Race 2

Nunes wins -

 

Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) has won in the F.3000 second race in Spa. For the Brazilian it was the third seasonal victory, gained in the first lap when he succeeded in conquering the head of the race at Le Combes. The South American has overtaken both Tuka Rocha (Elk Motorsport) and Omar Leal (Durango) at the very beginning, in front of him on the grid.

Nunes team-mate at Minardi/GP Racing, Davide Rigon, was instead hit at Source in the early phases, damaging a tyre. After entering the pits to change it he was able to record the fastest lap. On the podium we have also seen Tuka Rocha, who after almost one year of inactivity has proved to be still aiming high. Very positive debut in the category for Jimmy Auby (only 20 years old) driving for Auto Sport Racing.
At his first experience this season in the series , Emilio De Villota jr. (Elk Motorsport) has come very close to the podium, traying to grab the third place from Auby till the very end. He was followed on the finish line by Vladimir Arabadzhiev (Auto Sport Racing) and Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) thus completing the six drivers in the points.

G-Tec drivers, after such a promising race-1, suffered technical problems with Kasper Andersen retired during warm-up lap, whereas Giacomo Ricci, after an exciting come back to the second place, was forced to stop at half race. Next race in Monza next week, for the penultimate round of this season.

Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) : "Yesterday nothing worked for me: my start was bad and I was behind throughout the race. Fortunately today everything was different. I was at the head almost from the beginning, overtaking Rocha and Leal. Then I was able maintain the leadership till the end. I have 20 points less than Rigon. I'll try my best to reach him".

Tuka Rocha (Elk Motorsport): "Not so bad after a year away from the races. I'm arrived from Brasil just few days ago but I was anyway able to obtain this result. Now I hope to continue in the category in Monza since it's a track I know well."

Jimmy Auby (AutoSport Racing): "I'm really happy with this result. The race has been tough, but I've managed a third place nonetheless. I'll also take part to the remaining races of the Series, Monza and Barcelona".

 

 

1 NUNES Diego Minardi Team by GP Racing
2 ROCHA Tuka 0:10.133 Elk Motorsport
3 AUBY Jimmy 0:19.219 Auto Sport Racing
4 DE VILLOTA Emilio 0:21.711 Elk Motorsport
5 ARABADZHIEV Vladimir 0:47.961 ASport Racing
6 DRACONE Francesco 1:15.445 2G Racing
7 RAZIA Luiz 1:41.172 Elk Motorsport
8 RIGON Davide 1 L Minardi Team by GP Racing
9 MARTINI Oliver R.C. Motorsport

 

Fastest Lap Davide Rigon 2:07.836 - 8

 

Race 1

 

Winning come-back in F.3000 for Giacomo Ricci. The driver from Milan won Race-1 in Spa, beating the series' leader Davide Rigon at the end of a breath-taking race. The G-Tec driver, who has run for American F. Atlantic this year , hasn't lost his touch behind the Lola-Zytek wheel, immediately achieving the goal in 2007, after winning the title last year in the category.

Rigon, who started from the pole, was overtaken by Ricci at Le Combes during the first lap. The Minardi/GP Racing driver tried really hard to reach the head again but, although faster in the slow bits, was losing speed in the fast bits. The two drivers even collided slightly at the bus stop. Rigon has been threatening Ricci throughout the race, ending only 420 thousands of a second behind the winner. A result which makes Rigon leap forward in the chart, considering that his direct opponent and team-mate, Diego Nunes, has ended in the 6th place only.
Excellent start for the young gun Kasper Andersen (G-Tec), who arrived third. The Dane, who started from the third row, managed to overtake both Nunes and Razia and then to keep the third place till the end. He was followed on the finish line by Luiz Razia (Elk), Oliver Martini (RC) and Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP).

Race-2 will start tomorrow (Sunday 14th) at 1:20 p.m.(13 laps) with Tuka Rocha (Elk) and Omar Leal (Durango) starting from the first row, thanks to the inverted starting grid.

