the worlds best young drivers fighting for a place in Formula 1

The insider
round 11 italy, 6-9 september 2012
gallery Evans calado The blog supplier to gp2/gp3

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Italian joy as Valsecchi takes huge stride towards GP2 title read more

mighty mitch: Evans takes title in thrilling showdown

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Valsecchis Sprint race win makes him the title favourite

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Gp3

Q+A: davide valsecchi

Congratulations on a fine win, a great way to get your title challenge back on track... It was wonderful! The start was really important, and we got the lead. I have to say thanks to the team, my engineers and mechanics, because I havent had any reliability problems this season. This weekend we raced really well, we showed that we deserved to gain the lead in the championship. Maybe we deserve it at the end of Singapore, but Im looking forward to going there and fighting for the top position with all the other drivers! You had great pace today, and only had Leimer with you... were you worried about him at all? The pace today was 10 times better than yesterday, and I cant explain why! I was disappointed yesterday that I was gaining the leadership of the championship, but I didnt race well. Our pace in the first few laps was not so competitive, so I dropped to sixth and was not happy! But today we were one of the quickest; maybe Leimer was a bit quicker at

the blog // by the water cooler

No one likes to be confused for other people, but it must be particularly galling for a race driver, especially one trying to make a name for himself in the F1 paddock. Fabio Leimer thought his moment had come when he was walking into the paddock this morning and a TV cameraman saw him, and started to follow the Racing Engineering driver. He seemed to be enjoying Dillmann denied the attention too... right up until Valsecchi a fourth win the moment the crowd started chanting Kimi! Kimi! We love you! at him...

the start of the race, but at the end we were better. If Leimer had taken the lead at the beginning then he may have won, but in the end I got a good victory. It was important to show that we are a real contender for the championship. To beat us, they will need to make a really big effort. So, its 25 points between you and Luiz now... how important is that going into the final round? I dont know! [laughs]. Its important, because Im leading now, and Im positive, because my car is fast. I will go to Singapore, a wonderful place that I have never been to before, and it is a street circuit, where usually Im strong. So right now I am fine, and I hope to be fine also at the end of the weekend there.

An amazing weekend for the Italian in front of his home crowd. Victory in the Sprint race helped launch him into a crucial lead in the standings... the championship is now his to lose.

Davide valsecchi

DRIVER STANDINGS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davide Valsecchi Luiz Razia James Calado Esteban Gutirrez Max Chilton Fabio Leimer Marcus Ericsson Johnny Cecotto Felipe Nasr Jolyon Palmer 229 204 160 152 144 127 106 104 85 78

racecard // italy
italy // feature race: luca filippi // sprint race: Davide valsecchi
There was something of an inevitability about round 11 of the 2012 GP2 Series. Even for a hopeless motor racing romantic, it was all just too perfect. The theatre of speed, of racing dreams Monza. The heart of Italian racing heritage, and at the middle of its 2012 story, two Italian racers who wear their hearts on their sleeves. They just had to win didnt they? Luca Filippi returned for his home race, and after qualifying third on the grid, the story was ready to be written. And so it was, just as it was always scripted, that Luca Filippi should rise above his rivals to take the most incredible victory against the odds at home, beating Johnny Cecotto and Marcus Ericsson. But of course, Filippis incredible and emotional return was a victorious subplot to the bigger issue the championship. It was a story which took an early spin, as Luiz Razia retired from the race after contact with Fabio Leimer. The Brazilian would be found guilty of causing the accident and handed a grid penalty, thus ruining any chance of a good result. His main rival Davide Valsecchi meanwhile turned in a sixth place finish to line up on the second row of the grid for Sunday. Just as his countryman had blasted through to victory on Saturday, so Valsecchi dominated proceedings on Sunday to take a hugely emotional win at home, his second in GP2 at Monza. Leimer battled well to take second

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valsecchi back on top in title race

place, with Jolyon Palmer third, making it a good weekend for iSport. However, it was one to forget for Lotus, as the team scored just two points for Esteban Gutirrezs ninth place finish on Saturday. Valsecchi now leads the championship by 25 points heading into the final round in Singapore, making him the hot favorite to take the drivers championship in a fortnights time. Tighter still is the battle for the teams championship, with DAMS leading Lotus by two points with just one weekend remaining.

