Tag: Italy

Report: Race 2 Misano

Posted on November 6, 2022 by - 5, General

In the 25-minute Sunday race Harald Schlegelmilch set another lap record. Victory for the new champion Simone Colombo in FORMULA class.

The drivers of the BOSS GP Racing Series completed their final race of the season at the Pirelli Grande Finale in the best possible autumn weather.

BOSS GP OPEN Class

For the last time this season Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) was on the hunt for the lap record. Once again the former Formula 3 ace succeeded in improving the existing best time of 1:21.822, set in yesterday’s race. Today, Schlegelmilch achieved a fabulous time of 1:20.785 (average speed: 188 km/h) in his World Series Dallara with a 4.5-litre engine. The 34-year-old thus makes history and at the same time thanks his Austrian team with the tenth victory of the season in the OPEN class.

BOSS GP FORMULA Class

Once again, Saturday’s race winner Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) and the new champion Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) got together very close. Only a few centimetres separated the two GP2 cars as they turned into the first corner at the World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. A resumption of the “duel of the season” failed to unfold, however, because Ghiotto spun into the grass only a short time later. But the 2019 to 2021 champion was able to continue and take home at least one more trophy with second place. Colombo celebrated the victory as a cherry on top of the championship title he had already secured yesterday.

Michael Aberer (AUT, MA Motorsport) was on his way to the podium for most of the race distance. But Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) had something against it. As yesterday, the Italian managed to overtake rival after rival after a weak start and once again complete an all-Italian podium. After a spin by Aberer (finished 5th), Paul O’Connell (IRE, HS Engineering) also overtook the Austrian. O’Connell not only impressed with fast lap times in his WSbR, but also attracted attention with a spin in the early stages. Because he was also able to continue his drive, the chase was rewarded with his best result in the BOSS GP to date.

Giancarlo Pedetti (ITA, Nannini Racing) finished the race in sixth place, Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) in seventh. With these points, Steding was able to improve one more place in the championship. With fourth place overall in the championship, he repeated his ranking from the previous year.

BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS Class

Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) again started the race from 4th place overall. With used tyres, however, he had a much harder time today than yesterday and as a result he dropped further back in the field. Nevertheless, he crowned his performance this weekend with the second victory in class. Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino Motorsport) in a Formula 3000 took second place. Champion Andreas Hasler (AUT, Hasler Motorsport) was absent this weekend due to health reasons.

After twelve races in five different countries, the BOSS GP Racing Series 2022 comes to an end. The planning for the 2023 season is already underway, the first round of the season is expected to start in April.

Photo: Angelo Poletto

Report: Race 1 Misano

Posted on November 5, 2022 by - 5, General

Harald Schlegelmilch takes his ninth win of the season with a lap record. Simone Colombo manages to win the FORMULA title with a second place. Victory for Alexander Geier in the SUPER LIGHTS category.

While the Cinturato rain tyres were fitted in the morning, there was no more talk of this before the first race. It dried up just in time. So everything was set for a high-speed festival at the Pirelli Grande Finale 2022 at the World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Misano. After all, there was still a championship title at stake.

BOSS GP OPEN Class

But first all eyes were on the lap times of Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) in his Dallara World Series. The 4.5-litre car completed the lap of the Italian circuit near the Adriatic Sea as fast as no other car had ever done before. Schlegelmilch not only took his ninth win of the season in the OPEN classification, but also made history with a new sensational lap record of 1:21.822. The previous lap record, set in a Euroseries 3000 race, was a time of 1:25.380 by Clivio Piccione. On the technically demanding and rather twisty MotoGP circuit, this meant an average speed of 186 kph for Schlegelmilch.

BOSS GP FORMULA Class

Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) once again did everything in his control to keep his title chance alive. But the race win in the first heat was not enough. A second place was sufficient for Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) to win the title early. This means that Ghiotto has to vacate his “throne” after three titles in a row. For Colombo it was the crowning of only his second BOSS GP season. Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) completed the Italian celebrations with third place. Martucci was slow to get going, but the longer the race went on he overtook rival after rival and was subsequently delighted with his first podium of the year.

