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Monza F3000 2007
 
 

 

Sunday Race 2                                               

    

UNSTOPPABLE RIGON  WINS  RACE 2.


Davide Rigon won  Monza's Race 2, confirming on track the European and Italian F.3000 title won a few hours before on the same circuit. Nobody was able to catch the Italian: started on the third
row due to the reverse grid, he immediately got the second place behind Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport). Then, on the third lap, Davide made the decisive attack, overtaking his fellow countryman on the main straight and managed his advantage until the chequered flag.
The race was thrilling since the first laps at Ascari: Martin Kudzak (G-Tec) touched with his team-mate Kasper Andersen, who got out of the track also involving Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport). No problem, instead, for the Swedish, who was though punished by the marshalls with a drive through and then excluded from the race for not having respected this penalty. Rigon then flied to his sixth success of the season, preceding Ricci for 8"594. Good third place for Johnny Cecotto jr.

(Elk Motorsport) at his first experience on this series in 2007, after the debut in Barcellona 2006. The Venezuelan rewarded Ernesto Catella and Bruno Michieli's team with a good podium. Omar Leal (Durango) got a convincing fourth place, having overtaken in the last laps Jimmy Auby (Auto Sport Racing), who had a great start improving from the ninth to the third place. In the points in Monza's race 2 also his team-mate Vladimir Arabadzhiev.

The next and last round of the Euroseries 3000 is now scheduled for the 11th of November in Barcelona, where the two Brazilians Razia and Nunes, already rivals for the South American F3 title last year, will fight for the second place in the
overall standings.

1 Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing)  26’53”352  
2 Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport) a 8”594  
3 Johnny Cecotto Jr (Elk Motorsport) a 19”471  
4 Omar Leal (Engineering Durango) a 23”025  
5 Jimmy Auby (ASR) a 25”552  
6 Vladimir Arabadzhiev (ASR) a 29”160  
7 Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) a 50”613  
8 Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) a 11 giri  
9 Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) a 12 giri  
10 Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) a 14 giri  
11 Oliver Martini (R.C. Motorsport) a 14 giri  
12 Martin Kudzak (G-Tec) SQ  

Saturday Race 1

RIGON IS THE NEW F.3000 CHAMPION. First lap was crucial: Nunes, Martini and Andersen immediately out


Davide Rigon  is European and Italian F.3000 champion. The driver has gained the double title in Monza Race-1. Starting from the pole, he managed to harmlessly succeed the first braking in the initial chicane, whereas the head group arrived there with fuming tyres. Diego Nunes, Rigon's team-mate and his direct opponent for the title, has entered second and with a not so perfect line. Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport ) has touched him from behind, making him turning. In the meantime Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) has arrived with no chance to avoid getting involved in the accident which has eliminated three cars.

Rigon has then gained ground, with Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport) right behind together with Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Auto Sport Racing). The Bulgarian could not keep the third position which was taken up by Luiz Razia (Elk).

Rigon then won, although with some braking problems having damaged one of his tyres during the decisive braking in the first lap. Ricci was second with a gap of 2''787 from Rigon. Razia also on the podium, 3''849 from the first.

Great debut in the championship for the young Martin Kudzak (G-Tec), arriving fourth and having engaged a close fight with Omar Leal (Durango), who arrived only 2'' from the Swedish. Arabadzhiev was sixth and will start from the pole tomorrow in race due (12:30 p.m. live on Nuvolari TV).

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): " My start has been perfect. But also my team-mate Nunes has gone off well in the first metres. Then I was able to overtake him and I arrived with blocked wheels in the first chicane, damaging a tyre. Nunes has delayed the braking a lot thus blocking the wheels and therefore behind him there's been hell. I have had some difficulties in the left turns when I had to brake, fortunately the car was perfectly balanced and so I have been able to win and gain the double title. For this I thank my whole team."

Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport): " Compared to the practices during the race the car was much better . During the first day we were far from the best ones, nonetheless the team has done a wonderful job reducing the gap with the Minardi drivers. Starting sixth and finishing second: that's a nice result".

Luiz Razia:" Today my Lola went particularly fast. I have started well, then I have passed unharmed the bagarre in the first chicane. Very soon I could overtake Arabadzhiev, thus reaching the third place which I have kept till the end"
 

1 Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing)  22’03”111  
2 Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport) a 2”787  
3 Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) a 3”849  
4 Martin Kudzak (G-Tec) a 21”433  
5 Omar Leal (Engineering Durango) a 21”643  
6 Vladimir Arabadzhiev (ASR) a 24”603  
7 Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) a 8 giri  
8 Johnny Cecotto Jr (Elk Motorsport) a 9 giri  
9 Jimmy Auby (ASR) a 12 giri  
10 Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) a 12 giri  
11 Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) a 13 giri  
12 Oliver Martini (R.C. Motorsport) a 13 giri  

 

Saturday Qualifying

First pole position in Monza for Diego Nunes, in the seventh and penultimate round of the Euroseries 3000 season, and last round of the Italian championship. The Minardi/GP Racing Brazilian improved in the dying moments of the session, for just a few thousands of a second, his team mate and championship contender, Davide Rigon. Considering the point gained by the South American thanks to his pole position, the two drivers are now split by just 8 points, in favour of Rigon, in the F.3000 Italian title battle which will be decided this weekend (18 points still available).

