Amazing battle between Ricci and Rigon. The rookie Andersen on the podium
Winning come-back in F.3000 for Giacomo Ricci. The driver from Milan won Race-1 in Spa, beating the series' leaderDavide Rigon at the end of a breath-taking race. The G-Tec driver, who has run for american F. Atlantic this year ,hasn't lost his touch behind the Lola-Zytek wheel, immediately achieving the goal in 2007, after winning the title lastyear in the category.
Rigon, who started from the pole, was overtaken by Ricci at Le Combes during the first lap.The Minardi/GP Racingdriver tried really hard to reach the head again but, although faster in the slow bits, was losing speed in the fast bits.The two drivers even collided slightly at the bus stop. Rigon has been threatening Ricci thoughout the race, endingonly 420 thousands of a second behind the winner. A result which makes Rigon leap forward in the chart, consideringthat his direct opponent and team-mate, Diego Nunes, has ended in the 6th place only.
Eccellent start for the young gun Kasper Andersen (G-Tec), who arrived third. The Dane, who started from the thirdrow, managed to overtake both Nunes and Razia and then to kkeep the third place till the end. He was followed on thefinish line by Luiz Razia (Elk), Oliver Martini (RC) and Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP).
Race-2 will start tomorrow (Sunday 14th) at 1:20 p.m.(13 laps) with Tuka Rocha (Elk) and Omar Leal (Durango)starting from the first row, thanks to the inverted starting grid.
Giacomo Ricci (G-Tec): "My start hasn't been that good. Then immediately after, at Le Combes, I've found the rightopportunity and I have overtaken Rigon from the outside. I must thank my team for the opportunity I have been given, Ihope my result has payed it back. It has been really fantastic to be back as a winner in F.3000 after one year".Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): "I have started well. Then having cold tyres, at Eau Rouge I've slowed down onlythat much which has allowed Ricci to overtake me at Le Combes. In the slow parts I was faster than Giacomo, who, onthe other hand, was faster in the fast bits. We have also touched each other: so I've decided not to risk too much with adriver not running for the title".
Kasper Andersen (G-Tec): "I have to say that I was not predicting such a good debut in the Series. I am used to carswhich ar far away less powerful, though I got easily accustomed to the F.3000 Lola. I plan to remain in this categorywhich I've chosen in order to get the best training for GP2 Series".
RACE 1 – SPA1. Giacomo Ricci (G-Tec) in 21’34”9392. Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) at 0”4203. Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) at 7”5394. Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) at 17”5025. Oliver Martini (R.C. Motorsport) at 18”3366. Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) at 19”5907. Omar Leal (Engineering Durango) at 22”3448. Tuka Rocha (Elk Motorsport) at 23”6159. Jimmy Auby (ASR) at 35”18010. Emilio de Villota (Elk Motorsport) at 42”55111. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (ASR) at 47”17812. Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) at 1’06”447
Fastest lap: Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) in 2’08”127
Drivers’ ranking (after 11 races)
Rigon (80 points) – Nunes (55) – Razia (45) – Martini (32) - Danielsson (32) – Arabadzhiev (17) – Merchan (16) -Maldonado (12) – Saez Merino (11) – Ricci (10) - Tahinci (9) – Bennani (9) – Mikola (8) – Miguez (6) – Leal (4) -Sposito (2) - Dracone (1p) – Tuka Rocha (1) - Amaduzzi (0) - Fausti (0) – Sebastiani N. (0) – Sebastiani V.(0) – Auby(0) – De Villota (0)
Teams’ ranking (after 11 races)Minardi by GP Racing (135 points) – ELK Motorsport (78) – G-Tec (53) – RC Motorsport (32) - Fisichella Motor Sportby Durango (30) – ASR (17) - Durango (4) – 2G Racing (1) – Dueppì/Paragon (0) – Racing Box (0)– Facondini (0)