Giancarlo Pedetti (ITA, Nannini Racing) also claimed his best finish of the season with fourth place. Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) made up further points on Zdenek Chovanec-Lopez (PRT, MM International) in the championship with fifth place. In the last race of the season, he has a good chance of moving up to fourth position overall.

BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS Class

After a surprising fourth place in a wet qualifying session, Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) was in the front of the field, but Geier, in the underpowered 6-cylinder World Series, held his own in the race and was even in fourth place overall for a long time. Only Martucci was able to overtake him in the closing stages. With fifth place among the GP2 cars, the 16-year-old once again showed his talent. The class win in the SUPER LIGHTS was an easy matter, Walter Colacino (ITA, Walter Colacino Racing) in the older Formula 3000 finished second behind Geier.

Tomorrow Sunday the V8 and V6 engines will be fired up one more time this BOSS GP season. The race start for the twelfth race of the season is at 11:05 am local time. Admission is free.

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Time to register for our Grande Finale

Posted on October 20, 2022 by - General

The “Pirelli Grande Finale Misano” event takes place from 4–6 November 2022.

You can find the entry forms and guest driver application forms under For Teams on our website.

We are looking forward to your registrations. Please remember to send them to us as soon as possible.

Photos: Angelo Poletto, PR & Event Keke Platzer (Poster)

Report: Race 2 Mugello

Posted on October 16, 2022 by - 5, General

Ingo Gerstl secures the championship title. Thriller for victory in the BOSS GP FORMULA class postpones decision to the Pirelli Grande Finale in Misano.

The third last race of the 2022 season at the “Forza Fanatec” had it all for fans and drivers alike. But first, the teams and riders had to wait, because the fog on Sunday morning postponed the programme by about an hour. However, this did not change the race distance of 25 minutes.

BOSS GP F1 Class

Thomas Jackermeier (GER, Top Speed) started the race from grid position 2. He overtook his team-mate Ingo Gerstl (AUT) in the two-year older Toro Rosso STR 1 right at the start, but a safety car phase made it impossible for Gerstl to pass his protégé Thomas Jackermeier. Jackermeier fulfilled a birthday wish with his third victory after the “double” in Brno and won for the first time on Italian soil with the Italian car. Gerstl’s second place was enough to secure his eighth BOSS GP title, the seventh in the highest class. Gerstl thus draws level with his long-time great rival Klaas Zwart (NLD) in the all-time BOSS GP leaderboard.

BOSS GP OPEN Class

Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) was able to take another winner’s trophy for himself and his Austrian team on the podium at Mugello after another faultless performance.

BOSS GP FORMULA Class

Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) wanted to fix the championship deal after winning yesterday’s race. But in a tussle at the start with rival Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), it was Colombo who lost out. He got stuck in the gravel, while Ghiotto and Francesco Malavasi (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) were able to continue the race with loss of position. In the last ten minutes of the race, a four-way battle for the class win ignited. Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International), who was leading at first, got more and more pressure, among others from Salvatore de Plano (ITA, MM International). He overtook Martucci, who counterattacked several times. Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) and Marco Ghiotto joined him from behind and worked their way forward lap by lap. With three laps to go, De Plano took the lead, which he would not relinquish until the chequered flag. Behind him, Luca Martucci defended himself with the knives between his teeth. But it did not end as Martucci would have wished. Both Faggionato with the fastest race lap and Ghiotto were able to pass Martucci on the last lap. With third place behind De Plano and Faggionato, Ghiotto keeps the title fight open in the FORMULA standings, 38 points separate him and Colombo before the last two races in Misano. 50 points are still up for grabs.

BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS Class

Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino Motorsport) could hardly believe it. Unlike his opponents in the six-cylinder car class, Colacino was able to complete a race distance in his aged Formula 3000 with Alfa Romeo engine. Colacino thus scored the full 25 points. Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) was at least able to complete some race laps today (Sunday) after yesterday’s technical problems and finished second ahead of the new champion Andreas Hasler (AUT, Hasler Motorsport).

The BOSS GP Racing Series continues its European tour in three weeks. The final decisions of this season will be made at the Pirelli Grande Finale in Misano from 4 to 6 November 2022.

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report: Race 1 Mugello

Posted on October 15, 2022 by - General

Andreas Hasler takes the title in the BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS. Wins for Gerstl (F1) and Schlegelmilch (OPEN) as well as a crucial victory for Simone Colombo in the FORMULA classification.

The Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres stayed in the garages this time. The ninth of twelve races of the season in Tuscany took place under partly cloudy skies and in the best climatic conditions. 20 minutes had to be completed as usual in Saturday’s race at the “Forza Fanatec” in Mugello. The group of Formula 1 cars was started in the proven manner with a gap to the other three classes.

BOSS GP F1 Class

Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) controlled the first race of the weekend from pole position. In the 2006 Toro Rosso STR 1 the 7-time BOSS GP champion set the pace, only Thomas Jackermeier (GER, Top Speed) was able to keep up at times on his F1 debut at the Mugello circuit. Jackermeier held his own against the fastest driver from the OPEN classification, Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering), who hung on to the rear of the Toro Rosso STR 3 after an early restart. Jackermeier scored 22 points for second place, which now puts him equal with Ulf Ehninger in second place in the standings behind Gerstl.

BOSS GP OPEN Class

Harald Schlegelmilch brought the improved World Series car home first again and without any technical problems. His team, HS Engineering, celebrated the seventh victory of the season at the seventh event together with their pilot.

BOSS GP FORMULA Class

When it comes to the championship, Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) made a serious mistake on the first lap. The reigning champion spun off the track with cold tyres on lap 1 and had to retire from the race early. This left the way clear for Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International), who controlled the race at the front. However, the gap at the finish to the next driver was not even one second. Salvatore de Plano (ITA, MM International) made it onto the podium for the first time in his third start this year. With 1:37.701 De Plano also drove the fastest lap in his class. Francesco Malavasi (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) was no match for him. However, his 3rd place was his third top-3 result in a row. With three Italians at the front, the “Fratelli d’Italia” (Italian national anthem) was rightly played. Colombo heads into tomorrow’s race with a 58-point lead over Ghiotto. If he maintains a lead of 50 points, Colombo could be celebrated as Ghiotto’s successor on Sunday.

In midfield Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) fought his way through the pack as expected after his bad qualifying. Similar to Alexander Seibold (GER, Seibold Auto + Sport), he managed some impressive overtaking manoeuvres. After a suspension change, Seibold was able to move up to 5th place behind Faggionato by setting quick lap times. Paul O’Connell (IRE, HS Engineering) in the only World Series 3.5 V8 kept ahead of the two GP2 cars for a long time, in the end he finished 6th ahead of Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) and Bruno Jarach (ITA, Eesti Motorsport). Unlucky was Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International), who started the race late with electronics problems and finished the race one lap down.

BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS Class

While Harald Schlegelmilch had already secured the title in the OPEN class after the race weekend in Brno, it was now Andreas Hasler’s (AUT, Hasler Motorsport) turn in the SUPER LIGHTS. The former hillclimb racer won his class for the fourth time this year. Because Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) could not fix the gearbox problems from qualifying for the race either, Hasler’s most important opponent remained without points this time. This means that Hasler can no longer be ousted from the top spot before the last three races of the season. Second place in Mugello went to Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino Motorsport) in the 1998 Formula 3000.

The tenth race of the season will take place tomorrow, Sunday, at 13:15 local time. Before that, there will be a ten-minute warm-up of the BOSS GP Racing Series at 10:00 am. Tickets are still available at the box office.