Giedo van der Garde 141

Hamilton was the class act in Monza, with Prez not far off

Sprint race

25
point lead for

italy // The stats

Two podiums in two days for each of their drivers was a positive result for the team. Impressive battling drives from both Marcus Ericsson and Jolyon Palmer.

iSport

The Swiss driver survived not one but two contacts on Saturday, and raced hard and fair all weekend to take a well-deserved brace of points.

Fabio Leimer

valsecchi
over rival luiz razia

Nathanal Berthon 59

FEATURE race

TEAM STANDINGS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DAMS Lotus GP 314 312 Arden International 208 Racing Engineering 186 iSport International 184 Carlin Caterham Racing 180 147

one-two for gp2 gRaduates

After a fantastic weekend of feeder series racing at Monza, it seemed only right that the two stand-out drivers of the Formula 1 main event should also be GP2 graduates. Lewis Hamilton, the 2006 GP2 Series champion, scorched to a famous win in front of the tifosi from pole position. The class act of the field over the weekend, the McLaren driver simply never looked like he was going to be beaten. It was looking for all the world that Hamilton would be followed home by the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. However, that was before a clever strategic call by Sauber saw Sergio Prez take on the option tyre for the final stint and catch the cars ahead of him. At one point the Mexican had a 1.8 second per lap advantage over the scarlet cars. Checo dispatched first Massa and then Alonso to take second place and secure himself in the hearts of Ferraris fans as the man they want at the Scuderia in the immediate future. Nico Rosberg had a battling race to finish seventh after losing several positions in the opening laps. Kamui Kobayashi fought to ninth with Bruno Senna taking the final point in tenth place. Hamilton now trails Alonso by 37 points with seven rounds of the season remaining.

Two points for Esteban Gutierrez for his ninth place finish in the Feature race was all the team could take home from Italy. Not up to their usual high standards.

lotus gp

Filippi won his first race of the season

Lost the championship lead after his first DNF of the season. Has it all to do in Singapore, although a call up to test for Force India will have eased the pain of Monza.

luiz razia

Barwa Addax Team 131

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gallery // The insider view

pizza the action

james calado I wouldnt be here without...
lotus gp
GP2s traditional football tournament took place on Thursday in Monza, with seven teams gunning for glory: DAMS, iSport, Carlin, Trident, Coloni, GP2 staff and reigning champs, Lotus GP. It was the Italians who started best, with Trident and Coloni winning both their group matches; Carlin and iSport lost all theirs. The GP2 team scraped in with a draw, while Lotus breezed through, of course. The semi-finals saw Trident overcome their compatriots Coloni 2-0, in a game in which every refereeing decision was contested loudly. Lotus demolished GP2 3-0 in their semi-final. The final saw Lotus complete their rout of the opposition, beating Trident 3-0 to retain the trophy. As for DAMS? Bless them, they may be particularly bad at football, but they stayed until the end and bought everyone pizza and beer!

preview // singapore // marina bay // 21-23 september

Supersoft and soft (below) compounds for Monza

TRACK length // 5.793KM 2011 track temp // n/a 2011 race weather // n/a 2011 SPrINT RACE WINNER // n/a 2011 FEATURE RACE WINNER // n/a

...For a start, my Dad. He got me into karts when I was nine, and ran me under an awning from a bread van for a few years. I moved to do karts abroad with Tony Purnell and George Lendrum who helped me into Tony Kart, which was good. Then in 2007, I had no drive, but a godsend arrived in the form of Racing Steps Foundation. I remember being at Rockingham for a knockout to see who would get the funding. They chose me, and sent me the very next day to France for testing. Without the RSF I wouldnt be racing at all. Ive also got to mention Martin Hines, who is sadly no longer with us. He put my name forward for Racing Steps. My friends and family too, I couldnt have got this far without their support!

every GP2 race is like a home race!

