Ferrari Challenge Europe – Nielsen, Froggatt, Kirchmayr and Nussbaumer win at Brno

Posted: 22.07.2018
Source: Ferrari

Brno, 22 July 2018 – The second races of the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe were held at Brno, in an atmosphere marked by the sad news about Sergio Marchionne’s health. Nicklas Nielsen and Chris Froggatt notched up further wins in the Trofeo Pirelli and Trofeo Pirelli Am, while Ernst Kirchmayr and Saturday’s winner Alexander Nussbaumer emerged victorious in the Coppa Shell.

Trofeo Pirelli. Nicklas Nielsen, in the 488 Challenge of Formula Racing, made a perfect start for the second consecutive day, thus cushioning himself from the attacks of Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126). However, the race was soon over for rookie Sean Hudspeth (Formula Racing) and Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa-Pellin Racing) who came into contact in one of the very first corners. Jens Liebhauser took advantage, with a second successive podium finish presented to him on a platter.

Pirelli Am. The first lap claimed another two victims, with John Dhillon and local hero Jan Danis coming into contact and putting themselves out of the running. Ahead Chris Froggatt (Ferrari GB – HR Owen) quickly pulled away leaving Robert Pergl (Scuderia Praha) and Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126) to fight for second. It was Pergl who came out on top in the end. Froggatt is now a whisker away from the title. Before the race Olivier Beretta and the Scuderia Ferrari mechanics brought the allure of Formula 1 to fans in the Czech Republic with scorching accelerations, fast pit stops and the famous celebratory “donuts”.

Coppa Shell. The heavens then opened over the Coppa Shell race at 3.30 pm. Race officials had to bring out the Safety Car and some teams worked too long on the cars so a number of drivers suffered a 25-second penalty. Ernst Kirchmayr was the day’s big star in the 488 Challenge of Baron Motorsport. The Austrian caught and overtook championship leader Eric Cheung (Formula Racing) and Ineco-MP Racing’s Manuela Gostner and Erich Prinoth, who both were then penalised. In the end Kirchmayr finished first, ahead of Cheung, who further stretched his lead in the standings, with wet weather specialist Vladimir Hladik taking the third step of the podium

Shell Am. Formula Racing’s Alexander Nussbaumer pulled off another masterful race in the Coppa Shell Am class. The Austrian driver managed the car in the early stages and then launched an attack in the final part catching Agata Smolka (Rossocorsa) for the win. Third place went to local hero Dusan Palcr (Scuderia Praha), while championship contenders Ingvar Mattsson (Scuderia Autoropa) and Murat Cuhadaroglu (Kessel Racing) were placed fourth and fifth.

 

Ferrari Challenge Europe – Glory in Brno for Nielsen, Froggatt, Hurni and Nussbaumer

Posted: 21.07.2018
Source: Ferrari

Brno, 21 July 2018 – Ferrari 488 Challenge drivers Nicklas Nielsen, Chris Froggatt, Christophe Hurni and Alexander Nussbaumer won the first races of the Brno round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe 2018.

Trofeo Pirelli. The day opened with the Trofeo Pirelli, which saw a breakaway at the start by Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen in pole, who took advantage of the duel between rookie Sean Hudpseth (Formula Racing) and Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126). Towards mid-race the German driver received a penalty for jumping the start and this opened the way to a Formula Racing clean sweep with podium places for Nielsen, Hudspeth and Jens Liebhauser. Grossmann had to settle for fourth ahead of Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa-Pellin Racing).

Pirelli Am. Scuderia Praha’s Jan Danis was one of the drivers penalised for jumping the start. The Czech had done really well to use pole position to pull away from his rivals. However, the drive-through relegated him to the back of the field from where he executed an exciting comeback to secure second place after overtaking Martin Nelson (Scuderia Autoropa) and Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126).Chris Froggatt won the race, it was the fifth of the season for the Ferrari GB – HR Owen driver.

