Tag: racing

BOSS GP Assen: Motorsport world come together

Posted on August 15, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Free, but not for nothing: at GAMMA Racing Day Formula 1-star Carlos Sainz Jr., superbike ace Michael van der Mark and the BOSS GP meet – with free admission for race fans.

For several years now, GAMMA Racing Day has been attracting Dutch motorsport fans: every summer, the event at the TT Circuit in Assen offers a monster programme that is absolute unique. The mix of kart, motorcycle, touring cars and formula cars is nowhere else to be found. It is therefore hardly surprising that up to 100,000 fans make a visit to the north-east of the Netherlands.

Assen, a motorcycle circuit
The first Dutch Tourist Trophy (TT) for motorcycles took place in 1925, but still on public roads. It was not until 1955 that a race track was built specifically for this purpose, parts of the track however, were still open to public transport. The 7.7 km long track was completely renovated in 1984 and shortened to 6.1 km. In 1992 the current TT Circuit Assen was permanently separated from public transport for the first time. In 2006 there was another change to the layout: The track was shortened to 4.5 kilometres, and safety was significantly improved.

Assen is the only track worldwide where a Motorcycle World Championship race has been held every year since 1949. But Assen is also on the map when it comes to automotive sports: In the past, for example, the ChampCar World Series and the A1 GP started on the TT Circuit. The BOSS GP has also been back in Assen regularly since 2015, providing a mega show year after year. Record winner is the Austrian Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed), who won five out of the last six races.

Full grandstands are expected for the GAMMA Racing Day 2018

GAMMA Racing Day: Event of superlatives
For three days, a densely packed programme thrills viewers on location and live on Dutch television. Admission is free, access to the paddock is limited and costs 15 euros per day or 25 euros for all three racing days. Tickets can either be purchased on site at the ticket offices or online in advance.

Due to the tightly packed program, the BOSS GP only runs one free practice session. Both Saturday and Sunday there will be a race of the Big Open Single Seaters. The race cars and teams of the BOSS GP are located in the pit building, from Pit 11 to 20.

Other series in the line-up: Supercar Challenge, TCR Europe, Ford Fiesta Cup, historic sports and touring cars, FIA Superkart EC, FIM Sidecar World Championship, Yamaha R3 Cup.

Plus: Formula 1 demo laps by Carlos Sainz Jr. in the Renault, superbike demo laps by Michael van der Mark on the Yamaha, Formula 1 two-seater and much more.

One of the highlights: Demo laps from Carlos Sainz Jr. in his Renault Formula 1 car

Timetable: BOSS GP at GAMMA Racing Day

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)

BOSS GP is close racing, with fast and loud cars

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
101	Peter Göllner	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
221	Bernd Herndlhofer	Top Speed	AUT	Dallara GP2
222	Veronika Cicha	H&A Racing	CZE	Dallara GP2
321	Andreas Fiedler	Fiedler Racing	DEU	Dallara GP2
505	Walter Steding	Inter Europol Competition	DEU	Dallara GP2
555	Christian Eicke	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
666	Roy Glaser	Speed Center	SUI	Dallara GP2
888	Florian Schnitzenbaumer	Top Speed	DEU	Dallara GP2

Report: Race 1 Monza

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Monza got to see a lot of BOSS GP action: Ingo Gerstl in his Toro Rosso and Phil Stratford in the Benetton had a long duel for victory. And the FORMULA was not only hot because of the temperatures, the winner was an Italian: Marco Ghiotto.

The start was spectacular, sometimes four cars were racing side by side. Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition), Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) and Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing) got the best start from the rear. The first neutralization (yellow flags and no overtaking on the full course) was provided by David Moretti (Griffith’s), who got stuck after only one lap on one of the yellow speed bumps off the course.

At the restart, there were duels for the lead in the OPEN and FORMULA classes. Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was unusually behind Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) during the first laps. The US-American in the Benetton collected his first leadership kilometers this year. But halfway through the race he could no longer resist. The Austrian Gerstl speeded up and overtook Stratford on the long start-finish straight, just before braking into the first chicane. Gerstl finished the race about one second ahead of Stratford.

f.l. Phil Stratford and Phil Stratford; Marco Ghiotto and Andreas Fiedler

Marco Ghiotto, who started as third (and first of the FORMULA class) lost the lead after the restart briefly to Andreas Fiedler (Fiedler Racing), who had reacted earlier to the Green Flags. Fiedler couldn’t stay in front of Ghiotto. During his overtaking manoeuvre Fiedler had to avoid the run-out zone, but second place in the FORMULA classification means another podium place for the German. Ghiotto (in the ex-car of Charles Leclerc) sensationally won his class at his comeback after three years of racing abstinence.

There almost was an Italian double victory at the home race. Armando Mangini (MM International) started into the 20-minute race from 6th place. In the initial phase, Mangini lost a few places, but gradually moved up to second place in the FORMULA. However, a spin ended his race prematurely. Behind Ghiotto were Andreas Fiedler and Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed), who finished a session for the first time this weekend without any major incidents.

