RAMSAY STARS TO TAKE WIN AT VALLELUNGA
Up-and-coming Scottish racer Gregor Ramsay has caused a sensation by winning a round of the Formula Abarth European Series at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome.
Ramsay, who is just 16 years and two months old, led the field home on the famous and challenging circuit for his first win in car racing.
It came just two weeks after Ramsay, who drives for the Swiss-based Jenzer Motorsport team, took his first podium, at Imola.
The East Kilbride racer, who is being mentored by the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy, finished sixth in the first of the three races over the Vallelunga weekend, and was ninth in race two.
From pole position, he then controlled the third race from Jenzer team-mate Kevin Joerg. Although Joerg briefly got ahead, Ramsay decisively repassed him to take an emotional win in 29-degree heat by just a third of a second.
Im over the moon with that, said Gregor. To have my first podium just at Imola and now to win a race at Vallelunga, its amazing.
We had the pace in testing, so I knew if I could get a good start that I was quick enough to stay in front the whole race. Kevin got me just after I missed a downshift and for a quick moment I had no power onto the next straight, but I got a cutback move on him to move straight back in front.
It was roasting in the carespecially when youre in the lead and youve got all the pressure of that. It was unreal, so Im really glad to get the win.
Andy Welch, Gregors race engineer at Jenzer Motorsport, said: Gregor made an absolutely blinding start and controlled the race.
Kevin put up a good fight, and there are some very experienced people in the series who had very good pace over the weekend, but Gregor did an excellent job and showed that his own speed is coming on very strongly.
Bearing in mind his lack of experience, we hoped that by the end of the season Gregor would be on the podiumso its a real bonus to win one!
Ramsay enjoys welcome backing from Clyde Blowers as well as from Colin and Chris Weir, Europes biggest-ever lottery winners who are proud that their new protg has already hit the Formula Abarth jackpot!
He is eighth in the Formula Abarth European Series standings, and a close third in the rookie classification with just one round remaining, on the historic Italian Grand Prix circuit of Monza on September 29/30.
Im really looking forward to Monza, said Ramsay. Ive been testing there and gone pretty quickly, so hopefully itll be another podium or maybe even another win to round off the season.
The Formula Abarth cars are built to FIA Formula 3 standards by Italian constructor Tatuus, using carbon-composite monocoque chassis and powered by a 1400cc turbo engine giving 180bhp. The championship is very closely monitored by Ferrari. The Ferrari Driver Academy, which Ramsay is on the shortlist to join, includes Formula 1 star Sergio Perez.