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report: Qualifying Mugello

Posted on October 15, 2022 by - General

Pole position for Ingo Gerstl at the “Forza Fanatec” in Mugello. Ghiotto holds his own against FORMULA leader Colombo and Andreas Hasler is fastest in the SUPER LIGHTS.

Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) confirmed his role as favourite with the best time in qualifying. With a lap time of 1:26.747, the driver of a Toro Rosso STR1 secured pole position for the two race rounds in Mugello. Gerstl will be followed at the start by OPEN driver Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) in the World Series car with 4.5 litres capacity (instead of 3.5). Thomas Jackermeier (GER, Top Speed) will start from row 2. Jackermeier is competing for the first time in a Formula 1 car at Mugello and is doing excellently so far. Will he be able to step up a gear in the race and follow Gerstl?

Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) secured the best starting position in the highly competitive FORMULA classification. The two-time BOSS GP champion started in qualifying section 2 after a cautious Friday practice run and it took him a few laps to get past team-mate Francesco Malavasi (ITA) on the timings and then championship leader Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International). With a fantastic time of 1:35.035, Ghiotto qualified almost nine tenths of a second ahead of Colombo, who lost time especially in the first sector. Filling the starting row behind are BOSS GP rookie Francesco Malavasi and Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International), who is a candidate for the podium with a good qualifying performance on one of his favourite tracks. Team-mate Salvatore de Plano (ITA) follows behind.

With Joey Foster (GBR, HS Engineering) withdrawing from the event, the only World Series by Renault 3.5-litre pilot Paul O’Connell qualified sixth in class. Best from the Zig-Zag squad was Nicolas Matile (MCO) in the Auto GP Lola in eighth in class, just ahead of teammate Jean Christophe Peyre (FRA). Team leader Marc Faggionato (MCO) was unable to take part in practice after spinning and will therefore have a race to catch up.

In the SUPER LIGHTS category, rookie Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) only familiarised himself with the track today after still being in school yesterday. Geier’s Tatuus World Series V6, however, remained in the pits with gearbox problems, so Andreas Hasler (AUT, Hasler Motorsport) will start the races as the best-placed SUPER LIGHTS competitor. Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino Motorsport) qualified his Formula 3000 in 15th place overall.

The first race starts today, Saturday, at 15:05 local time and is over a distance of 20 minutes, the second race over 25 minutes is scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, at 13:15. In order to keep the workload on the Formula 1 cars low, the BOSS GP F1 Class will see the chequered flag after 15 minutes.

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Preview: Forza Fanatec Mugello

Posted on October 11, 2022 by - 5, General

The Italian “double” to close the 2022 BOSS GP season starts next weekend with two races in Tuscany.

Before the 28th season of Europe’s fastest racing series enters its finale in Misano (4-6 November), it is time for Mugello, one of the favourite tracks of many drivers. While last year’s championship started at Mugello, this year’s Forza Fanatec at Mugello is already entering the crucial stage. In the BOSS GP FORMULA Class, six drivers (all of them in GP2 cars) still have a mathematical chance of becoming the champion.

Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International), who made his BOSS GP debut at Mugello in 2021, has the best chance of winning the title at the moment. He leads by 33 points over defending champion Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scurderia Palladio) and the Portuguese Zdenek Chovenec-Lopez (MM International). As in Brno, however, Chovanec-Lopez will not be competing. Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International), Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) and Giancarlo Pedetti (ITA, Nannini Racing) still have outside chances. Francesco Malavasi (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), who has only been participating in the championship since Le Castellet in the summer, was on the podium twice in Brno and should also be considered for a possible podium in Mugello. With Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) and Salvatore de Plano (ITA, MM International), two former race winners return to the grid, which this time also includes a former professional racing driver: Joey Foster (GBR, HS Engineering) will give his comeback in monoposto racing. A total of 17 drivers have entered for the FORMULA classification, including the French team from Zig-Zag and two Lola AutoGP cars.

