Tag: Cosworth

EN: 2024 season review SUPER LIGHTS

Stephan Glaser, a newcomer to the BOSS GP, won the title. With nine race wins, the Swiss driver left the competition without a chance.

In the 2024 season, the SUPER LIGHTS class was once again the home of monoposto cars with V6 engines and older Formula 3000 cars. In particular, the Formula 3000 cars thrilled fans with their sound, manual transmission and spectacular slides. Both regular driver Stefan Eisinger-Sewald (Red Rose Racing) and BOSS GP rookie Stefan Scho proved with several podium finishes that the older Formula 3000 cars are far from obsolete. Although the Austrian Eisinger-Sewald and his team had to deal with several technical issues with their Ralt and therefore had to drop out of the title race early on.

First start, first win for Stefan Scho at the Nürburgring 2024

German Stefan Scho, a former Formula 3 driver, lined up with a dark red Lola F3000 with a V8 Cosworth engine. In his home race at the Nürburgring, he got off to a flying start, taking first place in both races. He followed that up with two second places in Assen and is planning further outings in 2025.

Last season’s champion, Henry Clausnitzer (WF Racing), held his own in the title fight for a long time. Clausnitzer, who is from Germany’s Lausitz region, continues to drive a V6 Formula Renault built by Tatuus in 2003. His eye-catching paintwork, inspired by the 2005/2006 Renault F1 world championship team, attracted a lot of attention again last season. After a solid start to the season, Clausnitzer was held back by several technical problems on race weekends, but numerous night shifts with his crew finally got the car running again. The efforts paid off and another top result was achieved: 2nd place in the overall standings behind Stephan Glaser.

Glaser in front, followed by Scho (left) and one of the GP2 cars from the FORMULA race. Behind them, Eisinger-Sewald (left), Stadelmann (center) and Clausnitzer (right) are in a three-way fight

Glaser, who already had monoposto experience when he entered the series, was quickly noticed by his SUPER LIGHTS opponents. With the relatively modern World Series V6 (built in 2008), entered by Jo Zeller Racing, he was often too fast for the competition. Except for the race weekend at the Nürburgring, he managed to secure at least one race victory at each track. Even retirement in the last race at Misano could no longer change the fact that he had won the championship title.

Further highlights included the starts of ace Walter Colacino (ITA), the comeback of ex-champion Andreas Hasler (AUT) including a stunning victory at the finale in Misano, and the appearances of Jody Stadelmann (SUI) in the Formula Nippon. In the 2025 season, the SUPER LIGHTS class will remain a guarantee for exciting motorsport with thrilling race cars from around the world.

Jody Stadelmann with the Formula Nippon car previously used in Japan, built by the US company G-Force

Interested drivers can already pre-register for the 2025 season. Send a non-binding inquiry now to office@bossgp.com

Photos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

DE: Saisonrückblick 2024 SUPER LIGHTS

Mit Stephan Glaser gewann ein BOSS GP-Neueinsteiger den Titel. Gegen neun Rennsiege des Schweizers hatte die Konkurrenz keine Chance.

Die SUPER LIGHTS-Klasse war auch in der Saison 2024 wieder Tummelplatz für Monoposto mit V6-Motoren und ältere Formel-3000-Boliden. Letztere begeisterten mit ihrem Sound, H-Schaltung und spektakulären Slides. Sowohl Stammpilot Stefan Eisinger-Sewald (Red Rose Racing) als auch BOSS GP-Rookie Stefan Scho bewiesen mit mehreren Podestplätzen, dass die Formel 3000 noch längst nicht zum Alteisen gehören. Wenngleich der Österreicher Eisinger-Sewald und dessen Einsatzteam mit mehreren technischen Wehwehchen an seinem Ralt zu kämpfen hatte und sich deshalb frühzeitig aus dem Titelkampf verabschieden musste.

