Race 2

A close victory just for 46 thousands of a second, that is to say a few centimeters. That's how Manuel Saez Merino won race 2 at Nurburgring ahead of Davide Rigon in Euroseries 3000. The Spaniard, just hired by Elk Motorsport, got the highest step of the podium at his second race in the category, in a very exciting race. For over a half of the race, Celso Miguez (G-Tec) led the race, then the leadership went to Saez Merino, who was just able to prevent Rigon from overtaking him. Minardi/GP Racing's Italian, started behind due to the reversed grid, managed to catch up and fight for the final lead, arriving side-by-side on the finish line. On the podium, in his debut weekend, went also Miguez, who had a problem with his shoulder in the end, but managed to stay in front of a competitive Bennani. Bad luck for poleman Francesco Dracone (2G Racing), who had to retire
because of a contact with Diego Nunes (Minardi /GP Racing). The Brazilian was punished with a drive through, however managing to finish the race on sixth place.

Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport) had to retire, too, when he was second, because of a contact with Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport), finishing his race stuck in the middle of the track. The Brazilian, instead, went in the pits and, after repairing his car, was able to get the fastest lap. On the points in the second German round also Mehdi Bennani (Elk Motorsporrt), Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Sport Auto Racing) and, as said, Nunes. Rigon is still leader of the championship with 70 points, ahead of his team-mate Nunes (52) and Razia (40).

Manuel Saez Merino (Elk Motorsport): "I got to know the car, new for me, very fast. I recovered a lot of positions. Then the race was long, I tried to avoid the risks on the track. I find myself very good at Elk. I would like to go on in this series."

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I started very badly and the engine at low RPMs had a lot of problems throughout the race. Being Nunes, my direct opponent for the title, behind me, I attacked without risking too much, even if in the final laps I tried to overtake Saez Merino for the lead."

Celso Miguez (G-Tec): "I'm very happy with the result and the team. After 4 months without racing, in the race I had some problems with my shoulder and I had to slow down in the final laps. The result is good for me and, if I manage to resolve my sponsor problems, I would like to continue in Euroseries."

RACE 2 – NÜRBURGRING
1.Manuel Saez Merino- Elk Motorsport – 34’30’’969
2.Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 00’’046
3.Celso Miguez - G-Tec –at 13’’981
4.Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – at 14’’200
5.Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – at 24’’944
6.Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 27’’561
7.Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – at 27’’891
8.Sebastian Merchan - G-Tec – at 49’’768
9.Luiz Razia - Elk Motorsport – at 2 giri
10.Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – at 19 giri
11.Francesco Dracone – 2G Racing – at 22 giri

Best lap:
Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) - 1’21’’242 (160.321 km/h)

 

Rigon wins Race 1 with Nunes 3rd

 

 

Davide Rigon won Race 1 at Nürburgring, fifth round of the Euroseries 3000. In Germany the Italian captured his third win in the championship, strengthening his leadership. The Minardi/GP Racing driver decided his race at the start, passing at the first turn the poleman Luis Razia. The Brazilian, racing for the first time for the Elk Motorsport team, right after the start was attacked by both Minardi drivers. Rigon, on the right, got the lead, while his team-mate Diego Nunes remained in third position. Rigon also posted the fastest lap, improving Razia's time at the 12th lap, and finished the race with a 3"204 advantage, while the other Brazilian, Nunes, got on the podium with a 6"044 gap from the lead.
Convincing debut in the series for Spanish Manuel Saez Merino, fourth in the end for Elk Motorsport. The Spanish driver, 15"102 behind Rigon, preceeded Oliver Martini (RC Motorsport), fifth. Also on the points in the first German race Mehdi Bennani (Elk Motorsport), Celso Miguez, G-Tec rookie, and Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) who will start from pole position tomorrow.
The Ecuadorean Merchan (G-Tec) had to retire after touching Arabadzhiev (Auto Sport Racing), who spun. Also Leal (Durango) didn't manage to finish the race, retiring in the pits with a mechanical problem on his gearbox. In the championship, after 9 races, Rigon is still leading with 65 points, ahead of his team-mate Nunes (51), while Razia is now third with 39 points. Tomorrow (Sunday) will take place the second race at 12:05 (25 laps).

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I had a good start. At the first turn I gambled a little on the right side, going really close to the wall. But the braking was straight and I managed to get to the lead. Then I drove consistently at the limit to maintain the lead. My car was perfect, as the fastest lap also shows, and I thank the team for this."

Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport): "I didn't start well and at the first turn Rigon passed me. In the first half of the race we had quite the same pace. Then Davide went slightly faster and I couldn't catch him anymore. But I'm satisfied with the pole and a great second place."

Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing): "I had a great start, but at the first turn Razia went straight and ruined also my turn. Then our performances were quite the same and I couldn't do anything but mantain the third place."

RACE 1 – NÜRBURGRING
1. Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP Racing – 27’09’’342
2. Luiz Razia - Elk Motorsport – at 03’’304
3. Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP Racing – at 06’’044
4. Manuel Saez Merino- Elk Motorsport – at 15’’102
5. Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – at 16’’917
6. Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – at 18’’697
7. Celso Miguez - G-Tec – at 37’’390
8. Francesco Dracone – 2G Racing – at 1’03’’474
9. Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – at 1’05’’650
10. Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – at 5 laps
11. Sebastian Merchan - G-Tec – at 9 laps

Best lap: Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing)- 1’20’’781 (161.236 km/h)

 

 

Qualifying

 

Rigon 2nd Nunes 3rd

1.Luiz Razia - Elk Motorsport – 1’20’’427
2.Davide Rigon - Minardi Team by GP Racing – 1’20’’445
3.Diego Nunes - Minardi Team by GP Racing – 1’20’’448
4.Manuel Saez Merino- Elk Motorsport – 1’20’’820
5.Mehdi Bennani - Elk Motorsport – 1’21’’269
6.Oliver Martini - R.C. Motorsport – 1’21’’314
7.Omar Leal - Engineering Durango – 1’21’’452
8.Celso Miguez - G-Tec –1’21’’589
9.Vladimir Arabadzhiev - Auto Sport Racing – 1’21’’964
10.Francesco Dracone – 2G Racing – 1’22’’673
11.Sebastian Merchan - G-Tec – 1’22’’764

Time table

 

Friday 24th
10:10 – 10:40: Practice 1
16:00 – 16:30:Practice 2

Saturday 25th
09:15 – 09:45: QUALIFYING
15:25: Race1 (14 Laps, Km 72,072 – max 30’)
 

Sunday 26th
11:55: Race 2 (18 Laps, Km 92,664 – max 40’)