Tag: René Kouwenberg

FORMULA class: Golden weekend for Raghunathan

Mahaveer Raghunathan - double-winner of the weekend and winner of the FORMULA class Championship 2017.

It was a golden weekend for Indian driver Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport), who didn’t just win the race on Saturday in Imola, but also claimed the victory of the very last race of the season in Imola on Sunday again. With this result, Raghunathan not only won both races, but also the Championship 2017 of the BOSS GP FORMULA class.

As already reported, former leader of the FORMULA class, Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport), had to cancel his participation of the two last season races due to technical problems on early Saturday morning, as well as PETER, who stepped back from both races as well due to technical issues. So a thrilling battle was left between local hero Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport) and Raghunathan for the overall victory of this years Championship.

After winning season race 13 on Saturday in Imola, Raghunathan started the race on Sunday highly motivated again. Weather conditions in Imola had turned over completely during the night. So rainy, wet weather awaited the grid on the track. After two safety car laps the grid finally started into the race and was – despite the rain – on fire.

It was indeed not a good weekend for Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport). The Italian, as well as Raghunathan, had good chances, to win the Championshiop after Ledermairs cancellation of the weekend. But De Plano dropped out of the track in the beginning of fourth lap, which meant – all Championship chances were gone for him. So it was Raghunathans – holding position 2 of the overall grid – turn, to bring this race home safely.

 

Team "PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport" celebrating the Championship of Mahaveer Raghunathan.

Team “PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport” celebrating the Championship of Mahaveer Raghunathan.

 

Due to ongoing rain, conditions for all drivers were challenging. “I liked the rain and the wet track”, Raghunathan indeed explained after the race. “I love driving during such weather conditions.” The Indian, well known as a good rain-driver, showed a souvereign performance and finally finished on first position of the FORMULA class. “I am really happy with that win and todays race. It was a lot of fun, and I’m absolutely happy, that I could make it P1 and finally the Championship as well. This is amazing. I want to give a huge thank you to my team at PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport, who did a great job”, Raghunathan said after the podium ceremony.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed), having had some trouble at Saturday’s race, showed a great performance in Sunday’s race and secured P2. “I’m not really satisfied with my lap times today”, the German wasn’t totally happy despite his podium position. “It was not a good racing year for me at all. But I tick it off, next year will be better”, Schnitzenbaumer said.

 

Martin Kindler racing to P3 in Imola 2017.

Martin Kindler racing to P3 in Imola 2017.

 

For the first time this season, Martin Kindler (Jenzer Motorsport) raced onto the podium with P3, despite a significant gap to Raghunathan and Schnitzenbaumer. “We got along with the rainy weather conditions very well. It was a great race and driving to P3 with this car compared to the other cars of the grid is just amazing. I’m really happy with this result”, Kindler told us after the podium ceremony. “I wonder, what it could have turned out, if I wouldn’t have rotated on the track twice.”

Veteran Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport), René Kouwenberg (De Boer Manx) and Nicolas Matile (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) completed the grid.

Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), who seemed to race for his first season spot on the podium (P3) for a long time finally was disqualified for rule violation (passing through the pit lane) and turned into the box after nine laps, actually owning the P3 spot at this time of the race.

 

Final of the season 2017.

Final of the season 2017.

 

So in the end it is Mahaveer Raghunathan, who is the new Champion 2017 of the BOSS GP FORMULA class. The young Indian, who finished 2016 season on fifth place with a total of 118 points, performed a constant season 2017. 16 points separate Raghunathan from runner up Johann Ledermair, who finishes the season on second position. The gap to third ranked Salvatore De Plano is little: Ledermair leads over the Italian only by four points. Find the full standings of the whole grid on our ranking table.

Results of race 2, seasonrace 14, of FORMULA class at “Peroni Race Weekend”:

Position No. Name Nat. Team Car Time Fastest lap (min) In Gap (s) Laps km/h
1 115 Mahaveer Raghunathan IND PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Dallara Lola 27:13,847 1:50,481 4 13 253,3
2 888 Florian Schnitzenbaumer GER Top Speed Dallara GP2 26:11,863 1:54,942 6 1 lap 12  247,0
3 430 Martin Kindler SUI Jenzer Motorsport Nissan World Series  26:29,257 1:54,636 10 1 lap 12 251,0
4 323 Armando Mangini ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2 26:43,699 1:54,846 12 1 lap 12 255,7
5 411 Karl-Heinz Becker GER Becker Motorsport Super Nissan World Series 27:12,990 1:59,503 12 1 lap 12 247,6
6  139 René Kouwenberg NED De Boer Manx Dallara GP2 26:03,186 1:59,944 10 1 lap 11 209,2
7 116 Nicolas Matile SUI PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Lola Auto GP 26:34,226 2:08,699 11 2 laps 11 207,2
Not classified 999 Salvatore De Plano ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2  08:29,172 1:58,373 3 10 laps 3 230,7
Disqualified 505 Walter Steding GER Inter Europol Competition Dallara GP2  20:25,959 1:56,462 4 4 laps 9 258,8

MORE:

Picture gallery of Imola 2017: bossgp.com/gallery/imola-boss-gp-superprix

Schedule Imola 2017: bossgp.com/timetable-for-the-peroni-race-weekend-in-imola-ita

FORMULA class: First race Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-raghunathan-catches-win-in-the-last-lap

FORMULA class: Qualifying Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-florian-schnitzenbaumer-drives-to-the-top

FORMULA class: Second free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-de-plano-chasing-best-lap-time

FORMULA class: First free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-fastest-lap-at-first-free-practice-for-raghuanthan

FORMULA class: Start list Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-start-list-for-boss-gp-superprix-in-imola-ita-is-set

Standings of season 2017: bossgp.com/standings

01/10/2017

FORMULA class: Raghunathan catches win in the last lap

Podium ceremony of seasonrace 13 in Imola 2017.

What an exciting race at the “Peroni Race Weekend” in Imola. After the exit of Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) before Qualifying, an exciting duel on top of the FORMULA class between Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport) and Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) was expected. 

Due to technical problems FORMULA class leader Ledermair had to exit the race-weekend, before it even had begun. So all eyes were set on runner-up Salvatore De Plano and Mahaveer Raghunathan. With a successful completion of their races, the Championship decision of the FORMULA class could get a completely new drive.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed), who had performed a strong Qualifying with aiming startposition 3 for the race, dropped out of the race already in lap 1, due to technical problems with the engine. It can be assumed, that Schnitzenbaumer will compete in second race of the weekend on Sunday (start: 11:00 a.m.).

While Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) and Rinus van Kalmthout (Mansell Motorsport, both OPEN class) drove in their own league on top of the field (both classes, FORMULA and OPEN, start in the same race), there was a strong battle behind the two leading drivers of the grid. Raghunathan kept the lead against De Plano sharply behind him, beating off the attacks of the Italian. In sixth lap De Plano finally overtook the Indian and defended the overall position 3 of the grid massively, driving his Dallara GP 2 to the limit. But – two laps before finish, the brake-disc of De Plano broke down, he had to let pass Raghunathan and finished the race finally on FORMULA position 2, overall position 4 of the grid.

 

De Plano (l.) versus Raghunathan (r.) in Imola 2017.

De Plano (l.) versus Raghunathan (r.) in Imola 2017.

 

“I am really disappointed”, De Plano told us after the race. “It was a great race in the beginning, I overtook Raghunathan and everything went well. Imola is a great track, driving in your home country is always special. So I was very happy, to race up in front of Raghunathan. But when the brake disc broke down, the ultimate chance for the Championship broke down as well. I can’t be happy with the P2 right now”, he resumed right after the podium ceremony.

Meanwhile Mahaveer Raghunathan was more than happy about his P1. “The race was good. Now I hope, tomorrow I win again. I am very happy, winning here in Imola and I will try everything, to win the second race in Imola again”, Raghunathan told us ofter the race. His ambitions for winning the Championship 2017 of the FORMULA class got new drive by todays race-day.

 

Imola 2017.

Battle for the P3 between Walter Steding (l.) and Armando Mangini (r.) Imola 2017.

 

Another thrilling duel was the battle between Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) and Armando Mangini (MM International Motorsport) on position 6 and 7 of the overall start grid, meaning position 3 and 4 of the FORMULA class. While Steding started from position 6, he was overtaken by Mangini in lap 6. Both cars kept close together, having only a little gap between the two of them for the rest of the race. Mangini finally made it to the P3 of the race.

René Kouwenberg (De Boer Manx) improved his performance over the race weekend and finished on position 6 in front of Martin Kindler (Jenzer Motorsport) on position 7. Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) on position 8 and Nicolas Matile (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) on position 9 followed. PETER had exited the race already before starting the engine, due to technical issues, which caused him quite a bit of trouble during free practices and Qualifying.

It will be an exciting second race day on Sunday. Cars will be on track for the very last season race on 11:00 a.m. Find live coverage and updates not only on our website, but also on all our social media channels:

www.facebook.com/bossgp2010

www.instagram.com/bossgp2010

www.twitter.com/bossgp2010

Results of race 1, seasonrace 13, of FORMULA class at “Peroni Race Weekend”:

Position No. Name Nat. Team Car Time Fastest lap (min) In Gap (s) Laps km/h
1 115 Mahaveer Raghunathan IND PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Dallara Lola 21:57,218 1:31,644 3 14  278,1
2 999 Salvatore De Plano ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2  22:39,654 1:31,618  5 42,436 14 295,6
4 323 Armando Mangini ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2  21:28,231 1:37,129  7 1 lap 13 293,2
5 505 Walter Steding GER Inter Europol Competition Dallara GP2  21:33,999 1:37,474 13 1 lap 13 291,6
6  139 René Kouwenberg NED De Boer Manx Dallara GP2  21:35,576 1:37,220 12 1 lap 13 294,0
7 430 Martin Kindler SUI Jenzer Motorsport Nissan World Series  22:00,765 1:39,686 10 1 lap 13 273,2
8 411 Karl-Heinz Becker GER Becker Motorsport Super Nissan World Series  22:05,020 1:39,414 10 1 lap 13 279,5
9 116 Nicolas Matile SUI PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Lola Auto GP  20:50,441 1:42,153 10 2 laps 12 276,0
10 111 ‘PETER’ FRA Ray-Ban World Series by Renault
11 888 Florian Schnitzenbaumer GER Top Speed Dallara GP2

MORE:

Picture gallery of Imola 2017: bossgp.com/gallery/imola-boss-gp-superprix

Schedule Imola 2017: bossgp.com/timetable-for-the-peroni-race-weekend-in-imola-ita

FORMULA class: Qualifying Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-florian-schnitzenbaumer-drives-to-the-top

FORMULA class: Second free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-de-plano-chasing-best-lap-time

FORMULA class: First free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-fastest-lap-at-first-free-practice-for-raghuanthan

FORMULA class: Start list Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-start-list-for-boss-gp-superprix-in-imola-ita-is-set

Standings of season 2017: bossgp.com/standings

30/09/2017

FORMULA class: Florian Schnitzenbaumer drives to the top

Florian Schnitzenbaumer during Qualifying in Imola 2017.

Qualifying for the races on the “Peroni Race Weekend” in Imola brought an interesting result for the FORMULA class.

First surprise already before first cars went on track: Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport), currently leading the FORMULA ranking, exited his race weekend due to technical problems. “We have some issues, we currently can’t solve. Going on track would be to dangerous, that’s why we decided, to exit the race weekend on this point. We will leave still today and solve the technical problems of the car after returning home”, Johann Ledermair explains.

The exit of Ledermair for the last two races of the season brings new thrill for the final Championship decision of season 2017. Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport) and Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) will fight for the title now, as long as both of them complete their races successfully.

But first – Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) rolled up the grid with a great performance at the Qualifying. Staying nine laps on track, the German drove his best lap in 1:30,008 min – fastest driver of the FORMULA grid, overall third fastest time of the whole grid (FORMULA and OPEN class), which means start-position 3 for the race in the afternoon (start: 3:40 p.m.).

Close behind the Top Speed driver was Mahaveer Raghunathan. The young Indian, currently ranked in position 3 of the overall ranking of the FORMULA class, arrived with high ambitions in Imola and will definitely fight with a high attitude for the Championship title 2017. With his best lap in 1:30,341 he finished Qualifying as second fastest driver of the FORMULA class with a sharp gap to Schnitzenbaumer, but on position 4 of the overall grid.

But where was De Plano? The Italian – racing on his home track – is as well highly ambitious and aiming for the title of the Champion 2017. He performed his best lap time in 1:32,754, which means third fastest driver of the FORMULA class in Qualifying, sixth fastest driver of the overall start grid. So De Plano will start from position 6 into the race on the afternoon.

Qualifying in Imola 2017.

Qualifying in Imola 2017: Salvatore De Plano (r.) in front of Rinus van Kalmthout and Ingo Gerstl (both OPEN class).

 

Armando Mangini (MM International Motorsport), Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), Martin Kindler (Jenzer Motorsport), René Kouwenberg (De Boer Manx), Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) and PETER (Ray-Ban) completed the grid, while Nicolas Matile (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) spun of the track, his Lola Auto GP had to be recovered.

Drivers and crews now look forward to the first race of the weekend, which will start at 3:40 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.

Results of Qualifying of FORMULA class at “Peroni Race Weekend”:

Position No. Name Nat. Team Car Fastest lap (min) Gap (s) Laps km/h
1 888 Florian Schnitzenbaumer GER Top Speed Dallara GP2 1:30,008 9  296,4
2 115 Mahaveer Raghunathan IND PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Dallara Lola 1:30,341 0,333 2  276,7
3 999 Salvatore De Plano ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2 1:32,754 2,746 5 288,5
4 323 Armando Mangini ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2 1.34,810 4,802 8 287,7
5 505 Walter Steding GER Inter Europol Competition Dallara GP2 1:36,761 6,753 9 288,5
6 430 Martin Kindler SUI Jenzer Motorsport Nissan World Series 1:37,096 7,088 10 262,6
7  139 René Kouwenberg NED De Boer Manx Dallara GP2 1:38,480 8,472 11 285,4
8 411 Karl-Heinz Becker GER Becker Motorsport Super Nissan World Series 1:41,981 11,973 9 267,8
9 111 ‘PETER’ FRA Ray-Ban World Series by Renault 1:52,840 21,832 2  236,2
10 116 Nicolas Matile SUI PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Lola Auto GP

MORE:

Picture gallery of Imola 2017: bossgp.com/gallery/imola-boss-gp-superprix

Schedule Imola 2017: bossgp.com/timetable-for-the-peroni-race-weekend-in-imola-ita

FORMULA class: Second free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-de-plano-chasing-best-lap-time

FORMULA class: First free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-fastest-lap-at-first-free-practice-for-raghuanthan

FORMULA class: Start list Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-start-list-for-boss-gp-superprix-in-imola-ita-is-set

Standings of season 2017: bossgp.com/standings

30/09/2017

FORMULA class: De Plano chasing best lap time

Second free practice in Imola 2017.

The second free practice on Friday afternoon (29th of September) brought some changes on top of the field.

Again both BOSS GP classes – OPEN and FORMULA class – went on track together for the practice session. Weather conditions in Imola presented itself at it’s best with 22°, a lot of sun, no clouds and no rain.

Two short red flag phases stopped the second free practice of the day, due to dangerous positions of spun cars on track. When the circuit was released again, Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport) really stepped on the gas, not only chasing the fastest FORMULA lap time this afternoon, but also chasing OPEN class driver Rinus van Kalmthout (Mansell Motorsport). At the end De Plano improved his time from first free practice for more than a second with a 1:30,805 min and performed the fastest of all FORMULA class laps. He was 2,350 sec behind the OPEN class driver van Kalmthout (1:28,455 min).

Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) showed the second fastest performance of the FORMULA class at the afternoon practice session with a lap time of 1:31,746 min, improving his time from the morning practice session for 0,222 sec. Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) completed the trio in front of the FORMULA grid with his best lap in 1:32,645 min.

Free practice in Imola 2017.

Free practice in Imola 2017.

 

Armando Mangini (MM International Motorsport), Martin Kindler (Jenzer Motorsport), Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), René Kouwenberg (De Boer Manx), Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) and Nicolas Matile (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) completed the grid. Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) went on track as well, but had some time-transponder issues.

Next step of the race weekend is the Qualifying, which will start at 10:05 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Results of second free practice of FORMULA class at “Peroni Race Weekend”:

Position No. Name Nat. Team Car Fastest lap (min) Gap (s) Laps km/h
1 999 Salvatore De Plano ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2 1:30,805 11 294,8
2 115 Mahaveer Raghunathan IND PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Dallara Lola 1:31,746  0,941 13 277,4
3 888 Florian Schnitzenbaumer GER Top Speed Dallara GP2 1:32,313 1,508 11 293,2
4 323 Armando Mangini ITA MM International Motorsport Dallara GP2 1:36,534 5,729 10 290,8
5 430 Martin Kindler SUI Jenzer Motorsport Nissan World Series 1:38639 7,834 10 266,5
6 505 Walter Steding GER Inter Europol Competition Dallara GP2 1:39,065 8,260 12 291,6
7  139 René Kouwenberg NED De Boer Manx Dallara GP2  1:39,177  8,372  13  283,2
8 411 Karl-Heinz Becker GER Becker Motorsport Super Nissan World Series 1:40,640 9,835 10 276,0
9  116 Nicolas Matile SUI PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport Lola Auto GP 1:42,439 11,634 10 275,3
10 111 ‘PETER’ FRA Ray-Ban World Series by Renault
11 444 Johann Ledermair AUT Ledermair Motorsport Dallara GP2

MORE:

Picture gallery of Imola 2017: bossgp.com/gallery/imola-boss-gp-superprix

Schedule Imola 2017: bossgp.com/timetable-for-the-peroni-race-weekend-in-imola-ita

FORMULA class: First free practice in Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-fastest-lap-at-first-free-practice-for-raghuanthan

FORMULA class: Start list Imola 2017: bossgp.com/formula-class-start-list-for-boss-gp-superprix-in-imola-ita-is-set

OPEN class: Start list Imola 2017: bossgp.com/open-class-start-list-for-boss-gp-superprix-in-imola-ita-is-set

Standings of season 2017: bossgp.com/standings

29/09/2017

FORMULA class: Start list for BOSS GP Superprix in Imola (ITA) is set

Masaryk Racing Days in Brno 2017.

The final races of the BOSS GP Championship season 2017 will take place on the weekend of 30th of September and 1st of October. The circuit in Imola (ITA) and the BOSS GP Superprix is waiting for the BOSS GP crews. The start list for the event in Italy is now set. 

14 drivers in total (FORMULA and OPEN class) signed up for the event in Imola. Fans and specatators can look forward to some interesting and exciting duels on track. Eleven drivers will compete in the FORMULA class. Current leader of the class, Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) will be on track as well as runner up Salvatore De Plano (MM International Motorsport) and third, Mahaveer Raghunathan (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport). Two new entries will join the team: Nicolas Matile (PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport) as well as René Kouwenberg (De Boer Manx) will be on track for BOSS GP for the first time this season.

This is the start list for the FORMULA class at the “BOSS GP Superprix” in Imola (ITA):

Start-No. Name Team Nat. Make Type
111 ‘PETER’ Ray-Ban FRA Dallara World Series by Renault
115 Mahaveer Raghunathan PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport IND Lola Auto GP
116 Nicolas Matile PS Racing by Coloni Motorsport SUI Lola Auto GP
139 René Kouwenberg De Boer Manx NED Dallara GP2
323 Armando Mangini MM International Motorsport ITA Dallara GP2
411 Karl-Heinz Becker Becker Motorsport GER Dallara World Series by Nissan
430 Martin Kindler Jenzer Motorsport SUI Dallara Nissan World Series
444 Johann Ledermair Ledermair Motorsport AUT Dallara GP2
505 Walter Steding Inter Europol Competition GER Dallara GP2
 888 Florian Schnitzenbaumer Top Speed  GER Dallara  GP2
999 Salvatore De Plano MM International Motorsport ITA Dallara GP2

 

BOSS GP is competing at seven different European venues in 2017, holding 14 races in total. Hockenheim (GER) in April, Zandvoort (NED) in May, Paul Picard (FRA) in June, Zolder (BEL) in July, Assen (NED) in August and Brno (CZE) are done. The race weekend in Imola with season races 13 and 14 are the final stage for this years Championship season.

MORE:

Find detailed statistics of current standings here: bossgp.com/standings/

Find all informations about the Circuit in Imola on this website: www.autodromoimola.it

26/09/2017