Author: Keke Platzer

BOSS GP Assen: Motorsport world come together

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Free, but not for nothing: at GAMMA Racing Day Formula 1-star Carlos Sainz Jr., superbike ace Michael van der Mark and the BOSS GP meet – with free admission for race fans.

For several years now, GAMMA Racing Day has been attracting Dutch motorsport fans: every summer, the event at the TT Circuit in Assen offers a monster programme that is absolute unique. The mix of kart, motorcycle, touring cars and formula cars is nowhere else to be found. It is therefore hardly surprising that up to 100,000 fans make a visit to the north-east of the Netherlands.

Assen, a motorcycle circuit
The first Dutch Tourist Trophy (TT) for motorcycles took place in 1925, but still on public roads. It was not until 1955 that a race track was built specifically for this purpose, parts of the track however, were still open to public transport. The 7.7 km long track was completely renovated in 1984 and shortened to 6.1 km. In 1992 the current TT Circuit Assen was permanently separated from public transport for the first time. In 2006 there was another change to the layout: The track was shortened to 4.5 kilometres, and safety was significantly improved.

Assen is the only track worldwide where a Motorcycle World Championship race has been held every year since 1949. But Assen is also on the map when it comes to automotive sports: In the past, for example, the ChampCar World Series and the A1 GP started on the TT Circuit. The BOSS GP has also been back in Assen regularly since 2015, providing a mega show year after year. Record winner is the Austrian Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed), who won five out of the last six races.

Full grandstands are expected for the GAMMA Racing Day 2018

GAMMA Racing Day: Event of superlatives
For three days, a densely packed programme thrills viewers on location and live on Dutch television. Admission is free, access to the paddock is limited and costs 15 euros per day or 25 euros for all three racing days. Tickets can either be purchased on site at the ticket offices or online in advance.

Due to the tightly packed program, the BOSS GP only runs one free practice session. Both Saturday and Sunday there will be a race of the Big Open Single Seaters. The race cars and teams of the BOSS GP are located in the pit building, from Pit 11 to 20.

Other series in the line-up: Supercar Challenge, TCR Europe, Ford Fiesta Cup, historic sports and touring cars, FIA Superkart EC, FIM Sidecar World Championship, Yamaha R3 Cup.

Plus: Formula 1 demo laps by Carlos Sainz Jr. in the Renault, superbike demo laps by Michael van der Mark on the Yamaha, Formula 1 two-seater and much more.

One of the highlights: Demo laps from Carlos Sainz Jr. in his Renault Formula 1 car

Timetable: BOSS GP at GAMMA Racing Day

Saturday, August 18, 2018

10:08–10:38: Free Practice
13:12–13:42: Qualifying
16:30–16:50: Race 1 (distance: 20 minutes)

Sunday, August 19, 2018

16:06–16:31: Race 2 (distance: 25 minutes)

BOSS GP is close racing, with fast and loud cars

Participants: BOSS GP

The OPEN class is for type Formula 1 car built from 1997, Champ Car and IndyCar built from 1997. Engine is free; numbers from 1 to 99.

Starting No.	Name	Team	Nat.	Car
1	Ingo Gerstl	Top Speed	AUT	Toro Rosso STR1
7	Phil Stratford	Penn Elcom Racing	USA	Benetton B197
26	Wolfgang Jaksch	F Xtreme Racing Team	DEU	Super Aguri SA06

FORMULA is open to GP2/Formula 2, GP3 (13/16), Auto GP, A1GP, Formula Acceleration 1, Superleague Formula, World Series by Renault, World Series by Nissan, F3000 cars build from 2002. Only the original engine is allowed, organisation committee can make an exception in the classification of a car according to the performance data of the car; Numbers from 100 to 999.

