrari at 100% as Vettel does.

Daniel Ricciardo – 7 despite his problematic car, he was able to close in sixth.

Grosjean – 7 he fought with a knife between his teeth closing his adventure with Lotus. Like Perez, he proved an important progress in view of 2016.

Jenson Button – 7 he hindered Alonso and defended his position despite his McLaren.

Sebastian Vettel – 5,5 he started in last position and closed in fourth “mimicking” Valentino Rossi, but he has some responsibility for Saturday’s hash.

 Lewis Hamilton – 5 I can not understand why he is so nervous. Probably e relaxed or he suffers his team-mate’s capacity.

Fernando Alosnso – 5 despite  his capacity- as his time demonstrates – and the problematic McLaren, he has to avoid certain declarations and polemics.

 Max Vrstappen and carlos Sainz – 5 I have always endorsed them appraising their performances, but last Sunday the ymade some mistakes.