Month: September 2024

THE SPECIAL RALLY CIRCUIT BY VEDOVATI IS BACK ON TRACK: SEE YOU ON 16 AND 17 NOVEMBER

The eighth edition of the Special Rally Circuit is upon us. Once again, Vedovati Corse is focusing its efforts on the end-of-season event dedicated to the most famous of track rallies, inside the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Temple of Speed is the center of attention, as the long restyling works on the facility will also give rally drivers the chance to enjoy the new asphalt, just like the Formula One protagonists.

The race format will be the same as last year, although concentrated in just two days. It will begin with reconnaissance on Saturday morning, followed by sports and technical checks. The afternoon will be dedicated to two thirty-minute free practice sessions, before two shakedown sessions.

The special stages of the race will be four as usual but will be longer than in the past by over five kilometers - two 23.780 km passages of Ps Vedovati and two 19.620 km of Special Vedovati - e will develop a total of 86.880 kilometers of special stages. In both stages the starting position has changed and passages have been added to variants 9 (on all the stages), 5 and Junior (Ps2-4).

Registrations will open on Friday 18 October and will close on Wednesday 6 November.

by adelaide

BMW 1-2 Finish and Ferrari Podium at the 3 Hours of Monza in Front of Over 35,000 Spectators

At the Temple of Speed, the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe delivered excitement and impressive numbers. A BMW 1-2 finish with the M4s of OQ by Oman Racing and WRT ahead of the Ferrari 296 GT3 of AF Corse – Francorchamps Racing.

35,393 fans filled the grandstands of the Temple of Speed for the penultimate round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup. It was a spectacle on the track, in the grandstands, and in the paddock of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza during the three-day event dedicated to the continental series promoted by SRO, which saw four championships take to the 5.793 km of the Monza circuit. The public played a starring role in Saturday’s pit walk, Sunday morning’s autograph session in the paddock, and the grid walk.

Triumphing in the 3 Hours of Monza were Jens Klingmann, Ahmad Al Harthy, and Sam De Haan in the BMW M4 GT3 of OQ by Oman Racing, ahead of the sister car from Team WRT driven by Dries Vanthoor, Sheldon Van Der Linde, and Charles Weerts. In a photo-finish finale, with a breathtaking last lap, the Ferrari 296 GT3 of Alessio Rovera, Vincent Abril, and Alessandro Pier Guidi, who had secured pole position, took the third step on the podium. Fifth place went to the BMW of Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello.

In the Fanatec GT2 European Series powered by Pirelli, victories went to the Maserati GT2 of Leonardo Gorini and Carlo Tamburini, driving for the local team LP Racing, and the KTM X-BOW GT2 of Martin Koch and Reinhard Kofler.

In the spectacular races of the GT4 European Series powered by Rafa Racing Club, featuring 50 cars on the grid, there was a double victory for the Audi R8 LMS GT4 of Team Speedcar, driven by the French duo Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani.

The McLaren Trophy Europe also took to the track, with the stunning McLaren Arturas thrilling on the fast straights of the Temple of Speed, with wins going to Spaniards Gonzalo de Andres and Alejandro Geppert in Race 1, and to their SMC Motorsport teammates Adalberto Baptista and Tomas Pintos in Race 2.

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is now preparing for a very intense month of October with three top-level events. From October 4 to 6, the first ACI Racing Weekend will feature the Italian GT Sprint Championship, Euro 4 Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup Italy, and the Italian Historic Cars Championship. From October 18 to 20, it will be the turn of the GT Open International Series, while from October 25 to 27, the grand finale of the Italian championships will take place with the second ACI Racing Weekend.

by principe

FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2024: SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

Stunning victory for Ferrari at Monza with Charles Leclerc in the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix: the Monegasque driver, using a one-stop strategy, crossed the finish line ahead of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, finished fourth. Monza celebrated not only the success of the Maranello team but also a record attendance: over 335,000 spectators.

"This extraordinary crowd deserved a Ferrari victory, and Charles Leclerc delivered it" commented Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d’Italia, who presented the podium awards along with the Undersecretary of State at the MEF, Federico Freni, the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, and Pirelli’s Executive Vice President, Marco Tronchetti Provera. "The explosion of joy, not seen since 2019, was a testament to the strong desire to express this great enthusiasm for a victory that certainly reopens the World Championship. All of this gives us hope that in the final stretch of the season, the results will be consistent with this victory. The Automobile Club d’Italia (Federation of Motor Sport) and Italian motorsport embrace Charles Leclerc with much affection and enthusiasm, as he returns to his 2019 form."

"In this joyful weekend, I also highlight the record attendance, rewarded by this splendid victory, which also served as a celebration of the new track," added the ACI President. "The track showed its qualities, allowing Leclerc, for example, to complete 38 laps on the same tires. This was certainly thanks to Charles' extraordinary driving and perhaps also to the track surface. Finally, I congratulate Leonardo Fornaroli for winning the Formula 3 championship."

Formula 3: Fornaroli third and champion. Minì disqualified

By finishing third in the Monza Feature Race, Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) was crowned Formula 3 champion: a podium secured on the final lap with an overtaking move on Christian Mansell. That maneuver rendered the second place of a very competitive Gabriele Minì (Prema Racing) meaningless in terms of the standings. However, the ACI Team Italia driver was later removed from the results due to a technical irregularity (tire pressure). The race win went to the Frenchman Sami Meguetounif (Trident).

Fornaroli, who will turn 20 on December 3rd, won the championship without securing a race victory. "We finally managed to win this blessed title," commented Fornaroli after the race. "It wasn’t a perfect race because I made several mistakes and didn’t manage the tires well. I knew the only way to win the title was to pass Mansell. I approached the last corner thinking, 'It's all or nothing.' He was fair, gave me enough space, and I managed to pass. I want to thank Trident, my family, sponsors, trainer, and coach. There are no words to describe all of this."

"Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed not to have brought home the title," Minì commented before the disqualification, "but finishing second was what I needed to try to win. I gave it my all, and I’m very happy with that. I want to thank my team, Alpine, ACI, sponsors, my family, and everyone who supported me this season."

Formula 2: Bortoleto wins. Antonelli just off the podium

The Formula 2 race was won by the Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto (Invicta Racing), who pulled off an incredible feat after starting last. Kimi Antonelli (Prema) finished fourth. "It was a pretty complicated race," explained the Bologna-born driver of ACI Team Italia, who will race in F1 with Mercedes next year. "A lot happened, and it’s a shame about the Safety Car because the podium was within my reach. In the end, I’m happy; the pace was good. Now I’m thinking about Baku."

by adelaide