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Louis Delétraz and Pietro Fittipaldi conclude successful season with Fortec Motorsports

Louis Delétraz concluded his inaugural Formula V.8 3.5 season as deputy champion, teammate Pietro Fittipaldi also finished his maiden season on a high.

Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports

Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports

Formula V8 3.5

Press Conference: Race winner and Champion Tom Dillmann, AVF; second place Roy Nissany, Lotus; third place Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports with Adrian Valles
Press Conference: Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports
Podium: Race winner and Champion Tom Dillmann, AVF; second place Roy Nissany, Lotus; third place Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports with Adrian Valles
Podium: Race winner and Champion Tom Dillmann, AVF; second place Roy Nissany, Lotus; third place Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports with Adrian Valles
Podium: Race winner and Champion Tom Dillmann, AVF; second place Roy Nissany, Lotus; third place Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports with Adrian Valles
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports; Tom Dillmann, AVF
Podium: second place Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports
Podium: third place Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports and Tom Dillmann, AVF
Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports
Pietro Fittipaldi, Fortec Motorsports
Louis Deletraz, Fortec Motorsports

With two race wins, three pole positions, nine podiums, 13 rookie wins and the rookie title accolade under his belt, Renault Sport Academy driver Louis Delétraz concluded his inaugural Formula V.8 3.5 season as deputy champion. Fortec Motorsports teammate Pietro Fittipaldi also finished his maiden season on a high by achieving his first main series podium at the Circuit de Barcelona last weekend.

Swiss native Delétraz entered the ninth-round collective test leading the championship in Catalunya on Friday. He ended the afternoon session in P3 and as best rookie of the field with Fittipaldi setting the fifth fastest lap time as fastest rookie in the morning and P7 in the afternoon.

Overnight rain made for slippery track conditions in the early part of qualifying on Saturday morning. The session saw Delétraz set the fourth quickest lap on wet weather tyres with Fittipaldi achieving P8 to sit on the fourth row of the grid for the start of race one.

Following an additional formation lap due to the #21 RP Motorsport stalling on the grid, the lights finally went out to start the penultimate race of 2016. Delétraz and Fittipaldi took the fight to the leading pack in the opening laps, with the Swiss driver passing Matthieu Vaxiviere (SMP Racing) on the straight to claim P3 on lap four. On lap 19, as Delétraz continued to worry the gearbox of Tom Dillmann, he forced the AVF driver to run wide in a manoeuvre that afforded him second position. With team mate Fittipaldi claiming seventh place at the chequered flag, Delétraz crossed the line six points ahead in the championship with his 13th rookie win and the second placed podium trophy.

Qualifying on Sunday morning was a closely contested battle; initially declared a wet session conditions improved as the runs progressed offering the drivers a chance to use slicks when a dry line emerged. The incident filled session saw Delétraz snatch his third pole position with a lap time of 1:31.953 at the chequered flag with Fittipaldi completing the session in P5.

The final race of the Formula V8 3.5 season delivered plenty of breath-taking action at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Another stalling incident on the grid caused an additional formation lap and reduced the race length to 38 minutes plus one lap. When the lights went out Delétraz experienced a tough start from pole and was passed by Isaakyan, Nissany and Fittipaldi. He completed his mandatory pit-stop on lap six and returned to the track behind championship rival Dillmann which was to seal his championship title fate.

In a Fortec Motorsports team strategy that was to provide Fittipaldi with his first overall series podium, the Brazilian pitted on lap nine. He returned to the action in third place and maintained position with pace and determination until the chequered flag. Delétraz crossed the finish line in fourth position, narrowly missing the opportunity to wear the overall title crown.

2016 Rookie Champion Delétraz attained the 2016 Formula V8 3.5 deputy champion accolade on 230 points. Pietro Fittipaldi concluded his maiden Formula V8 3.5 series rounding out the top ten in the Drivers’ Championship, with Fortec Motorsports finishing in fourth place, just three points shy of third, in the 2016 Teams’ competition.

Pietro Fittipaldi, #2 Fortec Motorsports: “The goal for this race was to finish on the podium and I aimed for that. I had a very good start and was able to run in fourth and after the pit-stop we came out in third. It was a good race; I had Louis behind who was fighting for the title with Tom [Dillmann] and I didn’t want to interfere with that. I just pushed 100% and ended-up with my first podium. I’m really happy, we progressed a lot and I want to continue this momentum on to next year.”

Louis Delétraz, #1 Fortec Motorsports: “Obviously, we were looking for the pole in first qualifying, but we chose rain tyres while the others had the slicks in tricky conditions. I knew we would have had a good pace in the race. Our start was not amazing, but I managed to stay in fourth.
We had a great qualifying on Sunday morning as I set the pole position. We had difficult conditions but I tried to do my best and it worked out great for us. Unfortunately, it was a difficult start to race two, but we never gave up and overall it was still a fantastic season. 2016 Vice Champion and Rookie Champion, I am very happy! It is only the beginning and I’m looking forward to the future.”

Jamie Dye, team manager, Fortec Motorsports Formula V8 3.5 team: “It has been another good year for the Fortec Motorsports team and the latest incarnation of the Formula V8 3.5 series did not disappoint! We have had the pleasure of working with two extremely talented, young rookie drivers this season; one of whom won the rookie championship with most class wins. Louis was extremely close to winning the overall title and has proved that he can take the fight to drivers with two or three years more experience. Pietro’s race craft improved with every outing and has ended the season with a well-deserved main podium. We shall work hard over the winter to be ready for our return in 2017.”

Fortec Motorsports

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