Race Report

EUROPEAN SERIES, Rounds 1, 2 & 3
Formula Abarth

Circuit: Valencia (E), Length 4,005 km, 30^th March/1^st April 2012
www.circuitvalencia.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2012:
Samin Gomez (VEN), Kevin Joerg (CH) and Gregor Ramsay (GB)

First podium finishes for Joerg and Gomez

The first of eight meetings of the Formula Abarth European Series was run at Valencia (E) as part of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) event. The FIA WTCC, the Auto GP Series, the Italian F3 and the Formula Abarth European Series enjoyed a lively weekend in very agreeable temperatures.

Qualifying

Friday, 30/03/12, 16.00 – 16.40, Weather: Sunny, 25°C

The rules of the championship allow for two qualifying sessions, each 15 minutes long, with a break of just ten minutes in between. Results from qualification 1 determine the grid for Race One, while results from qualification session 2 determine the grid for Race Two; the grid for Race Three is based on the results of Race One, with the first six finishers starting in reverse order.

The sun shone brightly, which was just as well as the short sessions didn’t offer much opportunity for the employment of tactics on the part of the drivers. Kevin handled the situation really well and was 2nd in Q1 and on pole at the end of Q2! Given how many experienced drivers there were in the pack, we didn’t expect such a good result so early but we were more than happy to accept it. Samin also qualified well, ending Q1 in 5^th and Q2 in 7^th. Gregor was 9^th overall in both sessions.

Formula Abarth European Series

Race One (22 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 31/03/12, 10.20, Weather: Sunny, 18°C

The first start of the season was on schedule, and Ghiotto got a good start with Kevin slotting in just behind him in 2^nd, while Samin and Gregor held on to 5^th and 9^th respectively. Ghiotto made a minor mistake and Kevin, who was right with him, seized his chance and slipped through. For just under three laps Kevin held the lead, but in the end Ghiotto was too strong for him and he had to cede the place to him. Zonzini and Bonifacio were battling it out behind Kevin for 3^th though this didn’t stop them from putting Kevin under pressure when they weren’t too busy with each other. It wasn’t too much of an issue and Kevin came home to a sensational first podium in the category, after a brilliant run. Samin was able to get away from Roda and Costa, who were fighting for positions behind her. She concentrated on her own run and after an error free race crossed the finish line in an excellent 5^th place. Gregor was improving steadily and his lap times were getting quicker and quicker. He finished his first race for us with no problems in a respectable 9^th place. That meant that all our drivers finished the first race of the season in the top ten.

Formula Abarth European Series

Race Two (30 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 31/03/12, 15.10, Weather: Cloudy, 23°C

Kevin got a good start but was soon under extreme pressure from his fellow runners and lost a couple of places in the early stages. He was able to follow the top three closely after that but couldn’t quite get into a position where he could challenge them. Despite this he was not unhappy with a decent 4^th place at the end of the race. Shortly after the start Gregor took Samin and Urrutia by surprise. Urrutia spun and fell back, while Samin was able to overtake Gregor with a beautiful move. She started to break away and reel in Costa, but Roda was after her and in her turn she came under tremendous pressure. Lap after lap Roda harried her, until he finally spun off and ended up in the gravel trap. That left Samin free to cross the finish line to claim a well-deserved 6^th place. Gregor also profited from Roda’s mistake and finished in a useful 7^th place, just behind Samin.

Formula Abarth European Series

Race Three (15 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 01/04/12, 10.20, Weather: Sunny, 15°C

Samin started 2^nd in the sprint race and got a good start but several drivers squeezed past in the first corner, and in the resulting squabble she had an off track moment and ended up a long way down in the field. Kevin was 5^th after the start and Gregor was 8^th. Several heated battles broke out as the drivers jockeyed for position. Bonifacio and Zonzini tangled and went off, while a courageous move by Kevin saw him claim 2^nd, much as had happened to him yesterday but with the opposite outcome. Samin, meanwhile, was able to make up place after place and worked her way back up the order. She didn’t hesitate to overtake Gregor, and after him Roda, which moved her to an excellent 3rd place behind Kevin. Ghiotto tried to follow her, but clashed with Roda putting both of them out. Gregor managed to avoid all the accidents, but that meant he had to go off track in avoidance. He finished another fine race in a very good 5^th place, bringing an eventful first race to a successful end with a double podium for the team.

Championship Standings

2012 Formula Abarth European Series after 3 out of 24 races:

1^st Luca Ghiotto (I), 43 points; 2^nd Kevin Joerg (CH), 37 points; 3^rd Nicolas Costa (BRA), 27 points; 4^th Emanuele Zonzini (I), 25 points; 5^th Bruno Bonifacio (I), 24 points; 6^th Samin Gomez (VEN), 22 points; 8^th Gregor Ramsay (GB), 12 points

2012 FORMULA ABARTH RACE CALENDAR

2012 FORMULA ABARTH EUROPEAN SERIES & ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Read more:

• www.acisportitalia.it/ABARTH_IT
• www.acisportitalia.it/ABARTH_EU
• www.italiaracing.net