Catégorie : General

Preview Misano

Posted on juin 17, 2021 by Keke Platzer - 5, General

For the first time, Europe’s fastest racing series visits the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this weekend. Will the lap record fall at the Forza Fanatec event?

From 18 to 20 June, Misano will be the venue for round 3 of the BOSS GP Racing Series 2021. For the first time, the Big Open Single Seaters will stop at the Adriatic Sea and offer the pilots the unique chance to attack the lap record on the modern racetrack within sight of the popular seaside resort of Rimini. The current lap record is 1:25.380, set 13 years ago by Clivio Piccione during an Auto GP series race.

For many BOSS GP drivers, the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli is new territory, as it is for the series in its 27th season. Two 30 minutes free practice sessions on Friday should help to familiarise with the 4.2-kilometre-long racetrack. To be on the safe side, one or the other pilot also put in a few practice sessions in the racing simulator.

The track has been in operation since 1972, the biggest reconstruction took place in 2006 and 2007, when the direction of the track was turned (now clockwise) to create more space for run-off areas. The track now has the highest safety standards, as do all the other tracks on the BOSS GP Racing Series calendar. Last weekend, the World Superbike Championship raced at Misano, other highlights in the 2021 schedule are the MotoGP and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe events.

Schedule BOSS GP Forza Fanatec Misano:

Friday, 18 June 2021
10:35–11:05 Free Practice 1
14:10–14:40 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 19 June 2021
10:05–10:35 Qualifying (8+20 minutes)
16:45–17:05 Race 1 (20 minutes) LIVESTREAM

Sunday, 20 June 2021
09:30–09:40 Warm-up
15:10–15:35 Race 2 (25 minutes) LIVESTREAM

Photos: Misano World Circuit

Report Race 2 Spielberg

Posted on mai 22, 2021 by Christoph Hanak - General

After a turbulent race, Ingo Gerstl secured the double victory at the Red Bull Ring – great duels on the track ensured action – Schlegelmilch winner in the FORMULA class.

Just before the start it had started to drizzle slightly, but it remained dry for the start of the race. The start was spectacular, Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) attacked at the start but had to leave the racetrack and lost positions. Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) in the Benetton was worse off, he lost the car out of turn 1 and had to end his race. The same fate befell title contender Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) after spinning between turns six and seven – this incident caused a safety car period.

At the restart, the leader, Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed), was able to keep his top position. Behind him, however, there was a lot going on: Ghiotto spun at the exit of the last corner but was able to get the GP2 Dallara going again on his own. Afterwards, he put in a fantastic recovery, which unfortunately was not rewarded. Already in 7th place, he was given a 30-second time penalty after overtaking under yellow. Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) suffered the same fate.

Both had overtaken Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing) after the Jaguar had dropped out under yellow flag and never relinquished the position. Gerstl and Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) dueled at the front, but the Latvian was never quite able to catch up in the comparatively slower WSbR car. In only his second BOSS GP race, the Latvian won the FORMULA class ahead of Fiedler and the excellent Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio). In the OPEN class, two places on the podium were vacant after the retirement of the Jaguar and the Benetton. These were snatched by Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA-Racing) in the second Benetton B197 and Anton Werner (GER, Ryschka Motorsport) in the IndyCar Dallara. Werner managed to make it onto the podium directly at the first race weekend. Behind Ghiotto, Michael Aberer (AUT, MA Motorsport) finished a strong fifth in his first race in 2021.

Best in the new Super Lights class: Armando Mangini in his Formula 3000 of the latest generation

In the OPEN Class, Ingo Gerstl now leads ahead of Ulf Ehninger. In the FORMULA Class Marco Ghiotto continues to lead, now already 34 points ahead of Andreas Fiedler and another six points ahead of Simone Colombo. The next BOSS GP weekend will take place in Misano at the end of June. It will be the first appearance of Europe’s fastest racing series at the World Circuit Simoncelli.

Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report Race 1 Spielberg

Posted on mai 22, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

Drying track confronted teams and drivers with difficult decisions in the first race of the weekend: Gerstl fights his way to victory, Ghiotto triumphs in the FORMULA class.

It stopped raining before the start of the race. The track dried out more and more. However, this confronted the teams with difficult challenges. Many places on the track were already dry, a few were still wet. The field was split in the tyre choice between Pirelli P-Zero (slick) and Cinturato (rain). Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed), like many of his competitors in the front, put on the slicks. A decision that turned out to be the right one. As there was no more rain, drivers with rain tyres were at a loss.

Gerstl was unable to pull away at the front, with Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) and Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) following the leader like a shadow. However, a real overtaking opportunity did not arise during the race. The sensation man from qualifying, Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering), could not keep up the initial pace and dropped back to 4th overall.

Riccardo Ponzio (ITA, Adriatica Competition) in the Jaguar R3 was able to redeem himself after his spin in qualifying. He drove some of the fastest laps on the track and finished the race in 6th place overall and 3rd in the OPEN. At the front, Gerstl secured the win by six tenths ahead of returnee Stratford, who could get back on the podium after a year’s compulsory break. Ghiotto completed the podium and was also the clear winner in the FORMULA class. Schlegelmilch and Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) were the other two to complete the podium.

Award Giving Ceremony for the 2020 season: f.l. Ehninger, Martucci, Ghiotto, Gerstl, Steding and Ponzio

There was another surprise for the pilots after the race: the overall championship victory ceremony from 2020 was held. For all pilots, it is now time to focus once again, as the second race of the weekend starts at 15:55 local time.

Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report Qualifying Spielberg

Posted on mai 22, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

The clouds over the Red Bull Ring opened their floodgates on Saturday morning and provided an exciting qualifying session. Gerstl on pole position, Schlegelmilch fastest FORMULA driver at BOSS GP debut.

Saturday arrived and the expected weather worsened, which did not dampen the driving in qualifying. The BOSS GP drivers showed their class as 19 drivers out of the 20 entered went out on track in their Big Open Single Seaters even in these poor conditions – with four freshly fitted Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres, of course. Qualifying was not divided into Q1 and Q2 due to the rain, so there was only one 30-minute session in which all cars hit the track.

At the beginning Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladlo) set top times and was able to take the lead. The lead did not last long, because the sensation of the qualifying, Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering), promptly took over first place. The Latvian makes his debut in the BOSS GP this weekend and is involved right from the start. The former Formula 3 and Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver is piloting a World Series by Renault bolide of the Austrian team HS Engineering this weekend. Just as all the cars were on fast laps, Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) in the Benetton B197 slid into the run-off area with a spin at the final corner. Stratford was able to resume driving after returning to the pits, but Andreas Fiedler (DEU, Fiedler Racing) and Riccardo Ponzio (ITA, Adriatica Competition) in the Jaguar suffered a different fate. They found the end of their qualifying in the gravel at the same time. Neither car was damaged, however, and nothing should stand in the way of a start in the race.

After the red flag had been waved, all available drivers went out on the track again. Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) put his Toro Rosso STR1 on pole. Schlegelmilch and Ghiotto completed the top 3. Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International), who had already shown a good performance in the rain at the opening round in Mugello, also started the race from row 2. Florian Schnitzenbaumer (GER, Top Speed) and Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) were surprisingly strong after a long break from racing, finishing 5th and 6th respectively. But now it is the race pace that counts, the first race starts today at 11:35 am local time.

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report Free Practice Spielberg

Posted on mai 21, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

The BOSS GP with pictures for the ages? Impressive show run with Formula 1 cars and IndyCars on Friday.