Erstes Rennen, erster Sieg: Stefan Scho am Nürburgring 2024

Der Deutsche Stefan Scho, früher u.a. in der Formel 3 aktiv, brachte einen dunkelroten Lola-F3000 mit V8-Cosworth-Motor an den Start. Bei seinem Heimrennen am Nürburgring gelang ihm ein Einstand nach Maß: Platz 1 in beiden Rennen. In Assen legte er mit zwei zweiten Plätzen noch einmal nach, für 2025 plant er weitere Einsätze in der BOSS GP Racing Series.

Lange im Titelkampf hielt sich der Meister der Vorsaison, Henry Clausnitzer (WF Racing). Der Lausitzer setzt weiterhin einen V6-Formel-Renault von Tatuus (Baujahr 2003) ein. Die auffällige Lackierung in Anlehnung an das Renault-F1-Weltmeisterteam 2005/2006 zog auch in der vergangenen Saison wieder viele Blicke an. Nach einem soliden Saisonstart wurde Clausnitzer durch mehrere technische Gebrechen an den Rennwochenenden zurückgeworfen, zahlreiche Nachtschichten mit seiner Crew brachten den Wagen schließlich immer wieder zum Laufen. Die Mühen machten sich bezahlt, mit Rang 2 in der Gesamtwertung hinter Stephan Glaser gelang erneut ein Topergebnis.

Vorne Glaser, gefolgt von Scho (li.) und einem der GP2-Boliden aus der FORMULA-Wertung. Dahinter befinden sich Eisinger-Sewald (li.), Stadelmann (mi.) und Clausnitzer (re.) im Dreikampf

Glaser, der bereits mit Monoposto-Erfahrung in die Serie kam, wurde von den SUPER-LIGHTS-Kontrahenten schnell wahrgenommen. Mit dem vergleichsweise modernen World Series V6 (Baujahr 2008), eingesetzt von Jo Zeller Racing, war er der Konkurrenz meistens zu schnell. Mit Ausnahme des Rennwochenendes am Nürburgring gelang ihm auf jeder Strecke zumindest ein Laufsieg. Auch ein Ausfall beim letzten Rennen in Misano konnte am Gewinn des Meistertitels nichts mehr ändern.

Für weitere Farbtupfer sorgten auch die Starts von Ass Walter Colacino (ITA), das Comeback von Ex-Meister Andreas Hasler (AUT) inklusive fulminantem Sieg beim Finale in Misano und die Auftritte von Jody Stadelmann (SUI) im Formel Nippon. Auch in der Saison 2025 bleibt die SUPER LIGHTS-Klasse ein Garant für abwechslungsreichen Motorsport mit aufregenden Rennwagen aus aller Welt.

Jody Stadelmann mit dem früher in Japan eingesetzten Formel Nippon, gebaut von der US-Firma G-Force

Interessierte Fahrer können sich bereits für die Saison 2025 voranmelden. Sendet jetzt eine unverbindliche Anfrage an office@bossgp.com

Fotos: Angelo Poletto/BOSS GP

Report Races Brno

Double wins for Ingo Gerstl and Harald Schlegelmilch at the Masaryk Racing Days.

The fourth event of the season brought the BOSS GP Racing Series to the Czech Republic’s largest racetrack in Brno on the first weekend of September. On the traditional date of the Masaryk Racing Days, the lively racing programme included some of the fastest race cars in the world, racing against each other.

OPEN class
Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) was once again unbeatable in the screaming Toro Rosso STR1 with a V10 Cosworth engine from 2006. The rivals are still missing, so Gerstl is driving towards the next title. It would be his sixth championship title in the OPEN class of Formula 1 and IndyCar cars. It would bring him up to par with his former rival and BOSS GP record holder Klaas Zwart (NLD). Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing) made his debut on the Brno circuit in the popular 1997 Benetton. Despite not having a chance against Gerstl’s much more modern car, Ehninger presented himself in the best possible way on the Czech rollercoaster with two second places – thus keeping the championship open for Ehninger.