Starting No.	Name	Team	Nat.	Car
101	Peter Göllner	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
221	Bernd Herndlhofer	Top Speed	AUT	Dallara GP2
222	Veronika Cicha	H&A Racing	CZE	Dallara GP2
321	Andreas Fiedler	Fiedler Racing	DEU	Dallara GP2
505	Walter Steding	Inter Europol Competition	DEU	Dallara GP2
555	Christian Eicke	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
666	Roy Glaser	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
888	Florian Schnitzenbaumer	Top Speed	DEU	Dallara GP2

Report: Race 2 Hockenheim F1

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

The second race of the BOSS GP was a short pleasure in front of a sold-out house – we couldn’t give the fans the show we would have liked to show them.

It all looked like a good start, yesterday’s FORMULA winner Roy Glaser (Speed Center) and Bernd Herndlhofer (Top Speed) tried to attack, but flinched before an attack in the last second.

During the approach to curve 2, Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) and Wolfgang Jordan (H&A Racing) collided in midfield. Becker wanted to pass Jordan, came into the grass with the two left wheels, steered against and touched Jordan’s car at the side. Jordan’s GP2 Dallara crashed into the guard rails and was severely damaged. Fortunately, the German was able to get out of his car on his own; Becker even drove back into the pits.

Due to the damage to the guard rail, the race was not restarted. This means that no points are awarded for the eighth BOSS GP race of the year.

The next BOSS GP event will take place at the GAMMA Racing Days in Assen (NLD) from August 17 to 19.

Photo: Daniel Glaser/BOSS GP

Report: Race 1 Hockenheim F1

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General, Uncategorized

BOSS GP delivered a show of superlatives within the German Grand Prix. Two safety car phases and the beginning of rain made the race the most exciting of the year.

For the 17 drivers and 2 pilots of the BOSS GP it was the race of their lives: In front of almost 30,000 spectators, Europe’s fastest racing series started for the second time this year at the Hockenheimring, but for the first time ever as support of the Formula 1 World Championship.

The start was already turbulent: Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) in his Toro Rosso started from pole position, Phil Stratford (Benetton; Penn Elcom Racing) and Bernd Herndlhofer (Top Speed) were behind him at the flying start. The Swiss Roy Glaser (Speed Center) had a quick start and shot forward to third place in the first corner. However, he also benefited from the collision of team-mates Luca Martucci and Armando Mangini (MM International). Martucci lost the front wing of his GP2 Dallara.

But that’s not all with the action: Glaser made a 360-degree turn through his own fault, but continued immediately. Also Bianca Steiner (Top Speed) was involved in the action zone in turn 1, she had to avoid the flying front wing of Martucci over the asphalted run-out area.

Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing; started from position 8) and Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed; started from position 11) did as expected and were the biggest mover during the first part of the race. Surprisingly, Martucci did not enter the pits, instead he tried to continue without his front wing. Without much grip on the front axle the lap times dropped by five seconds. But Martucci was brave, behind him a slow train with at times five cars formed. First Jaksch passed the wounded Dallara of Martucci, then Schnitzenbaumer, who overtook three cars in only one and a half laps. Martucci finished surprisingly seventh, ahead of his opponent Armando Mangini (8th).

The first safety car phase brought disorder on the first places: The SC was triggered by a collision of Hans Laub (Speed Center) in the Forti with Bianca Steiner (Top Speed) in the Dallara GP2. The manoeuvre against Steiner went wrong, the gap was too small. Laub’s Forti rushed over the curbs on the inside and than into Steiner’s car – both did not finish.

The safety car brought the first pilots together again. When the track was cleared again, Roy Glaser reacted the fastest. The Swiss was at the start of a BOSS GP race for the first time this year. With his manoeuvre he surprised Stratford and Herndlhofer in front of him and overtook them, so he had made up to the first place in the FORMULA classification. Herndlhofer just overtook

Unimpressed by the events, Ingo Gerstl clinched his sixth victory of the season. When it started raining, the race was stopped due to the conditions. One of the victims of the rain was Wolfgang Jordan, who spun in the hairpin bend. Behind Gerstl, Phil Stratford and Wolfgang Jaksch landed in the OPEN class. Behind Glaser the Top Speed drivers Bernd Herndlhofer and Florian Schnitzenbaumer completed the FORMULA podium.

Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) finished in a good ninth place despite a spin in the reconnaissance lap. Karl-Heinz Becker, the oldest participant in the field, was probably just as happy about 10th place. Christian Eicke (Speed Center) finished eleventh ahead of Thomas Jakoubek (Top Speed), who only travelled to the Hockenheimring this afternoon.

Race 2 starts tomorrow Sunday at 11:10 am and goes over the longer distance of 25 minutes. Starting grid is the same as for race 1.

Photos: Daniel Glaser/BOSS GP

Report: Qualifying Hockenheim F1

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl had an almost perfect qualifying session to mark the highlight of the BOSS GP year. Bernd Herndlhofer starts as best of the FORMULA class.

With an outside temperature of 20 degrees and a track temperature of 25 degrees, the eyes were initially directed towards the sky. It started raining again and again in the morning, but for the qualifying of the BOSS GP it remained dry to the delight of most drivers – the Pirelli rain tyres could thus remain on the wheel wagons.

Defending champion Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) will lead the field into the first of two races at the flying start this evening. With 1:20.939 min he missed the 1:20 mark, but none of Gerstl’s opponents could displace the Toro Rosso STR 1 from first place. Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) starts from position 2 on the grid. Stratford once locked brakes into the Sachs corner and the Benetton then rolled through the gravel. However, he managed to get back onto the tarmac.

Johann Ledermair, who jumped in yesterday at last minute, has decided not to start today after finishing first in free practice yesterday. Regular driver Thomas Jakoubek will start for Top Speed this afternoon. Bernd Herndlhofer (Top Speed) therefore had one less opponent, with 1:29.382 he was the fastest GP2 driver in his class.

The closest to the Austrian was Monza winner Armando Mangini. The Italian was at the start in Q2, and thus had more time at his side, which the old fox also used until the last second. The experienced pilot and team owner increased steadily, and set the second fastest time in the FORMULA classification with 1:30.0 at the end of the 18 minutes, he starts the 20-minute race at 6.00 pm from second row.

Luca Martucci (MM International) followed his team mate Mangini on his fastest laps around the track. He started from grid position 5, and together with the fastest lady Bianca Steiner from row 3. Steiner could also increase from medium 1:30 laps to 1:30.783, with that she was in the end only 6 hundredths behind Martucci. All drivers in the longer Q2 benefited from an uninterrupted session.

Roy Glaser (Speed Center) in the black-neon-yellow car was also quickly on the way, with rank 7 the Swiss Speed Center pilot is certainly satisfied. The Swiss could be aiming for the podium in the races.

Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing) was allowed to compete in Q1 due to the withdrawal of Ledermair, but with rank 8 he is not where the German could stand. It was certainly unpleasant for Jaksch that his radio cable detached itself from the helmet during the session. His girlfriend Veronika Cichá was also angry: the Czech lost a wheel hub in her outlap and had to give up early.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) will not be satisfied either: The leader of the FORMULA standings only starts from 11th overall, but could not use the few laps in Q1 as he had hoped.

Christian Eicke and Peter Göllner (both Speed Centers) put their cars in the top 10, which is quite a surprise.

Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) and Gianluca Ripoli (MM International) did a pirouette in the hairpin bend almost simultaneously, but both were able to continue immediately. Becker and his accident opponent from yesterday Walter Steding were on a time chase for a long time in parallel flight – Becker finished 13th behind Wolfgang Jordan, Steding 15th.

Race 1 of 2 on this fourth race weekend of the BOSS GP year starts at 18:00.

