Author: therebelyell

Posted on by

Ferrari Challenge Europe, new challenge in Estoril

After an extraordinary experience at Le Mans, as a support race for the Centenary edition of the iconic 24 Hours, the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli Europe is back on the track this weekend for the fifth round. The Estoril Circuit will host the 488 Challenge Evo and the drivers are ready to start the most competitive and decisive phase of the season.

Pirelli Trophy
Given the announced absence of Hungarian Bence Valint (Rossocorsa – Ferrari Budapest), third overall, it will be up to Thomas Fleming (HR Owen – FF Corse) and Max Mugelli (CDP – Eureka Competition) to try to halt the rapid progress of Eliseo Donno (Radicci Automobili ) on his way to the 2023 title. The man from Salento leads the table with 100 points after four wins and two second places, plus the fast laps and pole positions that have made him the undisputed leader of the main category. Behind him, Fleming is 33 points behind in second, while Mugelli is fourth, 40 points ahead.

Pirelli Am Trophy
In the Trofeo Pirelli Am, despite leaving the La Sarthe circuit empty-handed,
Franz Engstler (Charles Pozzi GT Racing) remains firmly at the front, with 26 points more than Hanno Laskowski (Emil Frey Sportivo). The other candidates in the category are further behind, but are still determined to succeed and score important points, starting with David Gostner (CDP – MP Racing), second in Le Mans, and Nicolò Rosi (Kessel Racing), who missed France in the last month.

Coppa Shell
After the prestigious victory in the last round, Manuela Gostner (CDP – MP Racing) will try to keep the fight for the title alive. Axel Sartingen (Lueg Sportivo – Herter Racing) is the clear favorite with a total of 97 points, 33 more than the Italian after three wins, two second places and a third. Meanwhile, there is a fierce fight for the remaining positions in the classification, with veteran Fons Scheltema (Kessel Racing) in third. He will have to defend himself from the attacks of Alexander Nussbaumer (Gohm – Scuderia GT), in fifth and 10 points away, who is ready to take advantage of the absence of Willem van der Vorm (Scuderia Monte-Carlo). The Estoril round of the Ferrari Challenge will see the return of Thomas Löfflad (Gohm – Baron Motorsport), who has five seasons in the Cavalinho Rampante single-brand competition and the 2016 class title.

Martinus Richter (MERTEL Motorsport), currently second in the standings behind leader Kirk Baerwaldt (Kessel Racing), will not take part in the Coppa Shell Am in Estoril. After victories at Misano, Spielberg and Le Mans, Baerwaldt will look to increase his lead and take advantage of his closest rival’s absence. However, the Singaporean driver will face strong opposition, in particular from Motohiko Isozaki (Cornes Motors Shiba), who is coming off two unlucky races, Henrik Kamstrup (Formula Racing), who took an excellent second place in France, Tommy Lindroth (Baron Motorsport) , who has been improving his performance, and Stefano Marazzi (Rossocorsa), fourth in Le Mans.

Program
As part of the Ferrari Racing Days, after the free practice sessions, the Ferrari Challenge Europe sees the first Qualifying sessions take place on Saturday, with the Coppa Shell Am on the track at 09:00 and the Coppa Shell at 09:30. The green light for Race 1 comes on at 2:20 pm. The Trofeo Pirelli has Qualifying at 11:40 am, with the first race at 5:25 pm. On Sunday, Qualifying for the 16th Coppa Shell is scheduled for 9:00 am and the Coppa Sell Am for 9:30 am, with Race 2 again at 2:20 pm. After Qualifying at 11:40 am, the Trofeo Pirelli starts at 3:30 pm. All in local time.
Qualifying and Races are broadcast live, free of charge, with commentary in English on live.ferrari.com and on the Ferrari YouTube channel.

Posted on by

C1 Eurocup 2023 has started in Estoril Circuito

A memorable day of action against the clock marked the debut of the C1 Eurocup 2023 in Portugal, with the 3H+3H of Estoril. The iconic competition organized by Motor Sponsor and which brings together the exciting and irreverent C1 on the track, brought together, last weekend, a fabulous squad of 50 drivers at the Estoril Circuit to compete for victory in the PRO (10) and AM (6) classes.

An edition marked by races of extreme competitiveness and balance and by the fabulous atmosphere enjoyed among the entire trophy entourage, on and off the track, in a day in which the C1 Eurocup debuted the new Hospitality area, an absolute novelty in the competition created for the races national events with the aim of providing greater comfort and convenience to all participants, who now enjoy a space for rest and socializing with permanent soft catering available throughout all events held on Portuguese soil.

On the track, the action began with the timed training sessions held on Saturday morning, which reserved 1H on the clock for all competitors. A session that saw Central Mensageiro 88 record the best mark in PRO, on a weekend in which the team made its debut in the class. A feat equaled in AM by G’s Competizione, which presented itself with a new line-up of drivers.

The first of two 3H races was reserved for the afternoon, in a highly demanding event for the participants, with victory being awarded through the sum of the results of the Saturday and Sunday races, respectively.

Race 1 highlighted the fantastic balance that exists in the trophy, with the proximity of paces resulting in total unpredictability regarding the winner. A race in which in the PRO class the C1s of Central Mensageiro 88, Qualytent – Gianfranco Motorsport, Tzi Designs Racing Team and T3 Racing took the lead, staging a fabulous fight in the discussion for first place, being placed at the front after more than two hours of race. A memorable duel that would end up smiling at T3 Racing, followed by Central Mensageiro 88 and WallUp WoodLab, which would end up ascending to the top places in the final phase of the race. A race with equal balance in the middle of the field, where Team NB Klima and Monteiros Competições stood out, along with the Lumio Studios and Paint & Go structures. The Torres Racing Team ended up prematurely ending its participation in this journey, upon seeing the engine of your C1 giving way.