Usually, the Red Bull Ring is home to the Formula 1 World Championship and MotoGP, but this weekend the BOSS GP Racing Series is a guest in Styria. After the six-week break since the Season Opening in Mugello, the track time was used extensively on Austria’s most beautiful racetrack and enough kilometres were recorded – the weather also played along on this Friday. It stayed dry all day, so all the drivers were able to test their cars extensively. Especially for the first-time starters, every metre on the 4.3-kilometre track around the iconic bull counted. Among others, Anton Werner (GER, Ryschka) drove a Chip Ganassi IndyCar from the mid-2000s today.

At the start of the second practice session, there was a memorable moment in BOSS GP’s history: there was a phalanx of Big Open Single Seaters on track that had not been seen for a long time, with the two Benetton B197s, the Sauber C30, a Jaguar R3, two Toro Rosso STR1s, Vettel’s winning STR3 car and two Ryschka IndyCars. During this showrun, impressive footage of man and machine was captured by a camera team and will soon be shown on the BOSS GP social media channels.

In total 22 drivers set a time today. Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) dominated both practice sessions in his 2006 Toro Rosso. Riccardo Ponzio (ITA, Adriatica Competiton) in the Jaguar R3 was second fastest in the combined times from the first and second practice session. Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) was third fastest FORMULA driver today. Rounding up the top five were Simone Colombo and Luca Martucci (both ITA, MM International). These five have gained a bit of an advantage that way, they will have the track to themselves in Q1. Depending on the weather conditions, it will be decided tomorrow, Saturday, whether qualifying will start in two groups as usual or whether there will be a 30-minute session with all drivers. The chances of rain are increasing until tomorrow. In any case, there will be two races on Saturday (11:20 and 15:55).

Photo: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Preview Spielberg

Posted on mai 20, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

Swift comeback of BOSS GP in Spielberg: After two years, Europe’s fastest racing series returns to Austria for its home race with a special highlight.

Several thousand horsepower will meet on the Formula 1 racetrack at the Red Bull Ring next Friday and Saturday. In a flawless programme, 24 Big Open Single Seaters – Formula 1, IndyCar, GP2, World Series by Renault and Formula 3000 – will make a stop in Styria. Sebastian Vettel’s winning car from 2008, the Toro Rosso STR3, a Jaguar R3, two Benetton B197s (including Gerhard Berger’s), a Sauber C30 from 2011 and finally, once again, an IndyCar will be a feast for the eyes and ears. With Ingo Gerstl (STR1-F1, Top Speed), Bianca Steiner (GP2, Steiner Motorsport), Christian Ferstl (F2, Top Speed), Thomas Jakoubek (GP2, Top Speed) and Michael Aberer (GP2, MA Motorsport) there are also five local drivers on the starting grid.

The STM waterjet race on 20 and 21 May 2021 is a 2-day event– on Friday there will be two practice sessions, on Saturday a qualifying in addition to both races. A special highlight is a separate show run for Formula 1 and IndyCars on Friday afternoon. The Formula 1 racetrack in the Alps replaces the Jim Clark Revival at the Hockenheimring, which was cancelled in May. The Red Bull Ring was last on the race calendar of the BOSS GP Racing Series in 2019. The race winners back then: Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) and Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed). Many drivers and fans are happy about the return of the Big Open Single Seater to the Austrian iconic circuit. At the same time, the STM waterjet race at the Red Bull Ring is also the home race of the championship sanctioned by the Austrian Motorsport Federation. Other series on the agenda include the Drexler Formula Cup and the Suzuki Swift Cup Europe in addition to the GT race cars from the P9 Challenge. Unfortunately, no spectators are allowed on site, but they can follow the event via the BOSS GP social media channels.

Timetable STM waterjet Race Red Bull Ring:

Friday, 21. May 2021
11:00–11:30 Free Practice 1
15:20–15:35 Show Laps OPEN class
15:35–16:00 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 22 May 2021
09:15–09:45 Qualification (8+20 minutes)
11:20–11:40 Race 1 (20 minutes)
15:55–16:20 Race 2 (25 minutes)

Photo: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP

New partner: GlobeAir

Posted on avril 26, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

From now on: Europe’s leading private jet airline will bring you to BOSS GP events.

