Italia: Imola race notes

FILIPPI (FISICHELLA MOTOR SPORT) DOMINATED IN IMOLA (I): GIAMMARIA AND JANIS FINISHED RESPECTIVELY 2ND AND 3RD

IMOLA - Hat trick for the Fischella Motor Sport young talented driver Luca Filippi. The Italian F. Renault vice-Champion dominated the 4th round of Italian F. 3000 Trophy, taking pole position, best lap and a start-to-finish victory. Filippi and his Team did a very good strategy, using a new set of tyres for the race. The Italian driver was able to increase the gap lap by lap, without any problem. Toni Vilander (Astromega) who started beside Filippi on the grid, wasn't able to get under pressure the Fisichella driver.

In fact, on the 6th lap the Race Director decided to use the safety car, due to the incident involving Giuseppe Strano who spun out at Piratella corner. At the restart, Filippi took immediately half second of advantage and after two laps was leading the race by 1,5 second to Vilander. Unfortunately, the Finn was forced to retire due to steering wheel problem on his Astromega Lola B02/50 - Zytek.

Raffaele Giammaria finished in 2nd position just ahead of the Czech driver Jarek Janis. The Italian driver have been trying to push and to set fast times, but he suffered over steer out of the slow corner in the last part of the race. Maro Engel (Durango) took a good 4th place after a very positive week-end. The Durango German driver showed good performances in Imola and have been driving very constant during the 24 race laps. The youngest driver of the Championship, Jan Charouz (Ma-Con Charouz Junior Team), conquered the 5th position, thanks to a very aggressive race. The Czech have been fighting with Matteo Cressoni (BCN) and Pastor Maldonado (Sighinolfi) for the 6th position: on the 11th lap Jan tried to overtake Cressoni at the Rivazza corner but He lost the brake point: Cressoni went out of the track while Maldonado took the 5th position just ahead of Charouz. After eight laps, the RDD driver went out at the same corner, after a race contact with Giacomo Ricci (Astromega), who damaged his front wing: the Italian came into the pit and so finished 9th. The Austrian driver Bernhard Auinger took the 6th position ahead of the rookie Giacomo Piccini (Euronova) who was able to score two point in his Series debut.

Piccini made a very good start from 7th row and after the first corner was 8th: than he settled good times and did not make any mistake. Juan Ignacio Càceres (GP Racing) took the 8th position in the standing and thanks to the conquered point is now second in the Ranking, 15 point by the leader. The Briton Alex Lloyd (GP Racing) was forced to retire due to a gearbox failure when he was in 10th position.

In the Light Class, Stefano Gattuso (Vanni Racing Team) won, but He concluded his race in the pit due to shoulder problem caused by Hans system. Giuseppe Strano (I Motori di Carlotta) and Riccardo Mari (Discovery Racing) - both driving the Lola B99/50 as Gattuso - spun out in the first part of the race, respectively at Villeneuve and Piratella.

Next race will be in Mugello (I) circuit on 1st - 3rd July, 2005.

QUOTES:

LUCA FILIPPI - P1: "I am really, really happy. It has been amazing to win in Imola in front of many friends. The Team did a very good job and the strategy to preserve one set of new tyres for the race was right: in the first three-four laps I was able to increase the gap between me and Vilander. My lap times were 3/4 tenths quicker and after the safety car I immediately found a good grip. Now, with two wins in two races, I am much more confident in myself and I feel very well on the car: last year my approach was very aggressive but I did sometimes some mistake. This year I am driving better and I am improving race by race. I don't want to think to the championship and I will give my best race by race: the gap between me and the second one is big, but the championship is very competitive and many drivers can battle for the win. Next race in Mugello will be very important: I like very much the circuit."

RAFFAELE GIAMMARIA - P2: "I would like to dedicate my second position to Enrique Scalabroni and Jaime Pintanell of BCN Competicion: I arrived in Imola for setting-up the Formula Azzurra - the new propedeutic single seater category of Italian ASN - and BCN offer to me the chance to race. I want to thank all the Team. In the first part of the race, I tried to preserve my Avon tyres for the last laps: after the retire of Toni Vilander, I took the 2nd position and I was able to maintain it till the chequered flag. Janis have been trying to overtake me, but I was a little bit faster than him."

JAREK JANIS - P3: "I am quite happy about today race: the podium is good for the ranking. At the start, I conquered two position at the first corner but it was difficult to overtake Giammaria and I tried to do not make any mistake. I will try to win in Mugello.

STEFANO GATTUSO - P1 Light: "I had a big problem with the Hans system and I was forced to come to the pit and retire due to shoulder pain. Anyway, my two competitors for the race were already out and I took the win."

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