Coppa Shell. The Coppa Shell race was decided at the start when Christophe Hurni, in the 488 Challenge of Team Zenith Sion-Lausanne, overtook polewoman Manuela Gostner (Ineco-MP Racing) at the first curve. On the second row, her sister Corinna jumped the start and incurred a drive-through penalty. Shortly after, Erich Prinoth overtook Eric Cheung (Formula Racing) to take third. Manuela Gostner kept Hurni under pressure throughout but the Swiss made no mistakes and crossed the finish line with a lead of just under one second. This is Hurni’s second win of 2018, while Gostner is celebrating her second runner-up spot. Prinoth is back on the podium after missing out at Silverstone. Cheung, in fourth, still tops the standings.

Shell Am. In the Coppa Shell Am, Alexander Nussbaumer was the author of a perfect race: starting from pole, the Formula Racing driver took an immediate lead over his rivals, leaving second place to Murat Cuhadaroglu (Kessel Racing). Ingvar Mattsson (Scuderia Autoropa), who entered the weekend leading the championship, made a thrilling late comeback. On the last lap, Dusan Palcr, who had just been overtaken by Mattsson, tried to recover his podium position but hit the Swedish driver’s car and spun out. However, Mattsson resumed immediately to notch up yet another podium in 2018. It’s the same again tomorrow with races at 12.50 pm and 3.35 pm.

 

Ferrari Challenge Europe – The 488 Challenge debuts in Brno

Posted: 20.07.2018
Source: Ferrari

Brno, 20 July 2018 – The Brno weekend of the Ferrari Challenge Europe, the fifth round of the 2018 championship, has come to life with statements from some of the competitors in the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell.

Cheung: “Fascinating to race in the forest”. Eric Cheung, Coppa Shell leader in the Ferrari 488 Challenge of Formula Racing, has won three of the last four races but says there is no special secret to his success: “Of course the coach has helped me, but I think I always followed the same routine. It’s a fact that things are going well, however”. Then talking about the Brno race: “I competed here six years ago and it is always very special. The track is demanding, with many ups and downs and curves. In addition, you are immersed in the green, almost like racing in the forest.

Mattsson: “I have my good luck”. It was then the turn of leader of the Coppa Shell Am leader, the Swede of Scuderia Autoropa, Ingvar Mattsson, who has enjoyed a great season so far, picking up three wins plus podiums in all the other races: “I have to admit that everything is really going as well as possible. I have won three races, I also had a bit of luck and I have always been on the podium”. The battle with his Kessel Racing rival, Murat Cuhadaroglu, is very open with only two points separating the two in the standings. Mattsson, however, is confident: “I believe that I will win, also because of my good luck…”.

Hladik: “Le Mans, unforgettable victory”. Making his debut on the Brno track, local driver Vladimir Hladik, of Baron Service, said he expected a good race: “The track here is beautiful and I think I can do well” He added that lately he hasn’t always agreed with the decisions of the race officials, but he’s ready to do his best. With his three career victories in the Ferrari Challenge, he doesn’t doubt himself on this beautiful track: “I think the win at Le Mans is unforgettable: there is so little time to learn the track that it is really difficult not to make mistakes. In 2016, I competed in the best race of my life on that legendary track”.

 

Ferrari Challenge Europe – Trofeo Pirelli, the stars and local idols talk

Posted: 19.07.2018
Source: Ferrari

Brno, 20 July 2018 – The two Pirelli Trofeo championship leaders and two local idols took part in a videoconference at the Brno circuit, where the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe is set to go.

Nielsen. Ready for a great finale to the season. Trofeo Pirelli leader, Nicklas Nielsen, has certainly not been bored since the Misano race as he has been involved in a series of kart tests at Le Castellet ahead of the European championship. “I don’t know the circuit, but I had the chance to do the tests on Wednesday which, with Friday’s free practice, I think is more than enough”. The fight for the title with Bjorn Grossmann requires total commitment: “He’s one of the fastest drivers, but he’s not the only one as David Fumanelli has also done very well this season”. However, he’s confident that together with the team he can do a great job and try to take the title home.

