F3 – Nicholas Latifi "My target is the rookie title"

Redazione — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:09:10 +0000

From Canada to Italy. From karts to Italian Formula 3 European series. This weekend for the sixteen year old Italian-Canadian driver Nicholas Latifi begin an exciting ew challenge in the national series at the wheel of the Dallara FTP with the team BVM-Target.

It will be their first experience in the car after having performed well in the Canadian championships in karting and having opened in 2012 by winning the title in the “Florida Winter Tour DD2,” which follows the many successes in the past season and the laurels of 2011 and 2012 leagues in the Americas and in the Bridgestone F2000-2010.
Our microphones have reached the pilot who could become the new Villeneuve.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE VICTORY IN THE “FLORIDA WINTER TOUR DD2” THIS VICTORY CAME AT THE LAST RACE THAT MAKES THE TITLE EVEN MORE EXCITING. TELL US ABOUT YOUR SEASON.
For the first and second round of the championship back in January, I didn’t quite get the start I wanted in the championship. I had the speed to win but things just didn’t go my way that weekend. For the third and fourth rounds I completely swept the weekend and scores maximum points which was a big confidence booster.
In the last 2 rounds this past weekend we were struggling a bit to get the chassis dialed in but we managed to pull off two 2nd place finishes which was good enough to secure me the championship. I’m really going to be looking forward to the world finals in Portugal at the end of the year!
IN ONE WEEK YOU WILL DRIVE THE FORMULA 3 CAR IN A RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM RACING GO-KARTS – WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE VALENCIA RACE AND FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
For the Valencia race I am just going in with an open mind with know expectations. I just want to get through the weekend cleanly with no problems.
As for the rest of the season I am hoping to get some consistent results near the front of the grid in the later part of the year and hopefully earn the rookie of the year title.
WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION ABOUT DRIVING THE FORMULA 3 CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME – TELL US ABOUT HOW THE CAR FELT AND HOW YOU ADAPTED TO THE CAR COMING FROM GO-KARTS
The first thing that came to mind after driving the formula 3 car for the first time was that it was a lot of fun. The amount of downforce it had was really surprising to me because just looking at it I would’ve have never known. Jumping from karts to cars really required a lot of adaptation because there are many aspects to driving the formula 3 car that are different from a kart, such as the breaking technique. Then you also have the bigger differences such as the weight difference and the suspension in a car, whereas in a kart, there is virtually none.
EVERYTHING WILL BE NEW TO YOU THIS YEAR – NEW CAR, NEW TRACKS TO LEARN AND A NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RACING CARS – HOW WILL YOU PREPARE YOURSELF PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR THIS SEASON
To prepare myself physically, when I have been home, I have been regularly working out. Aside from that I have been doing the best thing possible which is actually driving the car. We have tried to get me as much seat time as possible before the first race and hopefully that has paid off.
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE MADE A COMFORTABLE TRANSITION FROM KARTS TO CARS – DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY FURTHER CHALLENGES WITH THIS TRANSITION AND ALSO HOW WILL YOU MANAGE THE TRANSITION BACK TO KARTS
I feel that my transition from karts to cars has gone pretty well. As far as I know I am right on target to where I should be with regards to lap times. The only other challenge I am anticipating is when I actually have to “race” in the car. In a kart I am used to practically being right on my competitors bumper through turns, and with cars, especially cars with downforce, it is very difficult to do this.
It is just something that I will get better at as I get more experience.I don’t think I will have any problem transitioning back to karts because if anything, I feel that driving cars helps me for when I go back to karts. It really makes you a lot smoother on the wheel and also makes you understand tire mangament better.
Nicholas Latifi
Date of birth: June 29th 1995
Age: 16
Nazionality: Canadian, Italian
Years karting: 2,5 years
World Ranking: 7°
Current class: Formula 3 European Series
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 70Kg
Web site:
Mail: info@nicholaslatifi.com

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F3 – Nicholas Latifi signs with BVM Target

Redazione — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:00:30 +0000

Nicholas Latifi at the young age of just 16 prepares himself for his first Formula 3 Event, competing in the ultra-competitive Italian Formula 3 Championship. The first of 8 events will be contested at the Valencia Circuit in Spain March 30th to April 1st .

The challenging circuit will be the first of 3 races held outside of Italy in the Italian Championship. The young Latifi proved his speed in early winter testing as he adjusted to the new car and the Valencia Circuit, improving with each session as he built confidence in the more powerful higher down-force car.
ogether with his new team BVM Target, the young driver set his sites on furthering his development as a driver by participating in multiple winter test days in Europe to gain valuable seat time to help with the difficult transition from karts to cars.
After a stellar career in karting – once again, last week he excelled under the Florida sun taking the top prize and Florida Winter Tour series title and his 3rd consecutive ticket to the 2012 Rotax World Championships in Portugal – the young Latifi in less than 2 weeks time will face his biggest challenge to date as he competes in Formula 3 against the top up and coming racing talents in the world at the technical Valencia Circuit.
NICHOLAS LATIFI: “To win the Florida Winter Tour DD2 championship feels amazing because it means I earn a ticket to return to the grand finals in Portugal! It was a hard fought championship battle which came down to the last race so that makes it feel all the more better. I’m really looking forward to the first race of the season in Valencia. It will be my first race in an F3 car so I’m just going to keep an open mind going in with no expectations. I’ve driven the Valencia circuit a few times and have grown a liking to it. It’s a very technical track and should make for some good racing”
GIUSEPPE MAZZOTTI (Team Owner): “We were all positively surprised how fast Nicholas got up to speed in the Formula 3. The switch from karts to Formula cars is not a simple step, however Nicholas adapted very quickly and demonstrated both speed and being able to work with the car. We are very excited about working with Nicholas in 2012 and are looking forward to seeing his continued development.”

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F3 – Nicholas Latifi "My target is the rookie title"

F3 – Nicholas Latifi signs with BVM Target