There is a new partner on board – GlobeAir, the leading award-winning private jet airline in Europe, which offers on-demand charter flights at the best prices. As an official travel partner of the BOSS GP Racing Series, GlobeAir will transport teams and drivers to all BOSS GP events in 2021 in style, comfort and safety.

The advantages:

24/7 customer service
Fast check-in: on the plane in 15 minutes
All-in-one travel solution: from home pick-up to the pit lane
Other services: Hotel booking, restaurant reservation and much more
Highest security standards (only 20 instead of 700 touchpoints due to COVID 19)
Price advantage for BOSS GP participants
Several passengers can share a private jet
Approved for 984 destinations in Europe

More at www.globeair.com and BOSS GP upon request.

GlobeAir’s key to success is reflected in helping customers to save time and subsequently ensure a better quality of life.

From his own experience, the managing director, Bernhard Fragner, knows that far too much precious time is lost to travel long distances by car for a short meeting, thus tugging at the balance between work, family and leisure. Thanks to GlobeAir, not only is the flight time shorter, but the entire journey is smoother compared to a commercial airline. Private jet terminals and the quick 15-minute boarding procedure make the day at the airport uncomplicated. It is even possible to have a limousine or helicopter ready upon landing to shorten the transfer time, saving up to a total of three hours per trip.

« The extension of our partnership section with Europe’s largest private jet operator in the very light jet segment gives BOSS GP the benefit of providing additional services to racing enthusiasts at a reasonable price to complete our bespoke door-to-door racing experience. »
Siegfried Stieger, Board Member BOSS GP

« With BOSS GP on our side, GlobeAir is now able to extend its long list of provided experiences with an unforgettable event: Driving a GP2 car at full speed. Racing has always been very closely linked to aviation and now the passion for speed and safety can be shared on a long day of racing. »
Bernhard Fragner, CEO GlobeAir

New class: SUPER LIGHTS

Posted on avril 22, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

From Red Bull Ring on: own class for Formula 3000 and V6 World Series by Renault/Nissan cars.

The BOSS GP Racing Series extend his offer for drivers and teams. From the next race at the Red Bull Ring (21/22 May) there will be a new SUPER LIGHTS class in addition to the OPEN and FORMULA classifications.

This class is for Formula 3000 cars built in 1996 and later and for World Series by Renault and Nissan cars with six-cylinder engines. As in the other two classes, the SUPER LIGHTS will have there own award ceremony with trophies after each race.

Interested teams and pilots can contact BOSS GP’s Race Coordinator Malin Strandberg for more details: race@bossgp.com or +43 650 78 40 784

Photo: Michael Kavena

Report Race 2 Mugello

Posted on avril 11, 2021 by Keke Platzer - 5, General

Gerstl wins in the OPEN category, Ghiotto after recovering from an early spin in FORMULA class.

Another day, same question: dry or wet tyres? It had rained again and again at the Mugello Circuit during the day. But shortly before the start of the second race, parts of the track had dried up. Most of the drivers nevertheless relied on the Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres, even at the risk that they would not last the full 25-minute distance on an increasingly dry track. Exceptions were the two MM-International drivers Stefano Colombo and Luca Martucci (both ITA), who started the race on slicks. But with low outside temperatures of around ten degrees Celsius, they had a tough time in their GP2 Dallara single seaters.

Not so Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed), who immediately fled at the start. The pole setter entered turn 1 in his Toro Rosso STR1 first and did not relinquish his position at the top until the end of the race. Second in the OPEN classification was Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing), who, after his premiere victory yesterday, also finished on the podium today and, together with Gerstl, will travel to the next race as BOSS GP championship leader.