Shortly before the end, Full Course Yellow was proclaimed once again when Walter Steding sunk his good position in the gravel bed of the Lesmo curves. The placings did not change afterwards:

OPEN:

Ingo GERSTL (AUT) Toro Rosso STR1 Cosworth 12 Laps
Phil Stratford (USA) Benetton F1 B197 Judd + 1.029 sec

Fastest lap: Ingo GERSTL – 1:34.891 min

FORMULA:

Marco GHIOTTO (ITA) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome 12 Laps
Andreas FIEDLER (DEU) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 1.337 sec
Florian SCHNITZENBAUMER (DEU) Dallara GP2 Mecachrome + 3.327 sec

Fastest lap: Marco GHIOTTO – 1:38.677 min

f.l. Veronica Cicha and Christian Eicke; Wolfgang Jordan

The first of two races started under hot conditions. The program had been postponed due to various events in the other races. Shortly before the race the starting grid changed once again when the race commissioners pronounced three grid penalties: Florian Schnitzenbaumer, Karl Heinz Becker and Wolfgang Jordan were moved back five places in the starting grid for driving too fast in the pit lane or crossing the white line at the end of the pit lane.

Even before the start Rinus van Kalmthout (Mansell Motorsport) withdrew. On the way to the pre-start, his Dallara-Judd stopped after a few hundred meters. This means that the 17-year-old Dutchman, who travels full-time in the US Pro Mazda Series, was already out before the start.

Not much better was Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing), who tried to start from the pits with the Super Aguri F1 car, but once again did not come to the hoped-for race. Also his companion Veronica Cicha (H&A Racing) had to return to the pits after only two laps – also the Czech could not resume the race.

Race two starts tomorrow at 11:30. A live stream is available at www.youtube.com/channel/UCvGyIwwZJAmA7AjO9DEQt6Q

Quotes after the race:
Ingo Gerstl: “It was nice to ride next to Phil (Stratford, note). In the fast Parabolica corner I had a nervous car towards the end of the race, the rear slipped quite a bit. Too bad Wolfgang Jaksch didn’t start.”

Marco Ghiotto: “I thought I could ride in the front. But it was the first time I’d driven in three years. For family reasons, I had to take such a long break. This car is a really good car. The restarts weren’t fair, the cars behind me in Full Course Yellow came to close.”

Photos: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

BOSS GP Livestream: Race Guide Monza

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Up to date with BOSS GP from Italy:

Livestream on YouTube

Livetiming from Eni Monza Circuit

Results Monza 2018

Breaking News on Twitter @bossgp2010

Sector times and starting grids

BOSS GP standings 2018

Gallery of pictures from race weekend

Monza Peroni Race Weekend 2018

Die besten Fotos und Videos auf Instagram @bossgp2010

Timetable: BOSS GP at Peroni Race Festival

Friday, 29 July 2018

10:40–11:10: Free Practice 1
16:15–16:45: Free Practice 2

Saturday, 30 June 2018

10:35–11:05: Qualifying
16:40–17:00: Race 1

Sunday, 1 July 2018

11:30–11:55: Race 2

Report: Free Practice Monza

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

Ingo Gerstl (Top Speed) was in front at the first probing of the track. Red flags interrupted the two training sessions on Friday several times.

f.l. Armando Mangini, Rinus van Kalmthout, Wolfgang Jaksch, David Moretti, Wolfgang Jordan

OPEN
Ingo Gerstl set the best time of today in the second of the two practice sessions, with 1:28.5 min the reigning champion easily undercut the 1:30 mark. In the second free practice session Gerstl had only completed three laps, but he was once again the quickest – so the Top Speed driver will be the favourite for tomorrow’s qualifying (10:35 a.m.).

After the gearbox damage and early departure from the Red Bull Ring, Phil Stratford (Penn Elcom Racing) is back in BOSS GP. The American set the second fastest time twice with his Benetton Formula 1. In the first practice he stranded in Lesmo 1, a right turn in the middle section of the track, in the gravel bed and had to be towed away.

Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing) was able to complete many laps, at least in the first practice session. After the Super Aguri was made fit again after Hockenheim, every kilometre was important for the German. In the second practice he spun into the safety barrier at the exit of the second chicane – whether for technical reasons or a driving error has not yet been clarified.

Hans Laub (Speed Center) last-minutely choose his 1996 Formula 1 instead of a World Series car: The green and white Forti is one of the favourites of the fans.

Rinus van Kalmthout in the tuned GP2 with a V8 Judd engine was on the road without a transponder, so there are no times yet for the young Dutchman.

f.l. Florian Schnitzenbaumer, “Piter”, David Moretti

FORMULA
With 1:38,490 min Marco Ghiotto has positioned himself as the fastest FORMULA pilot at his first BOSS GP start in 2018. The Italian will be fourth overall on this training day and qualified for Q1 tomorrow. With him, a second Italian qualified for the first Qualifying: Armando Mangini from MM International.

