Tag: Lap record

Full racing line-up: BOSS GP in Brno

Posted on September 5, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

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

Report: Race 1 Assen

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

f.l. Veronika Cicha and FORMULA winner Andreas Fiedler

Ingo Gerstl sets lap record and wins for the seventh time this season. Andreas Fiedler wins the FORMULA classification for the first time and makes up ground in the championship.

GAMMA Racing Day attracted tens of thousands of spectators to the beautiful race track in Assen on the first day of racing. The highlight for many of them have been the races of the BOSS GP for years. So probably also this year, because the grandstands were well filled just in time for the first race at 4:30 pm – with light wind and cloudy sky (22 degrees outside temperature).

It had already been promised in qualifying, and Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) made it official in the race: The Austrian not only won the race and the OPEN class for the seventh time this season, but also set a new lap record at the TT Circuit Assen with 1:18,298 min. After Gerstl had already driven the fastest lap ever in qualifying (1:17,157), the record only became official in the race. Gerstl’s old record was 1:19,371 from 2016.

Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) finished second behind Ingo Gerstl. The US-American complained about wearing down tyres on his Benetton B197, but was never pressed by the pursuers – all in all a problem-free race.

Unlike Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing), who had his hands full throughout the race. With Andreas Fiedler, Wolfgang Jaksch and partner Veronika Cicha as well as Peter Göllner and towards the end of the race Roy Glaser formed an exciting fighting group. Jaksch was not only involved in all kinds of action, but also drifted in Fast and Furious style in the Super Aguri in the first lap to stay on track. Despite all the chaos, he became third overall.

Even before the start of the race there was an accident: Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) spun so hard into the barriers during the tyre warm-up that the broken car had to be lifted. The German could leave the car on his own, but lost valuable points in the championship. In return Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) made a considerable leap forward. After the injury-related non start at Hockenheim in July, he won the FORMULA class at the comeback. Now he is only 14 points behind Schnitzenbaumer.

Veronika Cicha (H&A Racing) climbed the podium with Fiedler. The Czech was on the podium for the first time this year. A flawless race enabled her, as did Peter Göllner (Speed Center), to take a champagne shower. Göllner started after a practice accident in the spare car, and had to get used to the circumstances.

The fastest lap of the FORMULA drivers went to Roy Glaser (Speed Center), but the Swiss pole setter can’t buy anything for that. Glaser spun at the restart of the race, and was left behind by the rest of the field. After a furious chase to catch up, Glaser exaggerated his attempt to attack third-placed Jaksch. A shame: A spin ended his race shortly before the end.

Christian Eicke (Speed Center) started from the pits, he became inconspicuous seventh. Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), who couldn’t get away at the restart, should also be unhappy. He also chased the field with a delay. Too bad, because the German had shown a good pace so far this weekend.

Tomorrow’s second race starts at 16:06 CET +1 and a live stream is available at www.podium.tv

Quotes after the race:

FORMULA winner Andreas Fiedler (DEU, Fiedler Racing): “My mechanic said I should slow down at the beginning and only push at the end – but that didn’t work out like this anymore. I was almost certain that Roy would make another mistake, he was eager to get Jaksch. I just didn’t want to make a mistake, take the points home. I had the championship in mind the whole time.”

2nd OPEN Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing): “The race was difficult because the track is so demanding. I’ve never been here before, six laps in practice and then right into qualifying. I’m certainly not at the limit yet.”

2nd FORMULA Peter Göllner (SUI, Speed Center): “A sensation! This podium was expensive to buy after the accident in the morning.”

Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Report: Rennen 1 Assen

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl fährt mit Rundenrekord zum siebenten Saisonsieg. Andreas Fiedler gewinnt zum ersten Mal die FORMULA-Wertung und macht in der Meisterschaft Boden gut.

Der GAMMA Racing Day lockte schon am ersten Renntag Zehntausende Zuschauer auf die wunderschöne Rennanlage nach Assen. Das Highlight für viele von ihnen sind seit Jahren die Rennen der BOSS GP. So wohl auch heuer, denn die Tribünen waren pünktlich zum ersten Rennen um 16:30 Uhr – bei leichtem Wind und bewölktem Himmel (22 Grad Außentemperatur) – gut gefüllt.