Photo: Daniel Glaser

Report: Free Practice Hockenheim F1

Posted on July 20, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

The first kilometres in the Motodrom are completed: The BOSS GP is ready for the biggest event in its history.

As always, Friday was about qualification for Q1 in tomorrow’s qualifying (start: 10:40 a.m.) session for the BOSS GP front runners . Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) set today’s best time with 1:22.731 min in the second practice session. A time under 1 minute 20 seconds is expected from the Toro Rosso driver tomorrow. Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) was clearly behind, but also had less training time. The American had to park his Benetton F1 on the track. A problem with the brake cylinders caused the front wheels to lock, Stratford’s Benetton could only be towed by crane.

Johann Ledermair made the story of the day: The former champion and winner of the double in Spielberg replaced the absent Thomas Jakoubek at Top Speed. Actually, the Austrian had only come to Hockenheim as a guest. Ledermair set the best time in the FORMULA class from a standing start. The toughest opponents for Ledermair come from the same team: Bernd Herndlhofer was only a tenth slower than Ledermair. The ambitious Austrians will provide us an exciting fight for the rest of the weekend.

Championship leader Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) placed 3rd, and the German was already successful at Hockenheim in April. In the second practice he rolled out early – a fate he shares with Johann Ledermair and Bianca Steiner. Gerstl, Stratford, Ledermair, Herndlhofer, Schnitzenbaumer – these five will be the first to get on the track tomorrow in qualifying and thus have an open track at their disposal. The remaining 14 drivers must go into traffic ten minutes later.

Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing), last winner in Monza, got along well in the first training and tried different lines. In the second practice session he spun off the track at high speed already in the first laps – car and driver remained undamaged. The fourth starter in the top class is Hans Laub (Speed Center). From FP1 to FP2 he improved by more than five seconds. The link-up to the other OPEN drivers will be possible tomorrow.

Armando Mangini (MM International) was inconspicuous, but again consistently well on the way. The Italian enters the Formula 1 weekend exhilarated by his home win at Monza. Team mate Luca Martucci has settled in well to the BOSS GP as the ninth of today. The debutant usually starts in Italian Formula 3; at the GP2 premiere he was more than properly on the road.

Best FORMULA pilot from Team Speed Center was Peter Göllner in 10th place, Roy Glaser at his comeback and Christian Eicke complained about the Red Flags, which stolen a lot of track time. Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) and Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) collided in the first practice session. Becker’s bolide was damaged at the suspension, but for the afternoon the damage was repaired. The race control blamed Steding for the incident. ‘Piter’, who was again bothered by technical problems, did not manage to set a time.

Schedule for tomorrow, July, 21st 2018:
10:40–11:10: qualifying
18:00–18:25: race 1

Pictures: Daniel Glaser

Season highlight: BOSS GP at Hockenheim F1

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Europe’s fastest racing series is part of the German Grand Prix weekend and for the first time support series of Formula 1.

The big stage
For the second time this season the Big Open Single Seater will come to Hockenheim. Like the season opener three months ago, the 20 players of the BOSS GP are bringing powerful sounds and high speed to the Motodrom. The 4.5-kilometer Grand Prix circuit will be the stage for a premiere: for the first time, the BOSS GP will drive as a support series for the Formula 1 World Championship.

The BOSS GP is for the second time this year in Hockenheim

The Protagonists

20 cars divided into two classes – that is the setting for the BOSS GP premiere at Hockenheim. In the OPEN class Formula 1 and IndyCars are allowed, the engines are unrestricted. Four brave starters of the highest class compete in the magic Motodrom: The triple BOSS GP Champion Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) from Austria with the very first Toro Rosso Formula 1 car; the American Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) in 1997-Benetton by Jean Alesi (team mate Gerhard Berger won the 1997 German Grand Prix in the identical car); Hans Laub (Speed Center) in the Forti FG 03, a rare piece of racing history; Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing) in the white and red Super Aguri from 2006, with 10 cylinders and 800 hp Cosworth power.

