Race 2
1-2 for Minardi
Two podiums in Race 1, 1-2 in Race 2. The Minardi by GP
Racing team was the star of the Mugello week-end in Euroseries 3000. In Race
2 Diego Nunes got the second success of the season, preceeding his team-mate
Davide Rigon, Race 1 winner. Brilliant third place on the Tuscan podium for
Ananda Mikola, on his series debut with the G-Tec car. Bad news in Race 2
for Alx Danielsson. The Swedish, Elk Motorsport's lead driver, after
yesterday's second place, had to retire at the half of the race for a
puncture caused by a debris on the track. The Swed was holding the third
place and recovering on the first two drivers, but couldn't come back to the
race due to a suspension damage caused by the puncture.
After a brief initial lead by Merchan, the two Minardi/GP drivers took the
lead. The two Lola had different setups and Rigon tried in different
occasions the winning overtake, without managing it. In the end the gap
dividing the two was just 558 thousands of a second, while Mikola had a
17"387 gap. Luiz Razia (Fisichella Motor Sport) came fourth, while Sebastian
Merchan (Elk Motorsport) and Omar Leal (Durango) rounded off the top ten.
The fastest lap went to Danielsson in 1'40"589.
In Euroseries Rigon leads with 54 points, ahead of his team-mate Nunes with
45. Danielsson is third with 32 points, pressed by Razia at 30. Next
Euroseries 3000 race on the 26th of August at Nurburgring.
Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing): "I had a good start, gaining three
positions. Then at my back my team-mate Rigon pressed me. After the half of
the race in some parts of the track he was faster than me. But we chose
different setups and so I could stay in front of him."
Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "After a good start I came to the back of
Nunes. I was faster, but behind him I wore my tyres. I tried to attack him,
but the rev limiter came into function. I chose a setup to stay in front,
not behind. This was a mistake, but the result is anyway good for the
championship and I thank all the team."
1. Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by
GP Racing – 30’40’’662
2. Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP Racing – a 0’’558
3. Ananda Mikola - G-Tec – a 17’’387
4. Luiz Razia - Fisichella Motor Sport – a 19’’971
5. Sebastian Merchan - Elk Motorsport – a 32’’191
6. Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – a 32’’306
7. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – a 33’’215
8. Andrea Fausti - Facondini racing – a 1 giro
9. Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – a 3 giri
10.Alx Danielsson - Elk Motorsport – a 8 giri
11.Gian Domenico Sposito - G-Tec – a 12 giri
12.Francesco Dracone - 2G Racing – a 13 giri
13.Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – a 18 giri
Giro veloce: Alx Danielsson (Elk) – 1’40’’589 (187.714 km/h)
Race 1
Rigon wins with Nunes 3rd
Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing), after his first win in
Magny-Cours, doubled only seven days later in race 1 at Mugello. Now the
Italian has increased his Euroseries 3000 championship lead. On the Tuscan
track Rigon, started from pole position, didn't have any rival, ending with
a 4''253 gap ahead of Alx Danielsson. Elk Motorsport's Swedish tried with
his usual determination to chase the leader Rigon, having in the end to be
satisfied with the second step of the podium. On the podium went also Diego
Nunes, completing Minardi/GP Racing team's great result. The Brazilian, who
overtook some drivers, also got the extra point for the fastest lap
(1'40''240).
Just behind the podium finished the Bulgarian Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Auto
Sport Racing), who preceeded the rookie Ananda Mikola, fifth, with the G-Tec
car. Luiz Razia (Fisichella Motorsport), Sebastian Merchan and Mehdi Bennani
(both Elk Motorsport's drivers) rounded off the points. Unlucky day in
Tuscany for Oliver Martini, third in qualifying, who did a bad start and
then went off at Bucine while he was coming back on the first drivers.
In the overall standings Rigon now has 49 points, ahead of his team mate
Nunes (39), Danielsson (31), Razia (27) and Martini (24). Race 2 is
scheduled tomorrow (Sunday) at 12:40 (18 laps). Live broadcast on Nuvolari
TV. Today's race, due to a technical satellite problem, will be broadcast
tonight at 22:00 on Nuvolari.
Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I thought I had a bad start, but my
rivals didn't have a good start either. So I managed to mantain the lead.
With the hot temperatures the engines weren't working at their best. I
realized throughout the race to have a small gap on my rivals, which in the
end I managed until the chequered flag."
Alx Danielsson (Elk Motorsport): "I didn't know the Mugello track, which is
quite difficult. I made some good progress comparing to the first practice.
To win here we already have to work hard."
Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing): "I made a bad start. Then I catched up and
made some good overtaking. In the end with Rigon and Danielsson we were
almost equal and the gaps didn't change."
1.Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP
Racing – 23’40’’918
2.Alx Danielsson - Elk Motorsport – a 4’’253
3.Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP Racing – a
6’’330
4.Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – a 20’’708
5.Ananda Mikola - G-Tec – a 21’’869
6.Luiz Razia - Fisichella Motor Sport – a 22’’903
7.Sebastian Merchan - Elk Motorsport – a 40’’397
8.Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – a 41’’137
9.Gian Domenico Sposito - G-Tec – a 53’’803
10.Francesco Dracone - 2G Racing – a 1’’1’’229
11.Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – a 1’13’’718P
12.Andrea Fausti - Facondini racing – a 1’48’’145
13.Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – a 8 giri
Giro veloce: Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) – 1’40’’240
Rigon on top day 1
Practice 1 – MUGELLO
1. Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP
Racing – 1’40’’186
2. Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – 1’40’’879
3. Alx Danielsson - Elk Motorsport – 1’41’’010
4. Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP
Racing – 1’41’’478
5. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – 1’41’’671
6. Ananda Mikola - G-Tec – 1’41’’924
7. Luiz Razia - Fisichella Motor Sport – 1’41’’993
8. Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – 1’43’’159
9. Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – 1’43’’682
10. Francesco Dracone - 2G Racing – 1’43’’769
11. Sebastian Merchan - Elk Motorsport – 1’44’’180
12. Gian Domenico Sposito - G-Tec – 1’44’’995
13. Andrea Fausti - Facondini Racing – 1’49’’906
Practice 2 – MUGELLO
1. Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP
Racing – 1’38’’903
2. Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – 1’39’’111
3. Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP
Racing – 1’39’’182
4. Alx Danielsson - Elk Motorsport – 1’39’’954
5. Luiz Razia - Fisichella Motor Sport – 1’40’’439
6. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – 1’40’’988
7. Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – 1’41’’420
8. Ananda Mikola - G-Tec – 1’41’’812
9. Sebastian Merchan - Elk Motorsport – 1’42’’391
10. Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – 1’42’’465
11. Gian Domenico Sposito - G-Tec – 1’44’’046
12. Andrea Fausti - Facondini Racing – 1’46’’098