Schon im Qualifying hatte es sich angekündigt, im Rennen machte Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) es offiziell: Der Österreicher gewann nicht nur zum siebenten Mal in dieser Saison ein Rennen und die OPEN-Klasse, sondern fuhr mit 1:18.298 min auch einen neuen Rundenrekord auf dem TT Circuit von Assen. Nachdem Gerstl schon im Qualifying die überhaupt schnellste Runde (1:17.157) gefahren war, wurde der Rekord erst im Rennen offiziell. Der alte Rekord von Gerstl lag bei 1:19.371 aus dem Jahr 2016.

Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) wurde hinter Ingo Gerstl Zweiter. Der US-Amerikaner klagte zwar über abbauende Reifen an seinem Benetton B197, wurde aber von den Verfolgern nie bedrängt – alles in allem ein problemloses Rennen.

Im Unterschied zu Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing), der das ganze Rennen über alle Hände voll zu tun hatte. Mit Andreas Fiedler, Wolfgang Jaksch und Lebensgefährtin Veronika Cicha sowie Peter Göllner und gegen Rennende auch noch Roy Glaser bildete sich eine spannende Kampfgruppe. Jaksch war nicht nur an allerhand Aktion beteiligt, sondern legte im Super Aguri in der ersten Rennrunde einen sehenswerten Drift hin, um auf der Strecke zu bleiben. Trotz all dem Chaos wurde er Gesamt-Dritter.

Schon vor dem Rennstart kam es zu einem Unfall: Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) drehte sich beim Reifenaufwärmen derart heftig in die Reifenstapel, dass das kaputte Auto geborgen werden musste. Der Deutsche konnte das Auto aus eigener Kraft verlassen, verlor aber wertvolle Punkte in der Meisterschaft. Dafür machte Rückkehrer Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) einen gehörigen Sprung nach vorne. Nach dem verletzungsbedingten Nichtstart in Hockenheim im Juli, gewann er beim Comeback die Klasse FORMULA. Jetzt liegt er nur mehr 14 Punkte hinter Schnitzenbaumer.

Mit Fiedler aufs Stockerl kletterte Veronika Cicha (H&A Racing). Die Tschechin stand damit zum ersten Mal in diesem Jahr auf dem Podest. Ein fehlerfreies Rennen ermöglichte ihr, ebenso wie Peter Göllner (Speed Center), die Champagnerdusche. Göllner startete nach einem Trainingsunfall im Ersatzauto, und musste sich erst einmal an die Umstände gewöhnen – Chapeau vor dieser Leistung.

Die überlegen schnellste Runde bei den FORMULA-Fahrern ging an Roy Glaser (Speed Center), doch dafür kann sich der Schweizer Polesetter nichts kaufen. Glaser drehte sich beim Neustart des Rennens, und wurde erst einmal vom restlichen Feld abgehängt. Nach einer furiosen Aufholjagd übertrieb es Glaser beim Versuch, den Drittplatzierten Jaksch anzugreifen. Bitter: Ein Dreher beendete sein Rennen kurz vor Schluss.

Christian Eicke (Speed Center) startete aus der Box, er wurde unauffälliger Siebenter. Ebenfalls unglücklich dürfte Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) sein, der beim Neustart nicht wegkam. Auch er hetzte erst verspätet dem Feld hinterher. Schade, denn der Deutsche hatte bis dato eine gute Pace an diesem Wochenende gezeigt.

Das morgige zweite Rennen startet um 16:06 CET +1. Einen Livestream gibt es auf www.podium.tv

Stimmen nach dem Rennen:

FORMULA-Sieger Andreas Fiedler (DEU, Fiedler Racing): „Mein Mechaniker meinte, am Anfang soll ich langsamer machen, und erst am Ende pushen – aber das ging dann nicht mehr so. Ich war mir fast sicher, dass Roy noch einen Fehler macht, der wollte unbedingt den Jaksch noch kriegen. Ich wollte bloß keinen Fehler machen, die Punkte mit heimnehmen. Ich hatte die ganze Zeit die Meisterschaft im Kopf.“

Zweiter OPEN Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing): „Das Rennen war schwierig, weil die Strecke so fordernd ist. Ich war zuvor noch nie hier, sechs Runden im Training und dann gleich ins Qualifiying. Ich bin sicher noch nicht am Limit angelangt.“

Zweiter FORMULA Peter Göllner (SUI, Speed Center): „Eine Sensation! Dieses Podium war nach dem Unfall am Vormittag teuer erkauft.“

Fotos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Report: Qualifying Assen

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl broke the lap record at the TT Circuit in Assen on the first day with a 1:17.157 min under optimal conditions. Stratford in the Benetton in row 1, Glaser and Schnitzenbaumer start from row 2.

The Austrian Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was the first to qualify. Right at the beginning Gerstl used the free track in his Toro Rosso STR1, already in the second lap he managed a 1:17.2 min, shortly afterwards he improved the best time again to 1:17.157. In the following laps he improved in sector 3, but it was not enough for another record time. Nevertheless he set the fastest lap ever driven in Assen – an official lap record (currently: 1:19.371 by Gerstl in 2016) is only valid in the race.

Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) will start the races (starting time 1st race: today at 16:30 GMT +1) next to Gerstl. The American in the 1997-Benetton had to go into Q2 and was long on rank 3, late (in his 9th lap) he could improve to rank 2. Roy Glaser (Speed Center) held this position until shortly before the end. The FORMULA winner from Hockenheim started in Q1 and improved lap by lap. Finally, Florian Schnitzenbaumer, leader of the FORMULA standings, had nothing against the Swiss. In the end, the Top Speed driver was a second behind Glaser. Thus the two fastest FORMULA drivers were ahead of Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing). However, last year’s winner in the Super Aguri SA06 is a hot tip for the race.

Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) achieved a respectable result on his return to BOSS GP: The German had injured himself in a crash in Monza, and is making his comeback this weekend in Assen – he starts from 6th place.

Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) proved to be really quick this weekend. In the meantime, Steding was even placed 5th. During the session he had to park his Dallara-GP2, so he dropped back to 7th place towards the end.

Peter Göllner and Christian Eicke (both Speed Center) were on the track for a while in a row. The Swiss Göllner had an accident in free practice. The car spun and the GP2 Dallara hit the tyre stacks with its tail. The Speed Center crew managed to set up the spare car in the shortest possible time and get it ready for the following qualifying session. Göllner thanked them and finished eighth. The Speed Center duo blasted Veronika Cicha, who achieved her best qualifying result of the year with 9th place.

Flat curbs and a wide track promise a lot of overtaking possibilities for the afternoon. According to current weather forecasts, it should remain dry despite overcast.

Report: Qualifying Assen

Posted on August 18, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl sprengte bei optimalen Bedingungen am ersten Tag mit einer 1:17.157 min den Rundenrekord auf dem TT Circuit in Assen. Stratford im Benetton in Reihe 1, Glaser und Schnitzenbaumer starten aus Reihe 2.

Der Österreicher Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) ging als Erster ins Qualifying. Gleich zu Beginn nützte Gerstl in seinem Toro Rosso STR1 die freie Bahn, schon in der zweiten Runde gelang ihm eine 1:17.2 min, kurz darauf verbesserte er die Bestzeit nochmals auf 1:17.157. In den folgenden Runden gelang ihm zwar in Sektor 3 eine Verbesserung, für eine erneute Bestzeit reichte es dann aber nicht mehr. Dennoch setzte er damit die schnellste je gefahrene Runde in Assen – ein offizieller Rundenrekord (derzeit: 1:19.371 von Gerstl 2016) gilt aber erst im Rennen.

Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) geht bei den Rennen (Startzeit 1. Rennen: heute um 16:30 Uhr GMT +1) neben Gerstl in den Startsprint. Der US-Amerikaner im 1997er-Benetton musste in Q2 ausrücken und lag lange auf Rang 3, erst spät (in seiner 9. Runde) konnte er sich auf Rang 2 verbessern. Diesen Rang inne hatte bis kurz vor Schluss Roy Glaser (Speed Center). Der FORMULA-Sieger aus Hockenheim ging in Q1 an den Start, und verbesserte sich dort Runde für Runde. Dem Schweizer hatte schlussendlich auch Florian Schnitzenbaumer, Tabellenführer in der FORMULA, nichts entgegenzusetzen. Der Top Speed-Fahrer lag am Ende gut eine Sekunde hinter Glaser. Damit lagen die zwei schnellsten FORMULA-Fahrer noch vor Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing). Der Vorjahressieger im Super Aguri SA06 ist aber fürs Rennen ein heißer Tipp.

Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) schaffte bei seiner Rückkehr in die BOSS GP ein ordentliches Ergebnis: Der Deutsche hatte sich in Monza an einem Wirbel verletzt, und gibt an diesem Wochenende in Assen sein Comeback – er startet von Rang 6.

Richtig schnell zeigte sich dieses Mal Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition). Steding war zwischenzeitlich sogar auf Rang 5 platziert. Noch während der Session musste er seinen Dallara-GP2 abstellen, darum rutschte er gegen Ende zurück auf Rang 7.