Starting No.	Name	Team	Nat.	Car
1	Ingo Gerstl	Top Speed	AUT	Toro Rosso STR1
7	Phil Stratford	Penn Elcom Racing	USA	Benetton B197
22	Hans Laub	Speed Center	DEU	Forti FG 03
26	Wolfgang Jaksch	F Xtreme Racing Team	DEU	Super Aguri 06

Fast identes Material haben die 16 Akteure der FORMULA zur Verfügung: 14 der 16 Teilnehmer starten mit Dallara-GP2-Rennfahrzeugen, allerdings mit unterschiedlichen Aerodynamik-Ausbaustufen. Der Franzose „Piter“ und der deutsche BOSS GP-Dauerbrenner Karl-Heinz Becker starten in Boliden der World Series by Nissan bzw. Renault. Die heißesten Kandidaten auf die Siege am Wochenende sind Tabellenführer Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) aus Deutschland und Armando Mangini (MM International) aus Italien, der das letzte Rennen in Monza gewinnen konnte. Nicht außer Acht lassen dürfen wir Bernd Herndlhofer (Top Speed), der Ex-Meister startet zum ersten Mal in diesem Jahr in der FORMULA. Nach einem Rennen Pause ist Bianca Steiner (Top Speed) zurück: Die junge Österreicherin holte zuletzt am Red Bull Ring ihr erstes Podest. Sie ist übrigens nicht die einzige Dame im Starterfeld, Veronica Cicha (H&A Racing) ist schon länger fester Bestandteil der BOSS GP.

Starting No.	Name	Team	Nat.	Car
100	Thomas Jakoubek	Top Speed	AUT	Dallara GP2
101	Peter Göllner	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
105	Wolfgang Jordan	H&A Racing	DEU	Dallara GP2
110	Bianca Steiner	Top Speed	AUT	Dallara GP2
111	“Piter”	Ray-Ban	FRA	Dallara WSbR
221	Bernd Herndlhofer	Top Speed	AUT	Dallara GP2
222	Veronica Cicha	H&A Racing	CZE	Dallara GP2
321	Andreas Fiedler	Fiedler Racing	DEU	Dallara GP2
323	Armando Mangini	MM International	ITA	Dallara GP2
324	Gianluca Ripoli	MM International	ITA	Dallara GP2
377	Luca Martucci	MM International	ITA	Dallara GP2
411	Karl-Heinz Becker	Becker Motorsport	DEU	Dallara WSbN
505	Walter Steding	Inter Europol Competition	DEU	Dallara GP2
555	Christian Eicke	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
666	Roy Glaser	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
888	Florian Schnitzenbaumer	Top Speed	DEU	Dallara GP2

German Wolfgang Jaksch (l.) comes as race winner to his home race

Season so far

Ingo Gerstl has dominated the OPEN class so far. Most recently in Monza, however, Phil Stratford in the Benetton F1 was the first to take Gerstl’s pace in the Toro Rosso F1, although Gerstl also clinched overall and class victory for the fifth time in six races up to now. In the second Monza race, both Gerstl and Stratford fell victim to a starting collision. The beneficiary of this unfortunate situation was Wolfgang Jaksch (Super Aguri F1). The German won in Monza for the first time this season, for the second time ever in the BOSS GP – right on time before his home race at Hockenheim. Hans Laub has only been on the track for testing purposes with his Forti F1 so far, and the German’s first race will take place this weekend.

The FORMULA is tighter and only slightly more silent. Four different winners in six races so far this season prove that this class is closer than ever before. In the overall standings after 6 of 14 races Schnitzenbaumer (120 points) leads ahead of Fiedler (101) and Mangini (87).

Timetable: BOSS GP at Grosser Preis von Deutschland

Friday, 20 July 2018
13:00–13:25: Free Practice 1
18:30–18:55: Free Practice 2

Saturday, 21 July 2018
10:40–11:10: Qualifying
18:00–18:25: Race 1

Sunday, 22. July 2018
11:10–11:40: Race 2

Report: Race 2 Monza

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

This race was not for the faint-hearted: Wolfgang Jaksch (Super Aguri) wins surprisingly, in the FORMULA classification Armando Mangini (Dallara GP2) still wins today.

It took six races until Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was not on the podium of the OPEN classification for the first time this year: Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing) is the big surprise winner of the second race day in Monza. The German won his second BOSS GP race after Assen in 2017.

Right at the start, the German benefited from an unfortunate manoeuvre by the pilots in front of him. While Jaksch overtook Armando Mangini (MM International) at the start, the first three of the starting group headed for the first corner: Ingo Gerstl was the first to turn into the Prima variante, but the Toro Rosso was hit by Phil Stratford‘s Benetton (Penn Elcom Racing). Stratford had to avoid Rinus van Kalmthout (Mansell Motorsport) when braking. The Dutchman had made a mistake with cold brakes – the chain reaction led to the retirement of Ingo Gerstl (rear right puncture) and Phil Stratford (broken snout).

Starting incident with Gerstl, Stratford, Van Kalmthout andJaksch

After two laps behind the safety car Van Kalmthout overtook the leader Jaksch. The duels behind were Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) against Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) and David Moretti (Griffith’s). Once again the race was interrupted by a mistake of Christian Eicke (Speed Center). He had parked his WSbR-Dallara in the gravel bed of the Variante Ascari.

When the race was resumed, Van Kalmthout, who was in 1st place, entered the pits. He parked his car a little later. Jaksch took the lead after the bad luck of the last races and days. The later winner caused a moment of shock only once when he grazed the gravel at the end of the second Lesmo curve.

10 minutes before the end of the 25-minute race Andreas Fiedler crashed into the rear of his front man Florian Schnitzenbaumer. Schnitzenbaumer spun into the gravel bed, Fiedler hit the tyre stacks of the Ascari variant frontally. The German could not get out on his own and had to be brought to the Medical Center in an ambulance. According to initial information, he hurt his back. We wish him all the best!

OPEN:

Wolfgang JAKSCH (SUI) Super Aguri FA SA06 Cosworth 9 Laps
Rinus van Kalmthout (NED) Dallara GP2 Judd + 3 Laps

Fastest lap: Rinus VAN KALMTHOUT – 1:37.058 min

FORMULA:

Armando MANGINI (ITA) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome 9 Laps
Marco GHIOTTO (ITA) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 0.452 sec
David MORETTI (FRA) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 1.054 sec

Fastest lap: Marco GHIOTTO – 1:39.693 min

While Wolfgang Jaksch won the OPEN class, two Italians won the two biggest trophies in the FORMULA class: Armando Mangini was victorious ahead of Marco Ghiotto. Ghiotto, yesterday’s winner of the FORMULA class, stopped at the pre-start. The Italian started from the pits and was the last to follow the field, he benefited from the retirements in the race. David Moretti was ranked third, the Frenchman was on the BOSS GP podium for the first time. Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) finished fourth in the FORMULA classification ahead of Veronica Cicha (H&A Racing). “Piter” also scored many points on his first visit to Monza in sixth place. Wolfgang Jordan‘s race was unlucky: The German spun in the warm-up lap and was thrown away. Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) had his first problem-free race weekend of the year in mind. Shortly before the end of the Red Flag race, however, he rolled out.

Quotes after the race:

OPEN winner Wolfgang Jaksch: “I let Rinus pass because he was pushing. The plan was to hang on to him and maybe because I have a little more power, I can pass him in the last lap. I had a good pace today, felt much better in the car than yesterday. Once I got into gravel, it was brutal, but luckily I still caught the car. I wanted to win the race today. Hats off to Ingo (Gerstl, note) yesterday. “What times he’s able to set is sensational.”

FORMULA winner Armando Mangini: “That was Grande Casino today. I don’t even know how I got through it.”

The next race of the BOSS GP 2018 will be the highlight of the season. For the first time, the BOSS GP will be part of the Formula 1 World Championship. 25 BOSS GP cars are expected for Hockenheim (July 20 to 22).

Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Report: Race 1 Monza

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Monza got to see a lot of BOSS GP action: Ingo Gerstl in his Toro Rosso and Phil Stratford in the Benetton had a long duel for victory. And the FORMULA was not only hot because of the temperatures, the winner was an Italian: Marco Ghiotto.

The start was spectacular, sometimes four cars were racing side by side. Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) and Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) got the best start from the rear. The first neutralization (yellow flags and no overtaking on the full course) was provided by David Moretti (Griffith’s), who got stuck after only one lap on one of the yellow speed bumps off the course.

At the restart, there were duels for the lead in the OPEN and FORMULA classes. Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was unusually behind Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) during the first laps. The US-American in the Benetton collected his first leadership kilometers this year. But halfway through the race he could no longer resist. The Austrian Gerstl speeded up and overtook Stratford on the long start-finish straight, just before braking into the first chicane. Gerstl finished the race about one second ahead of Stratford.

f.l. Phil Stratford and Phil Stratford; Marco Ghiotto and Andreas Fiedler

Marco Ghiotto, who started as third (and first of the FORMULA class) lost the lead after the restart briefly to Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing), who had reacted earlier to the Green Flags. Fiedler couldn’t stay in front of Ghiotto. During his overtaking manoeuvre Fiedler had to avoid the run-out zone, but second place in the FORMULA classification means another podium place for the German. Ghiotto (in the ex-car of Charles Leclerc) sensationally won his class at his comeback after three years of racing abstinence.

There almost was an Italian double victory at the home race. Armando Mangini (MM International) started into the 20-minute race from 6th place. In the initial phase, Mangini lost a few places, but gradually moved up to second place in the FORMULA. However, a spin ended his race prematurely. Behind Ghiotto were Andreas Fiedler and Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed), who finished a session for the first time this weekend without any major incidents.

Shortly before the end, Full Course Yellow was proclaimed once again when Walter Steding sunk his good position in the gravel bed of the Lesmo curves. The placings did not change afterwards:

OPEN:

Ingo GERSTL (AUT) Toro Rosso STR1 Cosworth 12 Laps
Phil Stratford (USA) Benetton F1 B197 Judd + 1.029 sec

Fastest lap: Ingo GERSTL – 1:34.891 min

FORMULA:

Marco GHIOTTO (ITA) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome 12 Laps
Andreas FIEDLER (DEU) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 1.337 sec
Florian SCHNITZENBAUMER (DEU) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 3.327 sec

Fastest lap: Marco GHIOTTO – 1:38.677 min

f.l. Veronica Cicha and Christian Eicke; Wolfgang Jordan

The first of two races started under hot conditions. The program had been postponed due to various events in the other races. Shortly before the race the starting grid changed once again when the race commissioners pronounced three grid penalties: Florian Schnitzenbaumer, Karl Heinz Becker and Wolfgang Jordan were moved back five places in the starting grid for driving too fast in the pit lane or crossing the white line at the end of the pit lane.

Even before the start Rinus van Kalmthout (Mansell Motorsport) withdrew. On the way to the pre-start, his Dallara-Judd stopped after a few hundred meters. This means that the 17-year-old Dutchman, who travels full-time in the US Pro Mazda Series, was already out before the start.

Not much better was Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing), who tried to start from the pits with the Super Aguri F1 car, but once again did not come to the hoped-for race. Also his companion Veronica Cicha (H&A Racing) had to return to the pits after only two laps – also the Czech could not resume the race.