BOSS GP newcomer Gianluca De Lorenzi in his Auto GP car showed another strong performance

In FORMULA class, Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) won today as in race 1. The decisive move was made by the Italian just before the end of the race. Ghiotto had spun in lap 1 and then started a terrific chase that had its climax on the penultimate lap: Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) defended his lead hard, but always remained fair. The decisive manoeuvre came at the exit of the medium-fast turn 12, where Ghiotto poked into a gap on the inside lane and overtook Faggionato. Gianluca De Lorenzi (SMR, GDL Racing) finished third in the class behind the two, sticking to the rear of Faggionato for a long time but ultimately having to let Ghiotto go as well.

Fourth place went to Salvatore De Plano (ITA, MM International), who made amends today after an early retirement yesterday. Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing) changed to rain tyres shortly before the start, which helped him to move up to 5th in class. Thomas Jackermeier (GER, Top Speed) achieved another convincing result at his first BOSS GP event with 6th position. Behind him came Walter Colacino (ITA) in the Formula 3000 with an Alfa Romeo sports car engine, who was able to drive the full 25 minutes of the race today without any troubles.

The overall standings after the first of six race weekends are available here.

Photos: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP

Report Race 1 Mugello

Posted on avril 10, 2021 by Keke Platzer - General

Marco Ghiotto beats everyone in the first race of the season. Premier victory for Ulf Ehninger in OPEN class.

Hectic hustle and bustle just before race start on the grid. Most of the teams changed from the Pirelli Cinturato rain tyres to the P Zero slicks. The rain had stopped before the start of the race, so that a large part of the 5.2-kilometre-long track had dried up. Nevertheless, a small group of drivers including Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio), Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport) and Formula 3000 individual Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino), relied on the wet weather tyres from exclusive supplier Pirelli.

It was soon clear that they had bet on the right card. Ghiotto was already in front under hard braking into the first corner. Pole setter Marc Faggionato, who was cautious at the start, immediately lost a few places. Gianluca De Lorenzi (SMR, GDL Racing) slid into the gravel with under-tempered slicks in the wet, but was able to continue and Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) was also only just able to avoid a spin in the first couple of corners.

Marco Ghiotto’s first pursuer was Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who started the race from only 11th on the grid and crossed the start-finish line in second place after lap 1. But on lap 4, the German parked his GP2-Dallara in the paddock and was sad about the missed chance.

But the action continued: Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed), who had started from pitlane with his Formula 1 Toro Rosso, tried to get through the packed field. In lap 5 he had reached the front of the pack and started chasing Ghiotto, until tyre blistering stopped him as well. At that time Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) took over second place. Martucci drove the fastest race lap but lost too much time to Ghiotto in the early stages of the race. Meanwhile, the 2020 and 2021 FORMULA champion was looking for every wet spot on the asphalt to keep his rain tyres alive. A late safety car period helped Marco Ghiotto to clinch the race victory.

f.l. Martucci, race winner Ghiotto, OPEN winner Ehninger and De Lorenzi

Martucci finished second and made up six places compared to qualifying. Gianluca De Lorenzi recovered quickly from his initial excursion into the gravel trap, third place is the well-deserved reward on his BOSS GP debut. Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) benefited from Gerstl’s retirement, but the Benetton driver can still refer to a controlled race in slippery conditions. Even a short ride through the gravel could not stop Ehninger. He was awarded with a well-deserved winner’s trophy in the OPEN class – the first of his BOSS GP career!

Nicolas Matile (MCO, Zig-Zag) and Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport) had a lap-long duel. Matile in the Auto GP was slightly faster in the corners, Jarach in his GP2 on the straights. In the end Matile was able to beat Jarach, which meant sixth place for the Monegasque.

The race of Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) and Marc Faggionato (MCO, Zig-Zag) ended unhappily in the gravel bed of turn 1. In the duel for the podium, the two collided slightly. The revenge of the beaten may follow tomorrow. Race 2 starts at 14:25 local time. The race will be broadcast on Italian television (MS Motortv) and on race organiser Gruppo Peroni’s YouTube channel. Before that, a warm-up will be run at 10:00 am.

Photos: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP