The organisation, teams and drivers of the BOSS GP are mourning the loss of Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting.
Charlie Whiting died yesterday in Melbourne at the age of 66. The Brit was part of Grand Prix racing for almost five decades. Whiting also knew the BOSS GP very well and was jointly responsible for making the series’ guest appearance at the 2018 German Grand Prix possible.
The BOSS GP family express their condolences and deep sympathy with his family.
Photo: F1.com
The fastest racing series in Europe brings the fun of racing back to the Red Bull Ring. The start grid for both races was already set up yesterday due to the bad weather conditions today.
Saturday started as predicted very wet. Even in difficult conditions the brute BOSS GP bolides were on the track. For safety reasons the race control decided to run the timed practice as 3rd free practice and to set up the starting grid from the combined times of FP1 and FP2.
Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed, Toro Rosso STR1) took first position in qualifying for the seventh time in the seventh race meeting of the season. From the first to the second practice he improved by more than three and a half seconds. With 1:12.082 min yesterday he was still far behind the times of May, when the local hero had already scratched the 1:10 mark. In the rain, dominator Gerstl was only fifth in the Formula 1 car, which surprised him: “Maybe there’s something wrong with the timing,” smiled Gerstl, who had already been confirmed BOSS GP Champion 2018 before the final races this weekend.
Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom, Benetton B197) complained about technical problems in the first practice session and a reduced driving time for him. But in the 2nd practice he easily finished second overall. He used the rain this morning for training kilometers. Stratford, who lives in California, has hardly any rain experience, but announced for the races: “Should it rain, I’ll drive”.
Luca Martucci was once off track, but very quick in dry and rain
Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International, Dallara GP2) surprised everyone: The Italian with Formula 3 experience is the fastest FORMULA driver of Friday and will lead this class into the race. In the rain practice Martucci set the best time, so he is the favourite this afternoon (starting time: 16:00, also in the Live stream).
Salvatore De Plano (ITA, Top Speed, Dallara GP2) starts from row 2. The Italian this weekend has to switch from his regular team MM International to Top Speed. At MM International all cars were rented this time. At Top Speed they offered the fast Italian an alternative home, he thanked it with a successful Friday.
Championship duel between Florian Schnitzenbaumer (l.) and Andreas Fiedler (r.)
Florian Schnitzenbaumer (DEU, Top Speed, Dallara GP2) starts from row 3 and thus directly ahead of his only remaining competitor for the championship: Andreas Fiedler (DEU, Fiedler Racing, Dallara GP2). Schnitzenbaumer has set himself the goal to enter today’s race attentively and ideally to make the title clear today.
Between Schnitzenbaumer and Fiedler stands Marco Ghiotto (ITA, MRC Sport, Dallara GP2), who won the brother duel with Sergio (ITA, MM International, Dallara GP2). Sergio Ghiotto starts from 10th place, but in Saturday’s rain he showed with second place that he still has potential for the front. Gianluca Ripoli (ITA, MM International, Dallara GP2) starts from 8th place, newcomer Alain Valente (SUI, Speed Center, Dallara GP2) from 9th place.
Peter Göllner (SUI, Speed Center, Dallara GP2), who has been on the podium twice in the last three races, will start from row 6 together with his team mate Christian Eicke (DEU, Dallara GP2). Hans Laub starts with his Formula 1 Forti in the middle of the FORMULA field from 13th position. Walter Steding (DEU, Inter Europol, Dallara GP2) starts from 14th. Eicke, Steding and Armando Mangini (ITA, MM International, Lola F3000) are still fighting for 3rd place in the championship. Mangini starts the race with a disadvantage, because he is the only one to start in a Formula 3000 and was far behind his immediate opponents yesterday.
Trouble for Thomas Jakoubek on Friday
For Thomas Jakoubek (AUT, Top Speed, Dallara GP2) it was already over yesterday after a gearbox damage. Unfortunately, we also have to miss out on the second Toro Rosso from Top Speed. Frits van Eerd had to cancel at short notice, substitute driver Markus Lehmann was only on the track in the first practice session.
Pictures: Michael Jurtin/BOSS GP
At the Masaryk Racing Days almost everything that has wheels is on the track. The main event in the Czech Republic are the Big Open Single Seaters.
With a track length of 5.403 kilometres, Brno is the longest challenge in the BOSS GP 2018 racing calendar. The track is most famous for the MotoGP Grand Prix every year, nevertheless the track is also popular for drivers in Monoposti. On the one hand, it offers many smooth and fast corners that alternate with a technically demanding part, and on the other it is one of the safest race tracks on the calendar. Engine power is also important at the penultimate stop of the BOSS GP 2018, as the Czech roller coaster (9 right and 6 left turns) climbs steeply in the last third of the track.
Salvatore De Plano is back on the track in Brno
The fastest boys and girls
Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) holds the lap record on the largest Czech racetrack. The Austrian and three-time BOSS GP champion drove round the track last year in only 1:36.065 min, faster than any other driver in the 30 years since the opening of the circuit. Gerstl (Toro Rosso STR1, 3 litres, 10-cylinder Cosworth) could already secure his third consecutive OPEN title in Brno: If he scores four points more than his opponent Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing), he will already be champion before the final in Spielberg (21-23 September 2018). The US-American Stratford delivers consistently good performances this year and makes hardly any mistakes. The technique of his Benetton B197 (4 litres, 10-cylinder Judd) works better and better, which increases the driving pleasure and extends the driving time.
As third starter in the faster OPEN class Wolfgang Jaksch drives a Super Aguri SA06 (3 litres, 10-cylinder Cosworth). The German with Swiss license was the only one who could win a race this year except Gerstl. However, several retirements in the championship threw him far back, good individual placings are now the goal.
In the FORMULA class all eyes are on Veronika Cicha (H&A Racing). The Czech racer is currently the only woman in the BOSS GP and most recently took her first podium in Assen. The former hill climb racer has been driving in the BOSS GP since 2015, and many guests will support the Czech at her home race.
The FORMULA is also about the championship and a possible preliminary decision. 34 points separate leader Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) from rival Andreas Fielder (Fiedler Racing). Both had a DNF at the last event in the Netherlands. Everything is still undecided, 25 points are awarded for a victory, four races are still on the calendar.
You should also keep an eye out for the comeback of Salvatore De Plano (MM International). In the first race of the season he injured himself in an accident in the fight for victory. After a long-forced break, the fast Italian is back in the race car. Marc Faggionato and Nicolas Matile (both ZIG-ZAG Motorsport Service) are also back after a long BOSS GP break. Matile starts with a Lola-Zytec from the Auto GP, making him the only non-GP2 pilot.
Brno has produced many good BOSS GP races throughout the last years
Masaryk Racing Days: Quite busy
The race days in September are the second largest circuit racing event in the Czech Republic after the Motorcycle Grand Prix. In addition to the headliner BOSS GP, other racing series will run from Thursday to Sunday: FIA Central Europe Zone for sports cars, touring cars and formula cars, ESET V4 Cup with TCR, Suzuki Swift Cup Europe, Chevrolet Cruze Eurocup, Renault Twingo Cup and various historic racing classes (HAIGO).
The weekend ticket costs 300 Czech crowns (=13 Euro), at the entrances to the race track there are ticket counters. Children under 14 and seniors over 67 have free entry. The BOSS GP cars are in the pits between 2-11, Andreas Fiedler is placed behind them in the paddock.
Timetable: BOSS GP at Masaryk Racing Days
Friday, September 7, 2018
11:35–12:05: Free Practice 1
16:00–16:25: Free Practice 2
Saturday, September 8,2018
10:00–10:30: Qualifying
14:50–15:25: Race 1 (distance: 20 minutes)
Sunday, September 9, 2018
12:15–12:50: Race 2 (distance: 20 minutes)
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 |
| 100 | Thomas Jakoubek | Top Speed | AUT | Dallara GP2 |
| 101 | Peter Göllner | Speed Center | SUI | Dallara GP2 |
| 116 | Nicolas Matile | ZIG-ZAG Motorsport Service | MCO | Lola Auto GP |
| 129 | Marc Faggionato | ZIG-ZAG Motorsport Service | MCO | Dallara GP2 |
| 221 | Bernd Herndlhofer | H&A Racing | AUT | Dallara GP2 |
| 222 | Veronika Cicha | H&A Racing | CZE | Dallara GP2 |
| 321 | Andreas Fiedler | Fiedler Racing | DEU | Dallara GP2 |
| 323 | Armando Mangini | MM International | ITA | Dallara GP2 |
| 505 | Walter Steding | Inter Europol Competition | DEU | Dallara GP2 |
| 555 | Christian Eicke | Speed Center | SUI | Dallara GP2 |
| 888 | Florian Schnitzenbaumer | Top Speed | DEU | Dallara GP2 |
| 999 | Salvatore De Plano | MM International | ITA | Dallara GP2 |
Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP
BOSS GP at GAMMA Racing Day: Our guide provides up-to-date information at the race track or via live stream at home.
Practice, qualifying and race results
Breaking news on Instagram @bossgp2010 and Facebook @bossgpoffical
Results in detail and starting grids
Gallery of this weekend’s event
Timetable BOSS GP
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)
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
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
The sensation is perfect: BOSS GP will be driving as support series at the German Formula 1 Grand Prix – from July 20 to 22, 2018 at the Hockenheimring.
Good news for all Formula 1 fans
The BOSS GP complements the programme of this summer’s German Grand Prix. This is the first time that Europe’s fastest racing series will take part in the support programme of the Formula 1 World Championship, which will celebrate its comeback in Germany in 2018 after a one-year break.
The hearty eight-cylinder sound of the GP2 racing cars, the no less exciting sounding World Series by Renault engines, the infernal, loud 12-cylinder Superleague Formula 1 engines and of course the breathtaking and incomparably high-revving ten-cylinder engines of Formula 1 “scream” together in the BOSS GP in the truest sense of the word. All together they offer action-packed, fast and vocal motorsport at its finest, which in this form is unparalleled in the global motorsport universe.
In addition to Formula 1 and BOSS GP, the Hockenheimring Grand Prix weekend also features Europe’s fastest cup series, the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, and the young guns from ADAC Formula 4.
Formula 1 cars like the 1997 Benetton, will be driven in race speed around the Hockenheimring circuit
Get tickets now
Tickets can be booked in the online ticket shop at www.hockenheimring.de or via the ticket hotline +49 6205 950 222. Children up to and including 6 years of age have free admission (no seat entitlement), children and young people under 16 years pay only 45 Euro (Sunday) and 50 Euro (weekend) on each seat, with the exception of the south grandstand.
BOSS GP calendar 2018:
Fans love the speed and sound of Formula One’s V10 and V8 era