Two drivers from Team Top Speed, Ingo Gerstl (AUT) and Thomas Jackermeier (GER), will be competing in the BOSS GP F1 Class. They continue their Toro Rosso duel between Gerstl’s STR1 and Jackermeier’s STR3. Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) from the OPEN class will again try to chase the Formula 1 cars in his modified World Series bolide. In the six-cylinder car class, Andreas Hasler (AUT, Hasler Motorsport) will try to keep his increasingly fast pursuer in the overall SUPER LIGHTS standings, Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing), at bay. All the best ingredients for an exciting race weekend in Mugello.

Entry List:

NumberNameNationTeamClassManufacturerYearModelEngine
1Ingo GerstlAUTTeam Top SpeedF1Toro Rosso2006F1 – STR1Cosworth TJ
15Thomas JackermeierGERTeam Top SpeedF1Toro Rosso2008F1 – STR3Ferrari 056
10Haralds Slegelmilhs LVAHS EngineeringOPENDallara2012WSbR – T12Gibson 4.5
12Joey FosterGBRHS EngineeringFORMULADallara2012WSbR – T12Gibson
19Nicolas MatileMCOZig-ZagFORMULALola2005AutoGPZytek
22Michael AbererAUTAM MotorsportFORMULADallara2005GP2Mecachrome
27Marco GhiottoITAScuderia PalladioFORMULADallara2011GP2Mecachrome
28Bruno JarachITAEesti MotorsportFORMULADallara2008GP2Mecachrome
29Marc FaggionatoMCOZig-ZagFORMULADallara2008GP2Mecachrome
31Paul O’ConnellIREHS EngineeringFORMULADallara2012WSbR – T12Gibson
32Simone ColomboITAMM InternationalFORMULADallara2017F2Mecachrome
37Luca MartucciITAMM InternationalFORMULADallara2011GP2Mecachrome
43Giancarlo PedettiITANannini RacingFORMULADallara2014GP2Mecachrome
44Thomas JakoubekAUTTeam Top SpeedFORMULADallara2008GP2Mecachrome
46Alexander SeiboldGERSeibold Auto + SportFORMULADallara2005GP2Mecachrome
47Walter StedingGERScuderia PalladioFORMULADallara2011GP2Mecachrome
61Jean-Christophe PeyreFRAZig-ZagFORMULALola2005AutoGPZytek
66Andreas FiedlerGERFiedler RacingFORMULADallara2008GP2Mecachrome
77Francesco MalavasiITAScuderia PalladioFORMULADallara2011GP2Mecachrome
87Salvatore de PlanoITAMM InternationalFORMULADallara2011GP2Mecachrome
34Roberto VanniITAWalter Colacino RacingSUPER LIGHTSLola1998F3000Alfa Romeo
36Walter ColacinoITAWalter Colacino RacingSUPER LIGHTSLola1998F3000Alfa Romeo
111Alexander GeierAUTGeier RacingSUPER LIGHTSTatuus2003WSbRNissan
115Andreas HaslerAUTHasler MotorsportSUPER LIGHTSDallara2009WSbNNissan

Track:

The 5.245-kilometre Mugello circuit (built in 1974) is owned by Ferrari and traditionally hosts the MotoGP. Two years ago, the track in Tuscany also hosted a Formula 1 race (winner: Lewis Hamilton). The youngsters and gentlemen of the BOSS GP Racing Series can expect fluid and fast sequences of corners embedded in a hilly topography. Last year in partly wet conditions Marco Ghiotto took a double victory in the FORMULA class, in the OPEN classification Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) won race 1 in a Benetton, in race 2 Ingo Gerstl in a Toro Rosso.

