Tag: Tuscany

Report: Race 1 Mugello

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

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

Report Free Practice Mugello

The first impressions of BOSS GP 2021.

The first day of a new season is always something very special, and this year was no exception: new teams, new drivers, new cars and new liveries showed up at the Mugello Circuit on Friday morning. The two half-hour free practice sessions were used extensively by all the drivers. Many of them completed their first kilometres after the long winter break and wanted to get their muscles and minds back in shape. In addition, the crews recorded a lot of data behind the pit wall and fine-tuned the set-up.

BOSS GP record holder Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) set the fastest time in his Toro Rosso STR1. As usual, he used FP1 to set the fastest lap of the day (1:28.861). BOSS GP rookie Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) surprised as fastest FORMULA driver in today’s practice sessions. The experienced kart driver has thus immediately joined the circle of favourites. Only slightly slower than Colombo was Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag), who also wants to fight for victory this weekend.

Salvatore de Plano (ITA, MM International), who last won a BOSS GP race in 2018, would like to join the party as well. The return to MM International and into a GP2 race car started promisingly anyway (class rank 3 in practice). Fourth and fifth fastest today were Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) and Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), the two dominators of last year. Both may not have reached their full potential in practice. Incidentally, Ghiotto completed the most kilometres of all the drivers with 27 laps counted.

BOSS GP rookie Gianluca de Lorenzi (SMR, GDL Racing) was also in the mix as he sets the fastest time for an Auto GP driver today. Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing) was still struggling with the fine tuning. Last year’s race winner, however, can possibly hope for rain in the races. First qualifying of the year starts tomorrow at 10:05 a.m., before race 1 will get underway at 15:55 local time.

Photo: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP

Here we go!

Our preview for the BOSS GP Season Opening 2021 at Mugello Circuit on April 9, 10 and 11.

The BOSS GP Racing Series makes it possible: The upcoming weekend will mark the start of the new season for teams and drivers with their Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3000 and Auto GP bolides. At the season opening of Europe’s fastest racing series, one of the most beautiful racetracks in the world awaits the youngsters and gentlemen of BOSS GP. The 5.245-kilometre track in Mugello (built in 1974) is owned by Ferrari and traditionally hosts the World Motorcycle Championship. Last year, the circuit in Tuscany also hosted a Formula 1 race for the first time. The sequences of curves are usually smooth and fast, the topography hilly – all in all an absolute favourite track for many race drivers.

After a few years of abstinence, Mugello was added back into the Big Open Single Seater race calendar last year. The Cuvee Sensorium Grand Prix became the season finale in October 2020. The first race was dominated by the duel for the FORMULA championship title between Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) and Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio). Although Martucci won his first BOSS GP race, second place was enough for Ghiotto to defend his title. In rainy conditions again, a lot of courage and skill was demanded of the drivers in race 2. Both were combined by Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who added a surprising overall victory to a rather disappointing season.

The fact that the BOSS GP Racing Series can start the season as originally planned is also thanks to the race organiser Gruppo Peroni, who is hosting the event at Mugello. The support line-up of BOSS GP includes the one-make trophies Lotus Cup Italia, the Mitjet Italia Racing Series as well as sports prototypes, historic race cars and Porsche regularity classes. Due to the pandemic situation, the paddock and grandstands are not open to fans. BOSS GP hopes to welcome spectators back in our paddock soon.

Timetable BOSS GP Season Opening Mugello:

Friday, 9 April 2021
10:35–11:05          Free Practice 1
14:10–14:40          Free Practice 2

Saturday, 10 April 2021
10:05–10:35          Qualification (8+20 minutes)
15:55–16:15          Race 1 (20 minutes)

Sunday, 11 April 2021
10:00–10:10          Warm-up
14:30–14:55          Race 2 (25 minutes)

The starting list BOSS GP Season Opening Mugello 2021:

