TOP FIVE TRA I ROOKIE E PRESTAZIONI IN CRESCITA AL MUGELLO PER NICHOLAS PUJATTI

/in , , , /by

Il fine settimana Porsche Carrera Cup Italia ha visto Nicholas Pujatti chiudere in grande crescita e in top five tra i rookie.

Un buon fine settimana quello portato a termine dal pilota del team Villorba Corsa, seppur mai facile su un tracciato come quello toscano, ricco di insidie e con pochi punti per il sorpasso.

Dopo le prove libere-test, lo studio dei track limits e del set-up con la propria squadra, Nicholas si è concentrato al massimo sulle sessioni cronometrate, chiudendo in zona Top Ten ed evidenziato fin da subito un buon passo gara.

Sessione di qualifica unica come sempre molto tirata a caccia del giro pulito. P19 assoluta per il pilota numero #46 chiamato alla rimonta nella prima gara di sabato pomeriggio.
In Gara 1 purtroppo un contatto causato da un avversario nei primi passaggi, ha costretto Nicholas a perdere alcune posizioni al via.
Recupero giro dopo giro sancito dalla P20 finale ad ogni modo positiva considerando l’inizio della gara.

Gara 2 decisamente diversa con una partenza regolare e fuori dai guai che ha permesso al pilota Villorba Corse di poter spingere da subito e dimostrare il proprio passo gara. Tempi sul giro che lo avrebbero portato in lotta per le prime dieci piazze, hanno consentito di recuperare posizioni chiudendo in P17 e soprattutto in P5 nella classifica Rookie.

N.Pujatti: “E’ stato un weekend davvero molto combattuto. Guidare la 992 GT3 qui al Mugello è stato emozionante e voglio ringraziare tutto lo staff Villorba Corse per avermi messo nelle migliori condizioni. Ringrazio il mio management Minardi Management, tutta la mia famiglia e ovviamente i miei sponsor per il grande supporto!”.

Appuntamento per il primo fine settimana di settembre (6-8 settembre) per il quarto round stagionale sull’Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola.

RISULTATI COMPLETI

Ufficio Stampa Nicholas Pujatti
Petrolhead Communication
Foto: G.Benfanti

NICHOLAS PUJATTI AL MUGELLO PER IL TERZO WEEKEND DELLA PORSCHE CARRERA CUP ITALIA 2024

/in /by

Sarà il circuito toscano ad ospitare il terzo round in calendario della Porsche Carrera Cup Italia 2024.

Nicholas Pujatti è pronto a tornare al volante della propria Porsche 992 GT3 Cup del team Villorba Corse, in seguito ai test pre-gara della scorsa settimana.

Una prima stagione in ambito PCCI formativa e combattuta per il pilota italiano, sempre più a suo agio nella nuova categoria. Il fine settimana del Mugello sarà un banco di prova ulteriore per alzare ancor di più il livello.
Tracciato storico e mozzafiato con 5.245 metri di sali e scendi, curve meravigliose e soprattutto velocità.

Il fine settimana dalle alte temperature previste prenderà vita quest’oggi con altre due sessioni di test pre-gara, più che mai importanti per arrivare al miglior setting della vettura e nelle migliori condizioni in vista di venerdì quando il programma gara passerà alle Prove Libere ore 14.35.

Qualifiche ufficiali previste nella mattinata di sabato 12 luglio ore 09.15 prima di Gara 1 alle ore 15.50 (30 min. + 1 giro). Gran finale domenica 13 luglio con Gara 2 alle ore 12.20 (30 min. + 1 giro). Entrambe le gare saranno trasmesse in diretta e on demand sulla piattaforma Dazn e in live streaming HD sul sito www.carreracupitalia.it.

N.Pujatti: “Sarà un fine settimana molto impegnativo sia per le temperature che per il tracciato, mai facile da interpretare. Con il team abbiamo già iniziato il nostro lavoro in previsione della gara e cercheremo di portarlo avanti al meglio. Ringrazio il mio management Minardi Management, tutti i miei sponsor e la mia famiglia per il supporto. Occhi sulle gare!”

Tutti gli aggiornamenti sui canali ufficiali di Nicholas Pujatti (Instagram e Facebook).

