Tag: Ehninger

Great start to autumn in Mugello

Posted on October 23, 2024 by Stieger - General

After the race in Assen / Netherlands and the subsequent summer break, the teams of the BOSS GP Racing series headed south at the beginning of October. When entries closed, it was already clear that there would be a very large starting field in Tuscany with 24 cars. HS-Engineering from Austria had taken a break in Assen, but both Dallara World Series V8 T12s were entered for Mugello. The Brazilian ex-Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia with the more powerful 4.5 liter Gibson engine in the Open Class and the Irishman Paul O’Connell with the 3.5 liter V8. The French ZIG-ZAG team brought two well-known Auto GP racers to the start in the Formula Class, the Monegasque Nicolas Matile and the Frenchman Jean-Christope Peyre.

Jean-Christope Peyre (FRA), ZIG-ZAG Motorsport, Lola Auto-GP.

There was also a reunion with Giancarlo Pedetti (ITA), who this time drove a GP 2 from Scuderia Palladio. The Czech Vladimir Netušil will be taking part in this Formula Class for the first time. He dared to switch from a Formula 3 to the GP2 of the Italian team MM International Motorsport. The large field of starters was also joined by the 2022 BOSS GP Super Lights champion, Andreas Hasler from Austria, who brought his Dallara World Series V6 T08 to Tuscany after a long, technical absence.

In the two free practice sessions, which were run in changing conditions, Ingo Gerstl (AUT) from the Top-Speed team in the Toro Rosso STR1 F1 and Antonio Pizzonia duelled. Gerstl drove the fastest time in FP1 with 1:30.422, Pizzonia countered as the fastest in FP2, but with 1:31.513 he could not match the Austrian’s time. Behind them was an Italian GP 2 trio with Simone Colombo, Massimiliano Cuccarese (both MM International Motorsport) and Marco Ghiotto (Scuderia Palladio). Newcomer Vladimir Netušil was surprisingly strong, making himself noticeable behind this trio after the two free practice sessions and thus in the front field of the Formula Class. An exciting qualifying session was to be expected – and that’s what happened, but with a significant delay, because the morning fog persisted and was so thick that it was not possible for any of the racing classes present in Mugello this weekend to start on time. The first drivers, the Alfa Romeo Revival Cup, only took to the track two hours later than planned.

The delays in the schedule caused by the heavy fog did not dampen the mood of the participants of the Boss GP Racing Series (in the picture from left: Paul O´Connell / HS-Engineering, Ingo Gerst / Top-Speed and Andreas Hasler / Hasler Motorsport).

The fog then quickly cleared and the weather improved. This meant that much better lap times were possible in the BOSS GP qualifying session. Due to the large field of starters, the 30-minute qualifying session was again split into two groups this time. First 10 minutes for the fastest from the free practice sessions and then 18 minutes for the rest of the field after a changeover phase.

The best in each class in qualifying:

F1 Class:	Ingo Gerstl (AUT), Team Top-Speed, Toro Rosso STR 1 F1
Open Class	Antonio Pizzonia (BRA), HS-Engineering, Dallara WS V8 T12 4,5
Formula Class:	Simone Colombo (ITA), MM International Motorsport, Dallara GP2
Super Lights Class:	Stephan Glaser (SUI), Jo Zeller Racing, Dallara WS V6 T08

Dominating this year’s BOSS GP Super-Lights class: Stephan Glaser (SUI), Jo Zeller Racing, Dallara WS V6 T8.

Due to the delays caused by the fog, PNK as the organizer had to tighten up the schedule enormously in consultation with the race management and the BOSS GP organization. All series organizers helped very enthusiastically to get all the planned races through. For race 1 of the BOSS GP, which started almost an hour late, the race duration had to be shortened by two minutes.

Class results BOSS GP race 1:

Race 2 on Sunday went ahead as originally planned. In the formation lap, the two Formula 1 cars with Ingo Gerstl and Ulf Ehninger (GER), ESBA Racing, Benetton B197 F1, were at the front. Behind the second leading car was the rest of the field, led by Antonip Pizzonia and followed by an armada of GP2 drivers from the Formula Class. Since some preliminary decisions could be made in the individual classes with regard to the overall victory, exciting duels and interesting fights for the individual positions in the points were to be expected. And that’s exactly what happened. Positions were changed for laps.

With two race wins in Mugello, Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International Motorsport, Dallara GP2, pictured at the front) is getting ever closer to the previous leader of the BOSS GP Formula class, Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio, Dallara GP2) in the points ranking. The decision for the overall victory in this class will probably be made on the Misano weekend at the beginning of November.

Class results BOSS GP Race 2:

Since the BOSS GP F1 class will not be taking part in the finale in Misano at the beginning of November, Ulf Ehninger has been declared the overall winner of the F1 class for the second time. The same goes for Antonio Pizzonia in the BOSS GP Open Class. There is no title decision in the remaining two BOSS GP classes. Here, both the overall victory and the placings behind it are still open. An exciting BOSS GP finale can therefore be expected in Misano from November 1st to 3rd.