In AM it would be G’s Competizione to cross the target first, however, the team would end up having an inglorious outcome, with their C1 not passing the weigh-in control. This time, the first place went to Slow Motion, with OF Motorsport in second and Gianfranco Motorsport in third. A day that would end with technical checks on a total of 6 C1s. A control measure taken by the C1 Eurocup organization always with the aim of ensuring sporting rigor and truth, maxims by which the trophy is governed from the first hour. In the end, all C1s fully respected the technical regulations of the competition.

The Estoril 3H+3H decision was thus reserved for Sunday, with the decisive 3H on the clock of race 2. An event in which T3 Racing and Lumio Studios provided a good duel in the fight for victory, which was joined by Central Mensageiro 88 and Qualytent – Gianfranco Motorsport, which ran in first place. A race in which Central Mensageiro 88 would cross the finish line in front, followed by WallUp WoodLab and T3 Racing.

In the AM class, G’s Competizione, which ran in second place in the joint classification, would once again show the great progress demonstrated throughout the event, finishing race 2 in first place, with Slow Motion and Of Motorsport second and third, respectively.

According to the sum of the results of races 1 and 2, the victory in the PRO class in the 3H+3H of Estoril would be signed by Central Mensageiro 88, by João Silvestre, João Simões, Rui Simões and Pedro Alface, a team that would also win the class PRO-45. A triumph in which the Central Mensageiro 88 drivers highlighted: “It was our first weekend competing in PRO, our first pole position in the class and our first victory. Thank you very much to Central Mensageiro, on behalf of Paulo Leão, for everything. It was a spectacular weekend.”

In second place in the PRO was WallUp WoodLab, by Jorge Passanha, Pedro Antunes and Gonçalo Gaivão, a structure that also won the PRO +45. Third position in the PRO class was achieved by T3 Racing, owned by Pedro Alves, Francisco Araújo, Filipe Ferreira, first classified in PRO -30.

In the AM class, the triumph in the 3H+3H at Estoril was achieved by Slow Motion, by Eduardo Rodrigues and Tiago Amorim, a structure that also won the AM +45. In the end, Tiago Amorim said: “It was a very tough weekend, the car was slow, but we managed to have a good strategy.

 

Posted on by

Perfection and photo finishes in Estoril

The FIM JuniorGP™ World Championship started in Estoril and… it didn’t disappoint.

The FIM JuniorGP™ Finetwork Championship kicked off in style this weekend at the historic Estoril Circuit. With six races on Sunday, several drivers reached the top of the podium, with Nico Carraro (Aspar Junior Team) claiming honors in JuniorGP™ and Daniel Muñoz (SP57 Racing Team) winning in the new era of the European Championship of Stock. Two other names were perfect in Portugal: Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Brian Uriarte (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) did the double in the Moto2™ European Championship and the European Talent Cup by winning both races. both categories.

There’s something about Estoril and photo finishes, and Sunday’s JuniorGP™ race was no exception. The exciting race was halted due to a red flag, with the impressive Carraro beating Angel Piqueras (Team Estrella Galicia 0.0) over the finish line by a mere 0.002s. Alvaro Carpe (STV Laglisse Racing) crossed the line in third, but was disqualified for not respecting the weight imposed by the regulations. As a result, Jakob Rosenthaler (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Racing Team Intact GP Junior Team) was promoted to the bottom of the podium.

In the Moto2™ European Championship the story was different, with the favorite for the 2023 title proving to live up to expectations. All eyes were on Senna Agius, who started from pole position for Race 1 and won without any problems. After a perfect start, the 17-year-old Australian repeated the feat again due to a Red Flag presented following the crash of Martin Vugrinec (Fifty Motorsport) – driver ok. Undeterred, Agius returned to the attack after the second start to win by seven seconds over Carlos Tatay (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) and compatriot Harrison Voight (Yamaha Philippines Stylobike Racing Team) – both newcomers to the class.

Despite having celebrated the podium together in Race 1, in the afternoon the panorama was different due to the accident between Voight and Taty in Race 2, when they were riding in podium positions. In the end, the Australian pointed the finger at number 99. The incident did not bother Agius, who rode alone towards his second victory of the day and, thus, claimed the maximum 50 points in the game in Estoril. However, the margin of victory was not as emphatic as the first time. Still, he finished with more than four seconds of advantage over Xavi Cardelus (Promoracing), with the Andorra driver opening the count, as did Niccolo Antonelli (MMR), who was third.

The European Talent Cup was the first category on the track and they livened up the day with a fantastic race. Brian Uriarte, Rico Salmela (Team Estrella Galicia 0,0) and Hakim Danish (Monlau Motul) isolated themselves at the front and began the exciting 15-lap battle. The victory was only decided at the finish line, with the three being separated by just 0.054s, with Uriate in first, ahead of Salmela and Danish.

As in Moto2™, the ETC only had one winner, with Uriarte also coming out on top in an even more competitive Race 2. The young Spaniard beat 2021 ETC Champion Maximo Quiles over the finish line by just 0.006s. Quiles, who was fourth in Race 1 after starting at the back of the grid and doing a Long Lap, must have been less than happy with the result, but still achieved P2, while David Gonzalez (Cuna de Campeones) made his debut on the podium .

To close the day, the Stocks took to the track, now entitled to a separate race from the Moto2™. Dani Muñoz made history by becoming the first winner of the category. A triumph that was offered to him on a platter when pole man Eric Fernandez (FAU55 TEY Racing) crashed after just three laps. This gave Muñoz enough room to breathe in P1, while Marco Garcia (EasyRace Team) and Alex Millan (Fifty Motorsport) fought for second place. In the end, it was Garcia who came out on top, while Millan started his campaign with a third place.