Tag: Last race

Report: Race 2 Misano

In the 25-minute Sunday race Harald Schlegelmilch set another lap record. Victory for the new champion Simone Colombo in FORMULA class.

The drivers of the BOSS GP Racing Series completed their final race of the season at the Pirelli Grande Finale in the best possible autumn weather.

BOSS GP OPEN Class

For the last time this season Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) was on the hunt for the lap record. Once again the former Formula 3 ace succeeded in improving the existing best time of 1:21.822, set in yesterday’s race. Today, Schlegelmilch achieved a fabulous time of 1:20.785 (average speed: 188 km/h) in his World Series Dallara V8. The 34-year-old thus makes history and at the same time thanks his Austrian team with the tenth victory of the season in the OPEN class.

BOSS GP FORMULA Class

Once again, Saturday’s race winner Marco Ghiotto (ITA, Scuderia Palladio) and the new champion Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International) got together very close. Only a few centimetres separated the two GP2 cars as they turned into the first corner at the World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. A resumption of the “duel of the season” failed to unfold, however, because Ghiotto spun into the grass only a short time later. But the 2019 to 2021 champion was able to continue and take home at least one more trophy with second place. Colombo celebrated the victory as a cherry on top of the championship title he had already secured yesterday.

Michael Aberer (AUT, MA Motorsport) was on his way to the podium for most of the race distance. But Luca Martucci (ITA, MM International) had something against it. As yesterday, the Italian managed to overtake rival after rival after a weak start and once again complete an all-Italian podium. After a spin by Aberer (finished 5th), Paul O’Connell (IRE, HS Engineering) also overtook the Austrian. O’Connell not only impressed with fast lap times in his WSbR, but also attracted attention with a spin in the early stages. Because he was also able to continue his drive, the chase was rewarded with his best result in the BOSS GP to date.

Giancarlo Pedetti (ITA, Nannini Racing) finished the race in sixth place, Walter Steding (GER, Scuderia Palladio) in seventh. With these points, Steding was able to improve one more place in the championship. With fourth place overall in the championship, he repeated his ranking from the previous year.

BOSS GP SUPER LIGHTS Class

Alexander Geier (AUT, Geier Racing) again started the race from 4th place overall. With used tyres, however, he had a much harder time today than yesterday and as a result he dropped further back in the field. Nevertheless, he crowned his performance this weekend with the second victory in class. Walter Colacino (ITA, Colacino Motorsport) in a Formula 3000 took second place. Champion Andreas Hasler (AUT, Hasler Motorsport) was absent this weekend due to health reasons.

After twelve races in five different countries, the BOSS GP Racing Series 2022 comes to an end. The planning for the 2023 season is already underway, the first round of the season is expected to start in April.

Photo: Angelo Poletto

Preview Monza

Last tour stop for Europe’s fastest racing series in the 2021 season: The BOSS GP Racing Series storms through the park of Monza at over 300 kph.

Monza and BOSS GP seem to be the perfect match, as both form a wonderful symbiosis of tradition and modernity. While high-tech racing cars from the last 20 years can be watched at full volume and in real races at the BOSS GP Racing Series, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza has been the venue for the Formula One Italian Grand Prix since 1950 (except in 1980). A large part of the original layout has been adapted to modern safety standards and is still used today, although the steep concrete curves can only be admired on foot.

The BOSS GP line-up last competed in Monza two years ago. Phil Stratford (USA, Penn Elcom Racing) and Ingo Gerstl (AUT, Top Speed) won that time. Meanwhile, Ingo is on the verge of obtaining his seventh BOSS GP championship title in the OPEN class. Realistically, only an early technical defect on his Toro Rosso STR1 or an accident can still prevent the Salzburg citizen from winning another title in Monza. Gerstl’s last remaining rival in the 2021 overall standings, Ulf Ehninger (GER, ESBA Racing), is inferior in terms of performance and aerodynamics in his blue and white Benetton F1 from the 1997 season.

In contrast, the FORMULA class with its numerous Formula 2 and GP2 cars is much closer together. Recently, however, drivers with their Auto GP and World Series by Renault 3.5 cars have also been able to get involved on a regular basis, as Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA, HS Engineering) proved in Brno. Irishman Paul O’Connell will sit in Schlegelmilch’s car in Monza and the question on everyone’s lips is: Will he also be able to cause a surprise? After the cancelled races at the Nürburgring will not be held until 2022, Italian Marco Ghiotto (Scuderia Palladio) will be the FORMULA champion for the third time in a row. Simone Colombo (ITA, MM International), who has scored points with consistency so far, has the best chance of finishing second before the final. But only one point behind his teammate is compatriot Luca Martucci. All three are chasing the coveted home victory in Monza. Andreas Fiedler (GER, Fiedler Racing), who has recently moved closer to the top-runners, has also a great chance of stepping onto the podium.

Timetable BOSS GP GlobeAir Grande Finale Monza:

Friday, 1 October 2021
10:15–10:45 Free Practice 1
14:25–14:55 Free Practice 2

Saturday, 2 October 2021
10:30–11:00 Qualifying
15:35 Race 1 (20 minutes)

Sunday, 3 October 2021
12:50 Race 2 (25 minutes)

Goodbye of a BOSS GP hero

BOSS GP driver Armando Mangini retires, but remains with the series.

BOSS GP veteran Armando Mangini has announced his retirement from active racing at his home race in Imola. Mangini has been part of the BOSS GP family for nine consecutive years. The Italian contested a total of 72 races in Europe’s fastest racing series. A hand injury after a practice accident prevented races number 73 and 74 in Imola. Armando took it calmly: “I wanted to stop anyway.”

Monza 2018: Mangini on his way to the biggest sporting success of his long BOSS GP career

The Italian had his biggest sporting success last year in Monza. He won the Sunday race of the FORMULA class in his Dallara GP2 car. In a chaotic race he kept a cool head and drove to victory with constant lap times. These characteristics distinguished him for many years. Without making stupid mistakes, he drove the high-performance machines at a pace that challenged his often younger teammates.

Mangini (m.) with his friend and rival Walter Steding (l.) and his mechanic Mario (r.) at the farewell party

Mangini announced his plans at a farewell party at the Cuvée Sensorium victory ceremony in the BOSS GP hospitality. “Now it’s time to give the younger ones a chance.” As a farewell gift Armando gave his long-time competitors on the track and friends beside the racetrack bathrobes with personal imprints.

For next year, however, Mangini will remain in the BOSS GP as team manager. MM International is planning to have more than three cars at the start next season, according to Mangini. We wish him all the best – behind the pit wall and in his private life.