By two tenths of a second Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed) missed Q1. The German leader of the standings had slips in both training sessions, and is only ranked 6th overall on the timesheet. David Moretti, who was also be at a high level with 1:41 min, can be a dark horse tomorrow. The Italian lost more training time in the second practice session, the Lotus-coloured Dallara slipped off the track. Andreas Fiedler, Walter Steding, Christian Eicke and Wolfgang Jordan came through the training inconspicuously. The oldest participant in the field, Karl-Heinz Becker, was also in midfield. Thomas Jakoubek, Veronica Cicha and Monza newcomer “Piter” joined the ranks.

The qualifying will start tomorrow at 10:35 a.m. and is divided into two groups. The first five of today’s training day may go to the race track in the first 10 minutes, after that the remaining 12 drivers.

Pictures: Michael Kavena/BOSS GP

Highlight clips: Hockenheim & Spielberg

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

The best scenes from our 2018 races in Germany and Austria are available on our YouTube channel @bossgpofficial.

1st event: Hockenheim Historic

Video: 7 Berge Filmwerkstatt

2nd event: Rundstreckentrophy Spielberg

Video: 7 Berge Filmwerkstatt

Video: WeraceTV

Report: Race 2 Hockenheim

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Keke Platzer - General

At almost 30 degrees Celsius hot duels at the Hockenheimring were obligatory: Gerstl wins the OPEN class confidently, Schnitzenbaumer the FORMULA class.

The chronology of the race:

Preliminary start: 13 drivers and two female drivers entered the second race of the weekend, which demanded everything from both the drivers and the Pirelli tyres. The Austrian Thomas Jakoubek (Top Speed) did not participate like yesterday, Salvatore de Plano had to stay in hospital overnight after his crash in race one. The Italian had injured his back, but is on the road to recovery. Bernd Herndlhofer (H&A) and Wolfgang Jaksch (F Xtreme Racing Team) had already retired before qualifying, so there were only two starters left in the top class.

Start: From the start Ingo Gerstl set the pace. 1:25.5 min at the beginning of the race proved that there is nothing to win here for Phil Stratford in his Benetton. Gerstl said after the race: “I wanted to show at the beginning what I could do.” They stayed within a six-second margin for the whole race, at the end Gerstl crossed the finish line three seconds ahead. Stratford was pleased with Gerstl’s pace: “I’m happy to follow and feel the air turbulences, the aerodynamics, when I can drive so close to Ingo’s Toro Rosso”.

Lap 1: John Reaks had to brake across the grass, but the Briton could continue and finish last, four laps behind the leaders.

Florian Schnitzenbaumer (Top Speed), yesterday’s FORMULA winner, had less work today. His equal opponent de Plano was missing, so the German set the pace in the smaller class. Armando Mangini was able to keep up with Schnitzenbaumer’s speed for a while, driving 1:21 times – the Italian did not have the consistency of the German, even though Schnitzenbaumer’s shoulder hurt: “In the middle of the race I felt uncomfortable due an old operation”.

Manfred Loach wanted to bring a good result home today after retiring early yesterday due to an increased oil temperature. After a bad start the Austrian fought his way forward place by place.

Lap 2: “Piter” in the white Dallara from the World Series had to fight with the same difficulties as yesterday. Twice he stopped after the slowest part of the course, accelerating out of the hairpin – twice he was able to continue. But after four laps he drove into the pits.

The man of the race was German Andreas Fiedler in GP2, who started from 10th place and passed FORMULA driver Bianca Steiner, who had previously finished third, who was targeting on a podium as she did yesterday. A self-error led to a spin in the first race, today she made no mistakes and finished 4th in the FORMULA. “We had too much tyre pressure. At the end of the race I come closer again on Andreas. One more lap, maybe then …” Fiedler thus reached his first podium. The German with the GP2-Dallara machine became third FORMULA driver behind Schnitzenbaumer and Mangini.

Lap 6: Veronika Cicha got stuck in fourth gear, on the approach to the hairpin with almost 200 km/h. She touched the tyre bundles with her nose, but was not injured.

Lap 7: Shortly afterwards Peter Göllner parked his car in turn 2-3. The marshals worked quickly, so the safety car was able to stay in the pits today.

Last lap: Loach bets 8th in the fight to attack Walter Steding (Inter Europol Competition) and spun. It was the last retirement of the race. Karl-Heinz Becker finished seventh and the almost 75-year-old achieved a sensational result.

The results of the second race of BOSS GP 2018:

OPEN

Gerstl
Stratford

FORMULA

Schnitzenbaumer
Mangini
Fiedler
Steiner
Becker
Steding
Eicke
Kindler
Loach
Reaks