Overall winner of the BOSS GP F1 class for the 2nd time after 2022: Ulf Ehninger (GER), ESBA Racing, Benetton B197 F1.

Was able to repeat his BOSS GP overall victory in the Open Class from last year: Ex-Formula 1 driver Antonio Pizzonia (BRA), HS-Engineering, Dallara World Series V8 T12 4.5.

Standings BOSS GP Racing Series – all classes
Gallery PNK Racing Weekend Mugello

Report: Black/SMW MEDIA
Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Review: Nürburgring 2024

Posted on June 4, 2024 by Keke Platzer - 5, General

Three weeks after the season opener in Hockenheim, the BOSS GP Racing Series resumed its season at the Nürburgring. Among other things, there was a thrilling duel for FORMULA victory and Pizzonia’s record-breaking drive.

The return to the legendary circuit in the Eifel offered drivers and fans plenty of excitement and thrilling motorsport. This time, the Grand Prix circuit with the smoother motorbike version in the Veedol-S was used. Rock concerts, a huge firework’s display on Saturday evening and an illuminated Ferris wheel in the paddock attracted thousands of visitors to the Nürburgring Classics just one week before the 24-hour race. At the Grid Walk before the BOSS GP races, many fans were able to get up close to the cars.

F1 and OPEN

F1 driver Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA-Racing) and OPEN driver Antonio Pizzonia (BRA, HS Engineering) scored maximum points for the championship twice. Ehninger enriched the event with his Benetton B197, which had already competed here at the Grand Prix of Luxembourg in 1997. ESBA-Racing also put Alexander Wurz’s 1998 Benetton on display.

*Benetton’s 1998 (le.) and 1997 (ri.) F1 cars*

Pizzonia caused a sensation with an outstanding qualifying lap in the World Series 4.5: With a time of 1:38.135 min, the ex-Formula 1 driver set a new lap record for non-Formula 1 cars, once again living up to the reputation of Europe’s fastest racing series.

*Antonio Pizzonia on the way to his record lap*

FORMULA

The FORMULA category, which this time featured exclusively GP2 cars, was hotly contested. Reigning champion Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) won both races, but was under a lot of pressure, especially in the second race. Japanese driver Juju Noda (MM International) tried to pass her team-mate several times. The two top drivers showed each other no mercy and were side by side several times, especially in the first corner. However, Noda overshot the braking point on another overtaking attempt and subsequently spun.

The fact that she was able to compete at all is thanks to the spirit of solidarity within the BOSS GP family. After an engine failure on Friday, the neighbouring team Scuderia Palladio provided a spare car shortly before qualifying. She thanked them with third place in the first race.

*Marco Ghiotto from team Scuderia Palladio (li.) helped out Juju Noda (re.)*

Meanwhile, everything is going according to plan for Simone Colombo. After three wins in a row, he is leading the overall standings by nine points from Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), who also had a successful weekend with second and third place. Michael Fischer made a strong debut with 4th place in the first race. In the second race, the Austrian with monoposto and GT experience was able to improve once again and celebrated second place behind Colombo. The best German in the races turned out to be Alexander Seibold (Seibold auto + sport) in both races.

SUPER LIGHTS

Stefan Scho (GER, Scho) celebrated a perfect debut. In his first appearance in the BOSS GP Racing Series, the experienced German in the Lola Formula 3000 was able to prevail against the increasingly strong competition in terms of quantity and quality in the SUPER LIGHTS and clinch victory twice. Swiss driver Stephan Glaser (Jo Zeller Racing) in the World Series car, who scored good points again with second place in the first race, retains the lead in the standings. Henry Clausnitzer (GER, WF Racing) also remains consistent, finishing third twice. Stefan Eisinger-Sewald (AUT, Red Rose Racing) also finished on the podium in his Formula 3000. Once again, it became evident how diverse this still young class is this year.

The next two races in the BOSS GP Racing Series will take place at the Red Bull Ring Classics from 7 to 9 June 2024.

Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report Race 1 Mugello

Posted on April 10, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

Marco Ghiotto beats everyone in the first race of the season. Premier victory for Ulf Ehninger in OPEN class.

Hectic hustle and bustle just before race start on the grid. Most of the teams changed from the Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres to the P Zero slicks. The rain had stopped before the start of the race, so that a large part of the 5.2-kilometre-long track had dried up. Nevertheless, a small group of drivers including Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport) and Formula 3000 individual Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino), relied on the wet weather tyres from exclusive supplier Pirelli.

It was soon clear that they had bet on the right card. Ghiotto was already in front under hard braking into the first corner. Pole setter Marc Faggionato, who was cautious at the start, immediately lost a few places. Gianluca De Lorenzi (SMR, GDL Racing) slid into the gravel with under-tempered slicks in the wet, but was able to continue and Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) was also only just able to avoid a spin in the first couple of corners.