Timetable (CEST):

Friday, 14 October 2022
11:10–11:40     Free Practice 1
14:05–14:35     Free Practice 2

Saturday, 15 October 2022
09:55–10:25     Qualifying
15:05–15:25     Race 1 (20 minutes)

Sonntag, 16 October 2022
10:00–10:10     Warm-up
13:15–13:40     Race 2 (25 minutes)

Support races:

The Italian promoter Gruppo Peroni is again gathering numerous racing series from different categories in Mugello this year. In addition to the BOSS GP Racing Series as the main series, the Italian Topjet F2000 Trophy (together with the Drexler Formula Cup from Austria) is another single-seater racing series at the event. The Master Tricolore Prototipi features sports prototypes, the Lotus (Cup Italia) and Renault (Clio RS Cup) one-make cups and the historic GT cars of the Campionato Italiano Autostoriche will complete the line-up. The programme starts on Friday from 8:45 am (without lunch break) with practice and qualifying sessions. On Saturday and Sunday, the programme will start with the races from 9 a.m. each day.

Tickets:

Admission to the standing areas is free, the pit roof and main stand cost 10 respectively 15 euros at the box office. Discounts are available for under-18s, women and ACI club members. Children under 14 can enter for free when accompanied by an adult, and the same applies to residents of the municipalities of Scarperia and San Piero (FI).

Live Stream:

The race programme on Saturday and Sunday will be partially broadcast on promoter Gruppo Peroni’s YouTube channel.

Photos: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP, PR & Event Keke Platzer (Poster)

Self-made man

Posted on June 17, 2022 by - General

From race kart to Formula 2: Simone Colombo (35, from near Milan) shows how it’s done. In our interview, the MM International driver explains why the BOSS GP Racing Series has captivated him.

You come from professional karting and switched to a Formula 2 car last year. How did that come about?

SIMONE COLOMBO: “I started karting and then stopped when I got my job. I didn’t race for seven years and I felt I was missing something. But during my job I couldn’t do both, so I couldn’t continue karting. So I tried to start motor racing and that’s why I’m here. In 2021, I drove my first race ever. I just started racing formula cars and I don’t know much about it. But this year I tested before the first race a lot.”

But it looks very skillful, you don’t make many mistakes. Were GT cars actually not an option for you?

COLOMBO: “No! Only single seaters, that’s the maximum.”

Why do you race in the BOSS GP Racing Series?

COLOMBO: “To have fun! I enjoy the experience, the tracks, the car. There are not so many opportunities to drive this kind of cars.”

Promising start: In Simone’s debut season in 2021 he immediately became runner-up in the FORMULA class

What does your company Mondokart do?

COLOMBO: “We sell kart parts and karts. We work hard to be very good and fast in shipping. We are sort of the ‘Amazon of karting’. Karting is very big in Italy because most karts are produced in Italy and all the main manufacturers are in Italy.”

What kart chassis do you sell?

COLOMBO: “We sell CRG, Tonykart, but we also have many other brands. We work with all the companies in the sector. In addition, we are also manufacturers of karts ourselves, but that is not the biggest part of the business.”

What is your goal for this racing season, what do you expect?

COLOMBO: “I want to do better than last year. Maybe I can get first place in the championship, but I don’t know if I will be able to do that. There are also some new riders this year … I will just take it step by step.”

Pictures: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP, Robert Lösch

Report Race 1 Monza

Posted on October 2, 2021 by - General

Championship decision postponed: Already the pre-start threw the qualifying into disarray. In the end, FORMULA Champion Marco Ghiotto won in the Monza Park and spoke of an “easy” victory.

With 22 degrees Celsius outside and 33°C asphalt temperature, the drivers found perfect racing conditions to get the Pirelli tyres into the ideal temperature window. Already on the grid the Toro Rosso of pole setter Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) caused problems. “It must have been a sensor problem in the gearbox, it would have been fine, but for safety reasons I preferred to park the car after the start,” a disappointed Gerstl stated. In the championship, the Austrian suffered a severe setback and is now seven points behind Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) with one race to go.