FORMULA class
Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) showed early on this weekend that he is the favourite to win in class. After his successful performance at the Red Bull Ring earlier this year, the former Formula 3 professional once again showed the more established competition what he is capable of. Even though championship leader Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) put a lot of pressure on him in the first race, Schlegelmilch kept his nerve in the last generation World Series car and won race 1 by a narrow margin. The next day in the second race Ghiotto started better and took the lead right at the rolling start. But Schlegelmilch, who was a bit slower on the straights, was able to brake later into the corners and take the lead before the halfway point of the race.

Third place in both races was taken by Luca Martucci, who is now just one point behind his team-mate Simone Colombo (both ITA, MM International) in the overall standings. With two fourth places, rookie Colombo got the best out of a weekend that started with an accident in practice. Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio; 5th twice) and Bruno Jarach (EST, Eesti Motorsport; 6th and 7th) also scored solid points. Unlike Andreas Fiedler (GER) and Christian Ferstl (AUT), who were both affected by technical problems.

The next two races of the 2021 BOSS GP Racing Series are on the schedule at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 2 and 3 October.

Pictures: Angelo Poletto and Erwin Strassnig/BOSS GP

Report: Free Practice Spa

Marco Ghiotto in his GP2 Dallara

Here we go: The BOSS GP Racing Series has started its race weekend in Spa.

Two free practice sessions were on the schedule for BOSS GP on day 1 of the 2-day event with the DTM in Spa. On such a difficult and long racetrack, every lap counts and therefore the drivers and teams used every opportunity to prepare for tomorrow’s race day.

Two free practice sessions were on the schedule for BOSS GP on day 1 of the 2-day event with the DTM in Spa. On such a difficult and long racetrack, every lap counts and therefore the drivers and teams used every opportunity to prepare for tomorrow’s race day.

Several BOSS GP drivers have not driven at Spa for a long time, some even compete on the Formula 1 circuit for the very first time. It is even more remarkable that, apart from a few breaking lockups, both practice sessions were completed without major incidents. Only Riccardo Ponzio (ITA, Adriatica Racing) had an accident in Eau Rouge due to a technical defect in his Jaguar R3. His team is working hard to be able to compete in tomorrow’s qualifying.

Fastest today was Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) in the Toro Rosso STR1 with a time of 2:04.369. Best FORMULA driver was Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) ahead of Marc Faggionato (MCO, Top Speed) and Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International). The three pilots are also considered as favourites for tomorrow’s class win. FORMULA champion Ghiotto also completed the most laps (20) today.

Despite significantly fewer laps Roman Hoffmann (AUT, Team Hoffmann), team boss and driver in one, burned the sixth fastest overall time into the asphalt today, ahead of the experienced Florian Schnitzenbaumer (GER, Top Speed), who is sitting in the cockpit of a GP2 Dallara for the first time this year at a race. Also back is Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who is driving in an unusual black car. We expect a significant increase of his performance tomorrow.

The qualifying starts tomorrow Sunday at 9:45 am. With 40 minutes, the session is longer than usual, giving all BOSS GP drivers more opportunities to set their best times. Race 1, usually lasting over 20 minutes, will follow at lunchtime at 12:05, race 2 (25 minutes race length) at the conclusion of the DTM event at 16:05. This time, all three sessions can be followed in the free livestream at www.bossgp.com/livestream.

The “Jag” is back!

Riccardo Ponzio brings a Jaguar Formula 1 onto the grid in 2020.

The 22-year-old Italian Riccardo Ponzio will compete in a Jaguar Formula 1 car for the full BOSS GP season in the OPEN class. The spectacular new project for the 2020 BOSS GP campaign was launched yesterday with an impressive presentation.

The car from 2002 is powered by a 750 hp Cosworth V10 engine. Eddie Irvine, who was the race driver at the time, was able to finish on the podium in Monza. Ponzio, who won the Italian Formula 3 in 2017, also has ambitious aims: “Nothing can really prepare you to drive a car with almost 1000 hp. But the first few kilometres showed me: I feel ready to make my debut.”

Ponzio and his Jaguar R3
Credit: Adriatica Competition

The project is set to run for two years. Ponzio and his Jaguar R3 will make their first appearance in BOSS GP 2020 at the season opener in Mugello from March 27 to 29.