Armando Mangini (ITA)MM InternationalDallara GP2
Luca Martucci (ITA)MM InternationalDallara GP2
Simone Colombo (ITA)MM InternationalDallara GP2
Salvatore De Plano (ITA)MM InternationalLola Auto GP
Ingo Gerstl (AUT)Top SpeedToro Rosso STR1 F1
to be announcedTop SpeedDallara GP2
Marco Ghiotto (ITA)Scuderia PalladioDallara GP2
Walter Steding (GER)Scuderia PalladioDallara GP2
Nicolas Matile (MCO)Zig-ZagLola Auto GP
Marc Faggionato (MCO)Zig-ZagDallara GP2
Giulio Tine (ITA)ColacinoLola T96 50
Walter Colacino (ITA)ColacinoLola T96 50
Ulf Ehninger (GER)ESBA RacingBenetton B197 F1
Andreas Fiedler (GER)Fiedler RacingDallara GP2
Bruno Jarach (EST)Esti MotorsportDallara GP2
Alexander Seibold (GER)Alexander SeiboldDallara GP2
Gianluca De Lorenzi (SMR)GDL RacingLola Auto GP

Report Race 2 Mugello

Fiedler wins rain race ahead of Matile.

Rain, lightning and thunder had the Mugello region firmly under control on Sunday. It was no wonder that some drivers in their cars with over 600 hp took no risks and decided not to start in the second race of the weekend. Even more admirable are those drivers who ventured onto the wet track with partly standing water.

From the front row, yesterday’s race winner Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) and Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) started the race. Just when the lights switched to green, Martucci lost control of his car and was lucky not to hit the pit wall. After this moment of shock he was even able to continue the race. Still in lap 1, Ghiotto, who was in the lead, also lost control and spun his car at the exit of “Arrabbiata 1”. Because the vehicle had to be recovered from the meadow, the Fanatec Safety Car neutralised the race.

In the lead now was Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing) in a Dallara GP2, who battled for the lead with Nicolas Matile (MCO, Zig-Zag) in an Auto-GP-Lola in the final stage of the race. With victory in sight, both drivers gave everything they had, sometimes only centimetres apart from each other in a drift. In the end, Fiedler defied all attacks from Matile and took his first overall BOSS GP victory. However, Nicolas was also happy with second place and his best BOSS GP result so far. For the second time this year Salvatore de Plano (ITA, Coloni) finished on the podium in his new Auto GP. His rain experience paid off this time.

Bruno Jarach (EST, Eeesti Motorsport) also achieved his best BOSS GP result with fourth place. Fifth place went to the unlucky Luca Martucci, who at least secured the fastest lap.

After the two races in Mugello, the decisions in the championship have also been made: Ingo Gerstl (OPEN) and Marco Ghiotto (FORMULA) defend their title from last year. The top 3 in the big class are completed by Benetton driver Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) and Jaguar driver Riccardo Ponzio (ITA, Adriatica Competition). Overall 2nd place in the FORMULA class goes to Luca Martucci. Sensational third place goes to Ghiotto’s team-mate Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio).

The season finale in Imola had to be cancelled. The reason for this is the starting build-up for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna, which takes place on November 1st. Instead, the BOSS GP Racing Series plans a final event at the Adria Raceway (ITA). Details will follow soon.

Photo: Roberto Piccinini/Actualfoto

Preview & Timetable Mugello

The championship continues this weekend in Tuscany.

The Mugello Circuit is the venue for the season’s races 7 and 8 of the 2020 BOSS GP Racing Series The speedy track with its’ long curves and challenging up-and-downhill sections belongs to Ferrari and has been part of the BOSS GP tour schedule for the first time since 2014. Many drivers, especially the well-represented Italian faction, are happy about this. A few weeks ago, for the first time ever, Formula 1 also made a guest appearance in Mugello.

The BOSS GP race was originally planned as a season opener in March, but the restrictions in the first half of the year made a postponement necessary. The race will be held on 9, 10 and 11 October as part of the race package organised by Peroni. Support classes are various Italian GT and touring car series.

For the BOSS GP drivers, two free practice sessions are on the schedule on Friday, followed by qualifying and race 1 on Saturday, an additional warm-up and the second race on Sunday. The latest results and live timing can be followed via https://mugellocircuit.com/it/live-timing. Regular updates are available on our social media channels Instagram @bossgpofficial and Facebook @officialbossgp

Timetable BOSS GP Mugello 2020

Friday, 9 October 2020
10.30–11.00 Free Practice 1
14.05–14.35 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 10 October 2020
10.35–11.05 Qualifying
15.35–15.55 Race 1 (20 minutes)

Sunday, 11 October 2020
10.20–10.30 Warm-up
14.30–14.55 Race 2 (25 minutes)

Photo: Dirk Hartung