As Phil Stratford’s (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) Benetton remained in the pits due to gearbox problems in qualifying, it was Ehninger who took the win in the Open class. In the overall classification, however, the Benetton driver was beaten by Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) and Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International Motorsport). The two Dallara GP2 drivers flew around the course in pairs at the start before Ghiotto prevailed by just under three seconds.

“At the beginning I tried not to give Colombo any slipstream, the effect is particularly strong in Monza. Once I shook him off a bit, it was an easy win,” stated the confident champion. For Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International Motorsport) the home race ended abruptly. His GP2 rolled out at the beginning of the famous Ascari chicane while he was safely in third place.

Behind Ehninger, the battle for 4th place raged, with Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) and Armando Mangini (ITA, MM International Motorsport) duelling it out for the entire race. Mangini tried several times to takes over out of the slipstream, but braked in the first chicane on his most promising attempt, had to go wide and could not get closer than seven tenths to the German again.

The most exciting duel took place behind Paul O’Connell (IRL, HS Engineering) for 7th place. Michael Aberer (AUT, MA Motorsport), who drives his car in the legendary Gold Leaf colours, drove close behind Thomas Jakoubek (AUT, Top Speed) the entire race before he struck in the Parabolica corner on the last lap. “I picked someone to fight with, to see where I actually stand. It was my first race in the dry, for that I am very, very satisfied, it was an awesome match,” Aberer summed up.

Tomorrow Sunday at 12:50 local time the GlobeAir Grande Finale of the 2021 BOSS GP season will take place in Monza.

Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Preview Monza

Posted on October 1, 2021 by - General

Last tour stop for Europe’s fastest racing series in the 2021 season: The BOSS GP Racing Series storms through the park of Monza at over 300 kph.

Monza and BOSS GP seem to be the perfect match, as both form a wonderful symbiosis of tradition and modernity. While high-tech racing cars from the last 20 years can be watched at full volume and in real races at the BOSS GP Racing Series, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza has been the venue for the Formula One Italian Grand Prix since 1950 (except in 1980). A large part of the original layout has been adapted to modern safety standards and is still used today, although the steep concrete curves can only be admired on foot.

The BOSS GP line-up last competed in Monza two years ago. Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) and Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) won that time. Meanwhile, Ingo is on the verge of obtaining his seventh BOSS GP championship title in the OPEN class. Realistically, only an early technical defect on his Toro Rosso STR1 or an accident can still prevent the Salzburg citizen from winning another title in Monza. Gerstl’s last remaining rival in the 2021 overall standings, Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing), is inferior in terms of performance and aerodynamics in his blue and white Benetton F1 from the 1997 season.

In contrast, the FORMULA class with its numerous Formula 2 and GP2 cars is much closer together. Recently, however, drivers with their Auto GP and World Series by Renault 3.5 cars have also been able to get involved on a regular basis, as Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) proved in Brno. Irishman Paul O’Connell will sit in Schlegelmilch’s car in Monza and the question on everyone’s lips is: Will he also be able to cause a surprise? After the cancelled races at the Nürburgring will not be held until 2022, Italian Marco Ghiotto (Scuderia Palladio) will be the FORMULA champion for the third time in a row. Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International), who has scored points with consistency so far, has the best chance of finishing second before the final. But only one point behind his teammate is compatriot Luca Martucci. All three are chasing the coveted home victory in Monza. Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who has recently moved closer to the top-runners, has also a great chance of stepping onto the podium.

Timetable BOSS GP GlobeAir Grande Finale Monza:

Friday, 1 October 2021
10:15–10:45 Free Practice 1
14:25–14:55 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 2 October 2021
10:30–11:00 Qualifying
15:35 Race 1 (20 minutes)

Sunday, 3 October 2021
12:50 Race 2 (25 minutes)