Froggatt: “Ready to win again”.  Chris Froggatt is leading the Trofeo Pirelli Am after a superb start to the season, although in recent races Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126) has given the Ferrari GB – HR Owen driver some trouble: “I have to admit that she did a great job in recent races, but I think I’m ready to return to winning ways”. Recently Chris, spotted in the Ferrari’s pits at the Le Mans 24 Hours, also made his debut at the wheel of an F1 Clienti Ferrari on the Fiorano track: “It was a great thrill. As for my presence at Le Mans, I have to say that I am becoming a real fan of that world and it could be interesting to try out GT3 cars and Endurance racing. All this after I have secured this championship though!”

Danis: “Ready to do well on a friendly track”. Jan Danis, the Scuderia Praha driver who won one of the two races at Mugello, returns to the track after missing a number of outings: “This is effectively my home track, even if I am Slovak, so I will have a chance to race in front of my family and friends”.

Pergl: “On my return, I want to have fun”.  Robert Pergl is back in the Ferrari Challenge after three years out, so he is making his debut in the new 488 Challenge: “My aim is to have fun and of course… not to finish last! I made my debut in the Ferrari Challenge 20 years ago and now I am at the wheel of the 488 Challenge. The new car is exceptionally powerful, and perhaps this is why Brno is not the best track to bring out its qualities”. He would like to try it at Monza.

 

Ferrari Challenge Europe – The 488 Challenge debuts in Brno

Posted: 19.07.2018
Source: Ferrari

Brno, 19 July 2018 – The Ferrari Challenge Europe is all set for its fifth round of the season this weekend, returning to the Czech Republic for the first time since 2014. The new 488 Challenge thus makes its debut on one of Europe’s most beautiful and challenging tracks, with its varying gradients, curves and two thrilling accelerations. Three of the four categories are still up for grabs, but this weekend could be key for a number of competitors. For some of them the goal will be to try to wrap things up in Barcelona in September, so they can just focus on winning the world title in the Finali Mondiali at Monza in November.

Trofeo Pirelli. In the Trofeo Pirelli the fight for first place is between the young Nicklas Nielsen, five-time winner this season with the 488 Challenge of Formula Racing, and the experienced Bjorn Grossmann (Octane 126), with two victories in 2018. The German driver previously raced in Brno in 2014 and could make his experience count on such a complex track. Grossman has competed in 141 races and collected 40 wins. The Dane currently leads by 19 points. Third place sees another point-to-point duel, this time between Jens Liebhauser (Formula Racing) on 63 points and Alessandro Vezzoni (Rossocorsa-Pellin Racing) on 60. In the Trofeo Pirelli, Singaporean Sean Hudspeth (Formula Racing) is making his debut at Brno.

Trofeo Pirelli Am. The Am class of the Trofeo Pirelli is the clearest in terms of the standings. Chris Froggatt (Ferrari GB – HR Owen) leads with 144 points against Fabienne Wohlwend (Octane 126) on 87. The British driver can afford to race conservatively, while the woman from Liechtenstein can only attack and indeed has won the last three races. Froggatt’s teammate, John Sawbridge, is just six points behind her. This class also sees the return of Robert Pergl, absent from the series since 2015.

Coppa Shell. The situation is very open in the Coppa Shell where there are three drivers separated by just 16.5 points. Eric Cheung of Formula Racing leads the group, having won three of the last four races. His closest pursuer is Erich Prinoth (Ineco-MP Racing) who, after the one-two in Round 1 at Mugello, has had a few ups and downs with just one podium position, at Silverstone. Swiss driver Christophe Hurni (Team Zenith Sion-Lausanne) is in third, after a win at Silverstone and numerous podiums.

Coppa Shell Am. Just two points separate the two stars of the Coppa Shell Am, Ingvar Mattsson (Scuderia Autoropa) and Murat Cuhadaroglu (Kessel Racing) on 111 and 109 respectively. The Swede has three wins and three podiums under his belt, while the Turk has matched him aside from the zero points in Race 2 at Silverstone. As usual, the races will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 12.50 pm (Trofeo Pirelli) and 3.35 pm (Coppa Shell).

 

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