The legendary track of Monza hosted round 1 of the 2004 Formula X Sport Series on Saturday. The very first race of this brand new series had all the ingredients the organisers had been hoping for when they launched Formula X six months ago: close racing, and Japanese champion at the front, a young talented Frenchman battling with the daughter of a Belgian sportscar legend, no major incidents and happy faces everywhere.

Sixteen drivers entered the first round of the 2004 Formula X Sport Series. Most of them had already tested the cars at one of the test sessions at Paul Ricard or in Spa, but for some of them it was a discovery of both car and track. All drivers finished the free practice sessions without incidents, bar a few technical gremlins which were quickly solved by the Formula X technical team. Manuele Gatto from Italy was quickest in both free practice sessions (1m58s825, average speed: 175.515kph). Reigning Japanese GC-21 Champion, Shinsuke Yamazaki, was second fastest, just 38/1000th of a second behind.

For the first qualifying session, which defined the starting grid Saturday's first race, the drivers had to deal with pouring rain as well as still coming to grips with their cars and the track. Proving the talent they all have, none of them went off, although some had an engine cooling problem related to the extreme weather conditions. Yamazaki was quickest (2m13s321) ahead of Benjamin Poron (2m14s495) and Manuele Gatto (2m15s893). Vanina Ickx proved to have the same "Rainmeister" genes as her legendary father, Jacky Ickx, and posted the fourth quickest time (2m16s321).

Fortunately the weather turned bright and sunny for the start of the first 18-lap race. Yamazaki made a perfect start and never looked back, while Vanina Ickx came through third at the first chicane. Japanese driver Kasuyuki Nishizawa, who had started from 12th place, tried to make up some ground at the second chicane, but his manoeuvre proved to be a bit too optimistic and he took himself, Fulvio Ballabio and Enea Casoni off. While Casoni managed to recover to fourth at the finish, the race was over for Ballabio and Nishizawa.

While Yamazaki disappeared in the distance, Benjamin Poron and Ickx had a long battle for second. Said Ickx: "I had a very good start and managed to tuck in behind Poron, while at the same time I kept an eye on Gatto right behind me. When Gatto disappeared I could concentrate on Poron, but while being faster in some of the technical parts, I couldn't pass him on the straights."

Poron held off Ickx till the finish and was more than happy with the result: "This morning, when the engine blew in qualifying, I didn't even think I would make the start. But the Formula X mechanics did a fantastic job and got the car ready just in time. It didn't feel the same as it did in practice and qualifying, but, finishing second after nearly not making it, I won't complain."

Race winner Shinsuke Yamazaki was very pleased with his first win in the Formula X Sport series. "I'm very happy to have won. I went off this morning, but the mechanics did a great job getting the car back in shape. I made a clean start and once I saw I had a bit of a lead I could control it. The Dunlop tyres were very consistent throughout the 18 laps, with just a hint of understeer in the middle of the race. Needless to say I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

Said series organiser Claude Chantala: "I would like to thank all those who have helped us these last months in turning Formula X from an idea into reality, especially the investors who visited us today. Apart from a few gremlins, which are typical for any new series, we have had an excellent start of the season and I look forward to the rest of the year, when more cars and drivers are expected to join."

Qualifying times Round 1 - Monza

1. Yamazaki (J)  2m13s321; 2. Poron (F)  2m14s49953. Gatto (I)  2m15s8934. Ickx  (B)  2m16s3215. Casoni (I)  2m17s0486. Gerbi (F)  2m18s1587. Hubert (A)  2m19s1098. Ballabio (MC) 2m20s4979. Sommereau (F) 2m26s18910. Pappolla (F) 2m27s14811. Mallat (USA) 2m27s80112. Nichizawa (J) 2m30s86713. Panzaviota (I) 2m31s99614. Blaton (B)  2m38s38315. Lemeret (B)  No time16. Khan (GB)  No time

Result Round 1 - Monza

1. Shinsuke Yamazaki (J) 18 laps in 35m53s173 (Average speed: 174.341kph)2. Benjamin Poron (F)  + 0m22s2243. Vanina Ickx (B)  + 0m33s4994. Enea Casoni (I)  + 0m36s4675. Dieter Huber (A)  + 1m09s9016. Marco Panzavuota (I) + 1m11s1427. Jean-Michel Pappolla (F) + 1m45s7348. Jean-Yves Mallat (USA) + 1 lap9. Didier Sommereau (F) + 1 lap10. Julien Gerbi (F)  + 5 lapsDNF Kasuyuki Nishizawa (J) Accident damageDNF Manuele Gatto (I)  Engine misfireDNF Fulvio Ballabio (I)  Accident damageDNS Stéphane Lemeret (B) Accident in qualifyingDNS Marc Blaton (B)  GearboxDNS Ian Khan (GB)  Engine