PROGRAMMA GARA E RISULTATI

Ufficio Stampa Nicholas Pujatti
Petrolhead Communication

LUKA SAMMALISTO AND A CHALLENGING WEEKEND AT VALLELUNGA

/in /by

The third race weekend for a Finnish F4 driver Luka Sammalisto (16) in the F4 Italian Championship series at Vallelunga, Italy, was fraught with challenges.

Preparations for the race weekend began on a high note for the young Finn. During Friday’s free practice, Sammalisto showcased competitive speed, clocking the second fastest lap time among 36 drivers in the morning session. The R-ace GP team, which Sammalisto represents, dedicated the afternoon to final testing and fine-tuning to ensure optimal equipment settings for Saturday’s qualifyings. Despite the preparations, the qualifying session did not unfold as planned. Nevertheless, Sammalisto’s consistent performance secured him 16th, 12th, and 10th place.

Saturday’s first race start quickly turned problematic. On the very first lap, a teammate collided with Sammalisto’s car, dropping him to 24th place. The race took a dramatic turn a few laps before the checkered flag when three drivers ahead of Sammalisto crashed, blocking the entire track. With no clear path, Sammalisto swerved into the sand area, where his car became stuck, ending his race prematurely.

During the second race start on Saturday, another incident transpired. After several laps, an unforeseen maneuver by a fellow competitor dashed Sammalisto’s hopes for a strong performance and points, as he was positioned in a promising 10th place at the time.

Sunday continued the pattern of misfortune. In the third race of the weekend, Sammalisto was derailed off the track due to a delayed braking maneuver by the driver behind him. This incident resulted in a damaged car and a 22nd place finish for Sammalisto.

– When at every race during the weekend, your race is ruined for reasons other than self-inflicted, it’s frustrating. When things happen that you can’t influence on your own, it eats away at a man. Disappointing in terms of sportsmanship.

– Concentration or skillful overtaking won’t suffice if a fellow racer veers into your path, or if a collision from the driver behind causes damage to your car. Setbacks are an inherent part of a motorsport. Navigating through such challenges is not always mentally easy, particularly on weekends like this.

Sammalisto also shared his frustration on behalf of his team.
– It’s really sad for the whole R-ace GP team. They have worked hard to close the gap to the top teams. It has been successful and the direction of development is correct.

– If there is something positive to dig out of the weekend, then mental strength and determination will only be strengthened by the experiences of this weekend.

– Every race weekend has its own special spices, and this weekend offered the bitterest of them. The work will continue with the team persistently and determinedly towards Mugello, where in a month’s time the fourth race weekend of the F4 Italian Championship series will take place.

YOUNG FORMULA PROMISE LUKA SAMMALISTO SHOWED HIS SPEED AT THE IMOLA F4 RACE!

/in /by

Finnish formula driver Luka Sammalisto is improving his performance as the season progresses in the Italian F4 series. The Imola race offered a lot of positives but also technical challenges, which left Luka from the rookie driver’s podium position just one place short twice.
Earlier this year, Sammalisto also took another step closer to professional motorsport. Luka signed a management contract with the Italian Minardi Management. The company’s owner, Giovanni Minardi, acts as Luka’s manager and handles all contract negotiations. Sammalisto is the first Finnish driver on Minardi’s list, which also includes F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Luka Sammalisto: It was great to become a part of Minardi Management. Giovanni is a true professional and takes care of practically all matters and negotiations related to me. Final decisions are made together, but everything else is handled through the manager. Giovanni always approaches things from the driver’s perspective, which is important for a young driver.

The Imola race weekend began with three collective tests and two official free practice sessions. Sammalisto’s test program included a long list of technical adjustments in preparation for the weekend’s races.

Luka Sammalisto: The collective tests went pretty much according to the program, that was, searching for settings. We tested a lot of different things and didn’t expect any top times at all. However, in the combined times of the three tests, I was in 15th place, which was decent. The Imola track felt good right from the first run.

The official free practices went even better for Luka, with positions of P10 and P8. The car worked well with both old and new tires, and expectations for the qualifying sessions were high.

Luka Sammalisto: The speed improved further in the free practices, and I got a good feeling for the car with both old and new tires. The gap to the top was just a few tenths of a second. But the qualifying sessions did not go as smoothly. The first qualifying session was disrupted by numerous yellow flags, and due to a detached front wing, I only managed to do one fast lap, resulting in a very unsatisfactory P14. In the second qualifying session, technical problems continued, and I ended up in P18.

The weekend’s three races involved a lot of driving behind the safety car but also intense racing and overtaking. Sammalisto showed his speed and fighting spirit, resulting two times P4 among the rookies.

Luka Sammalisto: The first race started well, but crashes in the early laps brought out the safety car. The rest of the race was tough, and I even went off into the gravel briefly, but finished in P12 and P4 among the rookies. The podium was close, Luka says. The second race started also well, and I had climbed to P9 and P3 among the rookies when the safety car came out. At this point, the race director noticed that my rear wing had come loose and flagged me to the pits a lap before the finish. The third race was my best driving of the weekend. A good start, good speed, and good overtakes. I finished P7 and P4 among the rookies, which of course is a bit frustrating.

The Imola weekend did not meet the set goals. Numerous technical problems significantly affected performance and speed. When the car worked, Luka showed his speed and potential.

Luka Sammalisto: I have mixed feelings about Imola. There were many technical challenges that were out of my control. It’s good to remember, though, that without the technical issues, we are fast and competitive, which gives confidence for the future. The next race will be held in Vallelunga in 14.-16.6.

More information about Luka Sammalisto:
www.lukasammalistoracing.com

MATTIA BUCCI CLAIMS MAIDEN PODIUM IN ITALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP

/in /by

The Imola round in the Italian GT Sprint Championship handed to the Catignano ace his first trophy in GT Cup

Mattia Bucci’s debut at the “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola” in the Italian GT Sprint Championship was one to remember. The young Abruzzese talent from the Best Lap team, together with his teammate Filippo Croccolino, managed to climb onto the bottom step of the podium at the end of a weekend marked by highs and lows.

Free Practices on Friday were immediately hampered by both mechanical anomalies and difficult weather conditions, which brought the work program to an abrupt halt. On Saturday, however, the high frequency of interruptions caused by red flags and Full Course Yellows prevented the crew of car no. 178 from improving their times, relegating Croccolino to 21st place and Bucci to 19th at the end of Q1 and Q2 respectively. Race 1 continued the negative trend, marking the second retirement of the championship due to technical problems.

Race 2 was a completely different story: at the start, Bucci immediately made his mark by gaining five positions before the safety car was brought out to clear up some cars involved in an incident. The comeback continued over the laps thanks to some overtaking before the pit stop, which was decisive for the climb: the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo was parked on the pit lane apron by the Catignano racing driver in tenth position and was taken over by Croccolino in fifth, a testament to the excellent work done by the drivers in the laps before and after the stop. The top five was then confirmed under the checkered flag and then turned into a podium finish thanks to some penalties handed out by the Stewards. It is worth noting their extraordinary driving performance: both drivers overtook no less than sixteen cars to claim the bronze medal, especially considering the high difficulty of overtaking at the Imola circuit.

Mattia Bucci: “I’m really happy with the result we achieved at Imola, we deserved it after the technical problems we had. Despite everything, I always stayed positive and never gave up, me and my teammate pushed each other and I think that was the winning key that made all this possible. I’m truly speechless, I expected anything but the podium! I hope it’s just the first of many, now let’s get back to work to try to progress and further improve the result. I would like to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my teammate Filippo Croccolino, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team and all my sponsors for their incredible support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

MATTIA BUCCI SEEKS REDEMPTION AT IMOLA IN THE SECOND ACI RACING WEEKEND OF THE SEASON

/in /by

Catignano ace Mattia Bucci is aiming for better luck as he heads to the historic Santerno circuit for the second round of the Campionato Italiano GT Sprint

Bucci’s debut in the “Campionato Italiano GT Sprint” GT Cup category at Misano was the antithesis of what every driver hopes to experience in their first race, especially when it marks their maiden Grand Touring outing after a career in Formula racing. For Bucci and the entire Best Lap team, the upcoming Imola round represents a clean slate, a chance to build upon the encouraging ninth-place finish they secured in Race 2 at the first event.