Nunes stopped the clocks in 1'38”494, almost one second faster than the last pole position obtained in Monza by a F.3000 (in 2005 by Janis). The Italian, instead, ended the official session in 1'38”718, reaching a top speed of almost 290 km/h. An exciting battle for the lead, if you consider that, on the previous lap, Rigon was faster than the Brazilian by just 7 thousands. So a yellow and blue front row in the race which will start today afternoon (Saturday 20th) at 16,10 (13 laps).

Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) and Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) will start from the second row. The Dane, after the good debut in Spa, keeps on surprising, having ended the qualifying session in 1'39”527. Alongside him the Brazilian Razia, with a time of 1'39”666.

An Italian third row on the home track, with Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport) ahead of Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport). Good seventh time for the South African Jimmy Auby (Auto Sport Racing) ahead of the rookie Johnny Cecotto jr. (Elk). Just two timed laps for the Columbian Omar Leal due to an accident at Ascari in the first minutes of the qualifying.

1 Diego Nunes Minardi/GP Racing 1’38”494  
2 Davide Rigon Minardi/GP Racing 1’38”718  
3 Kasper Andersen G-Tec 1’39”527  
4 Luiz Razia Elk Motorsport 1’39”666  
5 Oliver Martini R.C. Motorsport 1’39”753  
6 Giacomo Ricci Elk Motorsport 1’39”930  
7 Jimmy Auby ASR 1’40”441  
8 Johnny Cecotto Jr Elk Motorsport 1’41”011  
9 Vladimir Arabadzhiev ASR 1’41”099  
10 Martin Kudzak G-Tec 1’41”913  
11 Omar Leal Engineering Durango 1’42”561  
12 Francesco Dracone 2G Racing 1’42”726  

 

Friday

Davide Rigon and Diego Nunes were the leading drivers in the free practice of the penultimate F.3000 round taking place in Monza. The two Minardi/GP Racing drivers were the fastest in both non official sessions. Their best chronometric results have arrived in the morning, when Rigon, with 1'39''354 has beated his Brasilian team-mate who had timed 1'39''598. During the afternoon session the two have scored the same order but without improving.

Only another driver has run under 1'40'': it's Giacomo Ricci, who has swapped to Elk Motorsport, and who in the second round of practice has scored a time of 1'39''894. The fourth time is for the Dane Kasper Andersen who, after the brilliant debut in Spa, has continued with G.Tec: 1'40''067 his time in Monza. Fifth place for Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) who's followed by the south African Jimmy Auby (Auto Sport Racing).

Worth noting is the presence of Johnny Cecotto Junior, who found a deal with Elk Motorsport on the eve of the race.  For the driver it's his second experience in F.3000, after his debut last year during the race in Barcelona. An absolute newbie is the Swedish eighteen-year-old Martin Kudzak (G-Tec).

Practice 2

1 Davide Rigon Minardi/GP Racing 1'39"480  
2 Diego Nunes Minardi/GP Racing 1'39"613  
3 Giacomo Ricci Elk Motorsport 1'39"894  
4 Kasper Andersen G-Tec 1'40"067  
5 Luiz Razia Elk Motorsport 1'40"355  
6 Jimmy Auby ASR 1'40"445  
7 Oliver Martini R.C Motorsport 1'40"619  
8 Johnny Cecotto Jr Elk Motorsport 1'40"836  
9 Vladimir Arabadzhiev ASR 1'40"940  
10 Omar Leal Engineering Durango 1'41"164  
11 Martin Kudzak G-Tec 1'43"377  
12 Francesco Dracone 2G Racing 1'43"947  


Practice 1

1 Davide Rigon Minardi/GP Racing 1'39"354  
2 Diego Nunes Minardi/GP Racing 1'39"598  
3 Luiz Razia Elk Motorsport 1'40"654  
4 Omar Leal Engineering Durango 1'40"873  
5 Giacomo Ricci Elk Motorsport 1'41"162  
6 Johnny Cecotto Jr Elk Motorsport 1'41"170  
7 Oliver Martini R.C. Motorsport 1'41"232  
8 Kasper Andersen G-Tec 1'41"519  
9 Vladimir Arabadzhiev ASR 1'41"978  
10 Jimmy Auby ASR 1'42"298  
11 Francesco Dracone 2G Racing 1'42"787  
12 Martin Kudzak G-Tec 1'43"171  

 

Preview

Swed Martin Kudzak will take part in Formula 3000 race in Monza driving for team G-Tec. 18 years old, Kudzak is the current Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia champion, with a 996 car. Last year he was competing in the National British F3 Series, taking several podium and a win at Silverstone G-Tec will therefore line up a new all-nordic team thanks to Dane Kasper Andersen who has been confirmed till the last round in Barcellona on the 11th of November. His excelent debut in Spa has also impressed Fisichella Motor Sport International Team which will test him in Le Castelet circuit at the wheel of a GP2 car on the 30th and 31st of October.

After his fantastic come back in Belgium, 2006 Champion Giacomo Ricci will join Elk Motorsport in Monza, in order to continue his training before going back the next season to the United States, where he has been protagonist this year in Champ Car Altantic Series.

Apart from being valid for the European Series, the Monza Event will also assign the Italian title to one of the Minardi/GP Racing Team duo, Davide Rigon and Diego Nunes, separated by only 9 points.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19th
09:35 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. FREE PRACTICES 1
02:05 p.m. – 02:35 p.m. FREE PRACTICES 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20th
10:20 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. QUALIFYING
04:10 p.m. RACE 1 (13 laps, Km 75,309 – max 30’)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21st
12:30 p.m. RACE 2 (16 laps, Km 92,688 – max 40’)