Giacomo Ricci (G-Tec): "My start hasn't been that good. Then immediately after, at Le Combes, I've found the right opportunity and I have overtaken Rigon from the outside. I must thank my team for the opportunity I have been given, I hope my result has payed it back. It has been really fantastic to be back as a winner in F.3000 after one year".

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I have started well. Then having cold tyres, at Eau Rouge I've slowed down only that much which has allowed Ricci to overtake me at Le Combes. In the slow parts I was faster than Giacomo, who, on the other hand, was faster in the fast bits. We have also touched each other: so I've decided not to risk too much with a driver not running for the title".

Kasper Andersen (G-Tec): "I have to say that I was not predicting such a good debut in the Series. I am used to cars which are far away less powerful, though I got easily accustomed to the F.3000 Lola. I plan to remain in this category which I've chosen in order to get the best training for GP2 Series".

1 - Giacomo Ricci - G Tec - 21’34”939
2 - Davide Rigon - Minardi/GP Racing - 0”420
3 - Kasper Andersen - G Tec - 7”539
4 - Luiz Razia - Elk Motorsport - 17”502
5 - Oliver Martini - RC Motorsport - 18”336
6 - Diego Nunes - Minardi/GP Racing - 19”590
7 - Omar Leal - Durango - 22”344
8 - Tuka Rocha - Elk Motorsport - 23”615
9 - Jimmy Auby - ASR - 35”180
10 - Emilio de Villota - Elk Motorsport - 42”551
11 - Vladimir Arabadzhiev - ASR - 47”178
12 - Francesco Dracone - 2G Racing - 1’06”447

Fastest Lap: Davide Rigon 2’08”127

 

 

Qualifying

 

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) will start today in Spa from the pole position. Thanks to a time of 2'05''893, the only one under 2'06''. The qualifying, blessed by a wonderful sunny day, has seen a tight battle between the first drivers who have all been at the head of the chart.

Great come-back in this category for Giacomo Ricci.The 2006 champion, running in Spa with a G-Tec car, is second with 2'06''264, after having led for a long time. Only 8 thousands behind him is the other Minardi/GP driver, Diego Nunes with 2'06''272. Right by his side in race 1 starting grid we will see his compatriot Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport), who recorded a best lap in 2'06''322.

Eccellent debut in the Series for Kasper Andersen (G-Tec): the Dane has managed an astonishing 5th place in 2'07''251. Andersen has preceeded Leal (Durango), Martini (RC) and De Villota (Elk).

The qualifying has run smoothly, with just a yellow flag at the end of the session because of Arabadzhiev off track at  the new bus stop.

Race-1 will start today (Saturday 13th) at 3:55 p.m.(10 laps). Race-2 will be on Sunday at 1:20 p.m. (13 laps).

 

1 Davide Rigon Minardi/GP Racing 2’05”893                                                            2 Giacomo Ricci G-Tec 2’06”264                   3 Diego Nunes Minardi/GP Racing 2’06”272 4 Luiz Razia Elk Motorsport 2’06”322            5 Kasper Andersen G-Tec 2’07”251              6 Omar Leal Engineering Durango 2’07”622 7 Oliver Martini R.C. Motorsport 2’07”645      8 Emilio de Villota Elk Motorsport 2’08”067   9 Tuka Rocha Elk Motorsport 2’08”150        10 Jimmy Auby ASR 2’08”452                      11 Vladimir Arabadzhiev ASR 2’09”176      12 Francesco Dracone 2G Racing 2’11”438

 

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12th
10:10 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.: FREE PRACTICE 1
01:05 p.m. – 01:35 p.m.: FREE PRACTICE 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th
10:35 a.m. – 11:05 a.m.: QUALIFYING
03:55 p.m.: RACE 1 (10 laps, Km 70,040 – max 30’)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14th
01:20 p.m.: RACE 2 (13 laps, Km 91,052 – max 40’)