Peter Göllner und Christian Eicke (beide Speed Center) waren eine Zeit lang hintereinander auf der Strecke unterwegs. Der Schweizer Göllner hatte im Freien Training einen Unfall. Ausgangs der Schikane vor Start-Ziel ging er zu früh ans Gas, das Auto drehte sich, und der GP2-Dallara schlug mit dem Heck in die Reifenstapel. Die Speed Center-Crew schaffte es, das Ersatzauto in kürzester Zeit herzurichten und fürs anschließende Qualifying fit zu machen. Göllner dankte es, und wurde Achter. Das Speed Center-Duo sprengte Veronika Cicha (H&A Racing), die mit Rang 9 ihr bestes Qualifying-Resultat in diesem Jahr erreichte.

Flache Kurbs und eine breite Strecke versprechen für den Nachmittag jede Menge Überholmöglichkeiten. Laut aktuellen Wetterprognosen soll es trotz dichter Bewölkung trocken bleiben.

Fotos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Report: Qualifying Spielberg

Posted on May 19, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl with record lap on pole position, Ledermair on FORMULA pole

Not surprisingly Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) set the fastest time in the second qualifying of this year. With 1:10,665 min the Toro Rosso pilot set a new BOSS GP lap record. The only downer for Gerstl: The declared goal of beating the sound barrier of 1:10 min was not achieved. Second place went to Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing), who kept the GP2 armada behind him in his 1997-Benetton.

An Austrian was also the fastest pilot in the second class: Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) picked up where he left off last year: At his comeback this afternoon (start: 3:05 p.m.) he starts from position 3 and thus has the best starting position with the FORMULA racing cars. With Ledermair in the second row, Reinhard Kofler (Top Speed) surpassed his expectations at his first appearance in the GP2 car.

Reinhard Kofler starts from row 2

Eight cars entered Qualifying 2, a seperated session for yesterday’s slower drivers. Fastest was Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed). The FORMULA leader placed 5th overall, knocking out Armando Mangini (MM International), who was in the first qualifying group.

Bianca Steiner and Andreas Fiedler fought for 7th place overall for the whole 20 minutes. Only six thousandths of a second (!) separate Fiedler (7.) and Steiner (8.). The situation between Peter Göllner and Christian Eicke was similarly close. Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) starts in the first race from 11, Thomas Jakoubek from 12, Karl-Heinz Becker (Becker Motorsport) had technical problems again, the German only completed three laps, he starts from 14th place.

Report: Free Practice 1 Spielberg

Posted on May 18, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl sets a new BOSS GP record, even with traffic during his fastest laps

Ingo Gerstl set a new BOSS GP lap record in the first free practice session at the Red Bull Ring: In 1:11,292 min the man from Salzburg completed the 4.2-kilometer long mountain and valley track. Fastest FORMULA pilot was Johann Ledermair. Sports car specialist Reinhard Kofler (Top Speed) was runner-up in his first outing in a GP2.

With an outside temperature of 18 degrees and sunshine the first official session started at 9:30 am. Already after two minutes the first car was out: Armando Mangini (MM International) spun at the exit from the pit lane. The Italian lost control on cold tyres, but he didn’t hit anything. The safety team brought the car back into the pits and Mangini was able to continue the training session.

Johann Ledermair sets the fastest time in second class

After the session restarts, all 12 drivers made their way onto the track. This did not stop Ingo Gerstl in his Toro Rosso from improving from 1:15 min in his first fast lap to 1:11.2 min in his fastest lap – this is a new BOSS GP lap record.

Top Speed team-mates Florian Schnitzenbaumer and Bianca Steiner tried to do some laps together. Ten minutes before the end of the session, Schnitzenbaumer blocked the rear wheels when braking to the second corner. His vehicle was pushed behind the barriers after the spin.

Reinhard Kofler proved his talent in his first ride

Reinhard Kofler, former European kart champion and Formula Renault racer, made his debut in Top Speed’s BWT car. The current KTM works driver in the GT4 European Series already gave a test of talent in his very first laps in a 600-hp GP2 car: With a 1:19.8 he was only 1.3 seconds behind Johann Ledermair (Ledermair Motorsport) in second place in the FORMULA classification. For the races we can expect a five-match between Ledermair, Schnitzenbaumer, Fiedler, Kofler and Mangini.

Another Top Speed driver, Thomas Jakoubek, was missing in the 1st free practice, he will only get into the car later.

In the lap back to the pits Peter Göllner (Speed Center) stopped his Dallara GP2, his car is back in the pits for repairing.