The Bucci-Croccolino pairing will once again take the wheel of the team’s Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, tackling the twists and turns of the “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari” with a blend of their respective driving experiences: young Abruzzese talent Bucci will approach the weekend with zero kilometers under his belt at Imola, while Filippo will bring his year of experience in the Championship to the table.

This weekend’s program will feature two Free Practice sessions on Friday (11:30 and 17:30 respectively), two Qualifying sessions (11:30 and 11:55) and Race 1 (18:40) on Saturday, and Race 2 (16:30) on Sunday to conclude the GT Cup action.

Mattia Bucci: “Finally we’re back on track. It’s a dream for me to race at a circuit like Imola, especially in a Ferrari. I’m very excited and motivated to take on this challenge. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and give it my all. It will be a very interesting weekend as I’ve never driven at Imola before, but I’m sure that with hard work from the start, we’ll be able to find the right feeling with the car and the track straight away. For me, it will all be new considering the zero kilometers I’ve done, so we need to be smart and focused to get up to speed quickly. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, Walter Marini and his entire team, and my sponsors for their support.”

The races will be broadcast on ACI Sport TV (channel 228 of Sky Italy) and on both the “Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo” Facebook and Youtube channels.

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

POINTS ACHIEVEMENT FOR MATTIA BUCCI IN RACE 2 AFTER A ROLLERCOASTER WEEKEND IN MISANO

/in , , , , , , , , , , /by

Mattia Bucci’s GT debut proved to be more challenging than expected due to severe technical issues

Mattia Bucci’s debut was not the one he had hoped for: this is how we can summarize the first ACI Racing Weekend of the year for the Catignano ace aboard the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo of the Best Lap team. The first round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship – GT Cup class in Misano was heavily compromised by technical anomalies that prevented the Abruzzese talentand his teammate Filippo Croccolino from racking up significant mileage between Friday and Saturday, even forcing them to retire after a handful of laps in Race 1.

The few laps completed in the previous sessions were useful for the Roman team to study the problem, analyze it and solve it. This work lasted both days and paid off in Race 2, scheduled for Sunday. Starting from 28th on the grid, Bucci was able to bring the #178 Ferrari up to 12th position with an excellent comeback, especially considering the previous anomalies.

Once the car was handed over to Croccolino during the pit stop for the driver change mandated by the regulations, the Tuscan driver was then able to continue his climb up the standing, finishing ninth overall under the chequered flag, eighth in the Pro-Am 1st Division class. Reaching the points symbolizes consolation after the incredible difficulty experienced since the first Free Practice sessions.

Mattia Bucci: “It was a very difficult weekend due to technical problems, in fact we only managed to do Race 2. However, I am very happy with the result we brought home, because we finished in the points starting from the back of the grid, so I am very satisfied with the work done with my teammate Filippo Croccolino. I can’t help but thank the whole Best Lap team for their great work, especially during the nights of Friday and Saturday. I would also like to thank Filippo for having performed and closed a great stint; I am very confident for the next appointment in Imola. I thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team and all my sponsors for the support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

CHRISTOPHER EL FEGHALI LEBANESE DRIVER JOINS MINARDI MANAGEMENT

/in /by

Minardi Management expands its international presence by welcoming the Lebanese driver Christopher El Feghali. In the upcoming 2024 season, Christopher will compete in a couple of international karting races in the OK senior category. However, his main focus will be on utilizing this year for preparation to enter Formula 4 in 2025. Exciting times ahead for Christopher and Minardi Management!

Giovanni Minardi: «I am thrilled to have reached an agreement with Christopher and his family. Following him closely at the 2023 FIA Karting World Championship in Franciacorta, I was truly impressed by his skills. Despite arriving without prior knowledge of the track or equipment, he immediately showcased his talent by contending for victory in the competitive OK Junior category. His speed and adaptability to new tracks are commendable. I have no doubt that we will be hearing more about him soon! 🏆​ For me Christopher has an outstanding talent and his performance reminds me a lot of another driver in the past!»

Christopher El Feghali: «It’s a pleasure joining Minardi management to take care of my racing career starting with F4 and beyond, the passion and professionalism from Giovanni and Dorothea will help us push the boundaries and reach our targets in the best way possible.»