Race two starts tomorrow at 11:30. A live stream is available at www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGyIwwZJAmA7AjO9DEQt6Q

Quotes after the race:
Ingo Gerstl: “It was nice to ride next to Phil (Stratford, note). In the fast Parabolica corner I had a nervous car towards the end of the race, the rear slipped quite a bit. Too bad Wolfgang Jaksch didn’t start.”

Marco Ghiotto: “I thought I could ride in the front. But it was the first time I’d driven in three years. For family reasons, I had to take such a long break. This car is a really good car. The restarts weren’t fair, the cars behind me in Full Course Yellow came to close.”

Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Report: Qualifying Monza

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl (Toro Rosso STR1) starts the races in Monza ahead of Rinus van Kalmthout (GP2 Dallara Judd) and Phil Stratford (Benetton B197). Best Italian: Marco Ghiotto (GP2 Dallara) in 4th place.

With 1:26.6 min the Austrian Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was over three seconds faster than the quickest time in qualifying 2016. The average speed in the fastest lap was over 240 kilometers per hour. The measured top speed was over 340 kph at the end of the start-finish straight. Gerstl in his Toro Rosso STR1 is by far the favourite for the race victory in the afternoon race (start: 4:40 pm).

Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing), who started in qualifying session 1, only set one lap, and this at the end of the session, which was only eight minutes long. Rinus van Kalmthout, who did not start until Q2, snatched the American just before the end of the session from the front row. The 17-year-old Dutchman in the GP2-Dallara with Judd engine was faster than Stratford, especially in the first sector. The time gap of only two tenths of a second means that Mansell Motorsport’s team-mates can expect a hot race.

f.l. Ingo Gerstl, Marco Ghiotto

With an outside temperature of almost 30 degrees centigrade already in the morning hours, the Italian Marco Ghiotto felt very comfortable. In front of many friends and guests he qualified as the best FORMULA pilot. With rank 4 he is also one place ahead of Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing). The Super Aguri of the German was repaired yesterday after the practice accident (damage to the front suspension and front wing). With 1:36.3 min he set his personal best time this weekend.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) provided the only Full Course Yellow. The German stopped beside the track after a driving mistake. He was fourth fastest FORMULA driver behind Ghiotto, Armando Mangini and David Moretti. He was closely followed by Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing), who lost only three tenths to the points leader in his green Dallara. Walter Steding did well at his fourth appearance in Monza. He finished 10th, ahead of BOSS GP returner Wolfgang Jordan, Karl-Heinz Becker and Veronica Cicha. Christian Eicke (Speed Center) complained about the interruptions in practice yesterday, in qualifying he could complete at least 11 (and thus most) laps. With 1:42.7 min he is close to the midfield. The Frenchman “Piter” (Ray-Ban), who also had his best time of the weekend in qualifying, showed a significant improvement.

f.l. Veronica Cicha, David Moretti

Hans Laub‘s Forti stayed in the pits today, the German from Speed Center assists Christian Eicke as a mechanic for the rest of the weekend. We will see the popular Formula 1 racing car again in Hockenheim. Thomas Jakoubek is also thinking about Hockenheim. The Top Speed driver had injured his ribs during an race kart event just before the weekend and is resting for the highlight of the season.

Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

BOSS GP Livestream: Race Guide Monza

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Up to date with BOSS GP from Italy:

Livestream on YouTube

Livetiming from Eni Monza Circuit

Results Monza 2018

Breaking News on Twitter @bossgp2010

Sector times and starting grids

BOSS GP standings 2018

Gallery of pictures from race weekend

Monza Peroni Race Weekend 2018

Die besten Fotos und Videos auf Instagram @bossgp2010

Timetable: BOSS GP at Peroni Race Festival

Friday, 29 July 2018

10:40–11:10: Free Practice 1
16:15–16:45: Free Practice 2

Saturday, 30 June 2018

10:35–11:05: Qualifying
16:40–17:00: Race 1

Sunday, 1 July 2018

11:30–11:55: Race 2