TWO PODIUMS AT MUGELLO AND… A THIRD POSITION FOR AGOSTINI
IN THE TUSCAN ROUND OF THE ITALIAN F.3 CHAMPIONSHIP AGOSTINI HAS BEEN THE ONLY ONE TO FINISH ALL THREE RACES IN THE FIRST THREE POSITIONS CONSOLIDATING HIS ROOKIE LEADERSHIP
Mugello circuit was expected to be the hardest for Riccardo Agostini's Mygale. Yet, on the Tuscan track, where have been hosted the third of the eight rounds of the Italian F.3 European Series (and the first of the Italian Championship), the 18 year-old JD Motorsport driver from Padua managed to gain more points.
Third in the two qualifying sessions, in Race 1 (Saturday afternoon), the young Venetian, coming from a first victory in early May in the Hungaroring track, has kept his position from the start following the leading pair Eddie Cheever - Brandon Maisano, obtaining also the second fastest time and getting very close to the cars ahead of him.
In Race 2 the driver from Padua reached immediately the fourth position, struggling from the green light with Henrique Martins (third) and defending himself against attacks from Mario Marasca, always managing to win his fights and starting a fascinating confrontation where Agostini has been once again able stop the opponents, getting close, in the final stages, to the Brazilian. And just at the end of the race the JD Motorsport driver has launched an attack against him, who was coming out from the San Donato turn (the first turn to the right following the main straight), leaving in the next left bend a clear passage. Agostini has rightly tried to enter, with the result of a contact with Martins in which the Brazilian came off. Agostini has been able to continue and crossed the line in third position. But, after the arrival, he was immediately penalized by 25 seconds that put him in the ninth place, out of the podium. A decision that - although the philosophy of the driver and his team is to respect the decisions taken by Race director, in a championship of great value and high technical level (preferred by them to other similar European series) - has not done justice to the Italian driver, who has only taken advantage of an easy chance, and so JD Motorsport appealed.Then, in Race 3 (the shortest one), Agostini gave an other trial of strength, reaching the thirs place from the fifth position. More points for him, who ended the race in front of those who are ahead of him in the championship. Now, with five rounds left and a next scheduled event at Misano in early July, Agostini firmly leads Rookie standing and keep the third position in the overall..
MUGELLO I, JUNE 8th-10th 2012
RACE 1 (TOP-5)1. Eddie Cheever ITA 22’12”8052. Brandon Maisano FRA 0”9523. Riccardo Agostini ITA 1”7834. Sergey Sirotkin RUS 10”7865. Mario Marasca ITA 11”532
RACE 2 (TOP-5) TO BE CONFIRMED1. Brandon Maisano FRA 32’38”5372. Eddie Cheever ITA 0”7733. Mario Marasca ITA 5”3534. Maxime Jousse FRA 16”0485. Gerrard Barrabeig SPA 20”6209. Riccardo Agostini ITA 29”263P
RACE 3 (TOP-5)1. Rober Visoiu ROM 17’03”6572. Sergey Sirotkin RUS 1”5003. Riccardo Agostini ITA 7”5334. Maxime Jousse FRA 12”8485. Henrique Martins BRA 13”526
CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER THREE ROUNDS (TOP-10)1. Cheever 114 points; 2. Maisano 91; 3. Agostini 81; 4. Martins, Sirotkin 75; 6. Visoiu 60; 7. Marasca 47; 8. Barrabeig 43; 9. Niederhauser 38; 10. Jousse, Latifi 19.
ROOKIE (TOP-5)1. Agostini 111 points; 2. Sirotkin 104; 3. Martins 93; 4. Visoiu 88; 5. Marasca 75.
NEXT ROUND: MISANO I, JULY 6th-8th 2012