Marco Ghiotto’s first pursuer was Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who started the race from only 11th on the grid and crossed the start-finish line in second place after lap 1. But on lap 4, the German parked his GP2-Dallara in the paddock and was sad about the missed chance.

But the action continued: Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed), who had started from pitlane with his Formula 1 Toro Rosso, tried to get through the packed field. In lap 5 he had reached the front of the pack and started chasing Ghiotto, until tyre blistering stopped him as well. At that time Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) took over second place. Martucci drove the fastest race lap but lost too much time to Ghiotto in the early stages of the race. Meanwhile, the 2020 and 2021 FORMULA champion was looking for every wet spot on the asphalt to keep his rain tyres alive. A late safety car period helped Marco Ghiotto to clinch the race victory.

f.l. Martucci, race winner Ghiotto, OPEN winner Ehninger and De Lorenzi

Martucci finished second and made up six places compared to qualifying. Gianluca De Lorenzi recovered quickly from his initial excursion into the gravel trap, third place is the well-deserved reward on his BOSS GP debut. Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) benefited from Gerstl’s retirement, but the Benetton driver can still refer to a controlled race in slippery conditions. Even a short ride through the gravel could not stop Ehninger. He was awarded with a well-deserved winner’s trophy in the OPEN class – the first of his BOSS GP career!

Nicolas Matile (MCO, Zig-Zag) and Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport) had a lap-long duel. Matile in the Auto GP was slightly faster in the corners, Jarach in his GP2 on the straights. In the end Matile was able to beat Jarach, which meant sixth place for the Monegasque.

The race of Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) and Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) ended unhappily in the gravel bed of turn 1. In the duel for the podium, the two collided slightly. The revenge of the beaten may follow tomorrow. Race 2 starts at 14:25 local time. The race will be broadcast on Italian television (MS Motortv) and on race organiser Gruppo Peroni’s YouTube channel. Before that, a warm-up will be run at 10:00 am.

Photos: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP

Report Race 1 Mugello

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Keke Platzer - General, Uncategorized

FORMULA: Martucci beats Ghiotto, Gerstl ahead of Ehninger in the OPEN class

The BOSS GP drivers have a lot to tell after this race. Of all things, it started to rain at the start of the warm-up lap on the 5.4-kilometre-long Mugello Circuit. To ensure a safe start to the race and to give the teams time to change to rain tyres, the race was stopped once again and started a few minutes later behind the Fanatec Safety Car. But not everyone switched from slicks to the Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres during the break. Nicolas Matile (MCO, Zig-Zag), Salvatore de Plano (ITA, Coloni) and Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport) took the risk, but their tyre choice turned out to be a mistake as soon as the race was started. At various points around the track it began to rain more heavily again. The changing conditions subsequently made it incredibly difficult for the drivers to find the right pace. But the BOSS GP drivers did an outstanding job and managed to keep their powerful Formula 1, Formula 2 and Auto GP cars on track.

Behind the Austrian Ingo Gerstl (winner of the OPEN class) in the Toro Rosso F1, Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) and Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) fought an epic battle for the victory in the FORMULA class. In lap 1 Ghiotto first passed Martucci. At mid-race, the action came to a head: After a few tentative attempts, Martucci made the decisive manoeuvre at over 300 km/h on the start-finish straight. Nearly there was contact. But the duel was not over yet, because now Luca had to be up front in difficult track conditions. Marco followed only a few metres behind and tried to pass Martucci once again. To show how close it was between Martucci and Ghiotto: The best lap time of the two was only 0.003 seconds separated (in favour of Ghiotto). But it was no longer enough for the championship leader, instead Martucci’s team had reason to cheer this time. It was the first victory ever for the tall Italian in the BOSS GP Racing Series, and what a victory that was!

Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) was able to follow the two Italians in their home race for a couple of laps. He finished in a strong third place. Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing) also delivered a surprisingly good race. The third in the championship in 2019 has bought a new Dallara GP2 and is using this season’s races as a test. Because his team had no rain tyres at hand, the German had to drive to his tent in the paddock and then start from pit lane. Relatively quickly he moved up to fifth place in his class, but the gap to the front was already large. Until the halfway point of the race, Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) was on a good way to a fourth-place finish. But Steding lost ground in the second half of the race, and his position to compatriot Fiedler.

Armando Mangini (ITA, MM International) also drove impeccably, finishing sixth in his class behind Steding. Last year Mangini had announced his retirement. Today he proved that this was probably premature. Probably the hardest race had Salvatore de Plano (ITA, Coloni). He was the only one who stayed on dry tyres until the end of the race and therefore had no chance. It is probably only thanks to his driving qualities that he was able to finish the race safely.

A ten-minute warm-up will be held tomorrow morning from 10.20 a.m. The second race of the weekend start 14.30. Rain showers are predicted.

Photo: Roberto Piccinini/Actualfoto