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Clockwise from top: a home victory on his return to GP2, shouldnt Luca Filippi look a bit happier?; Max Chilton celebrates his second pole; being a cameraman on the podium has its hazards, as one finds out the hard way; GP2/GP3 CEO Bruno Michel congratulates newly-crowned GP3 champion Mitch Evans; another podium for Marcus Ericsson this weekend.

italy // The stats

1:33.237
BY fabio leimer
in the feature race

Fastest LAP of the WEEKEND

On 26 April 1985, work began on Project Bicocca. The old factory buildings were pulled down and a new cutting-edge research and development headquarters was created. A total of 20 architects from countries as far The GP2 round at Monza the temple of afield as Japan and the USA contributed to the speed was a truly Italian affair with two project, once more giving Pirelli a stunning Italian winners: Luca Filippi and Davide headquarters. It was in these high-tech Valsecchi. Pirellis home race is all the more surroundings, that Pirellis Formula One and special, as Monza is less than half an hours GP2 programmes were born in 2010. drive from the companys Milan headquarters. All the research and development for the Pirelli has been based in Milan since GP2 tyres takes place in Italy, but the tyres Giovanni Battista Pirelli founded the company themselves around 20,000 of them per year in 1872, but the Italian tyre makers head office are produced at Pirellis specialized facility moved to its present site, in the Bicocca district in Izmit, Turkey, and transported via Pirellis of the city in 1907. dedicated distribution hub at Didcot, England. The companys buildings were housed So while the heart and soul of Pirelli within the Pirelli Citadel off Viale Sarca, shaped will always be in Milan, it is today a truly like an ancient fortress, which can still be seen international company employing over today. By the end of the 1930s, the factory had 34,000 people and with a presence in more reached its peak in size, and by 1950 had over than 160 countries. 12,000 employees. It was a real village, which Of course were proud of our Italian even had its own railway line to transport heritage, and we were delighted to see Luca products between the warehouses. and Davide win at home, explained Pirellis In 1962, a fire destroyed a large proportion Racing Manager Mario Isola. But we treat of the factory, and with the onset of everybody absolutely equally and we have automation, new factories opened that a very international outlook. Just within our were more suited to modern production core team that travels to races, we have nine techniques. Throughout the 1970s and 80s nationalities who speak 14 languages between the original factory declined, so it was clear them! Its great news for us, as it means that that drastic action was needed. almost every race is a home race really

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GP3 to me:
Evans grabs title from abt
Italy // race 1 winner: daniel abt // race 2 winner: tio ellinas
Not even Hollywood would have bought a drama this improbable. Four drivers entering the final weekend with a shot at the title: the long-time leader Mitch Evans, Antonio Felix da Costa, Aaro Vainio and outsider Daniel Abt. An immediate penalty, no points. But Abt had won. All he had to do was win again When Evans took pole, the look of dejection on da Costas face spoke volumes. But Evans first race lasted just one lap. An early retirement, he sat in the pitlane dejected. The title was falling into Da Costas lap until, suddenly, his Carlin stuck in gear. He tumbled down the order, out of the points. Vainio ran home third, but had improved his final sector under yellow flags.

race 1

mw arden tomorrow comes today rewarded

MW Arden began its weekend in Monza as winners, even before Mitch Evans took their first title in eight seasons on Sunday. The team, for its exploits in GP2 and GP3, was awarded a special prize in Monza at the Confartigianato Motori in recognition of their outstanding 2012 performances. Also recognised, was local hero and gastronomic legend Christian Staurenghi (below). The head chef of GP2 and GP3 picked up a special award for his work with Pirelli in Formula 1. The GP3/13 was finally unveiled to the world at the final round of the 2013 championship, in Monza. The paddock buzzed with throngs of journalists, drivers and team members all eager to catch a first glimpse of the new car. The second generation car features a naturally-aspirated 400hp engine compared to the current 280hp and the recent development tests have shown that the car is expected to be at least three seconds faster than the current model. The GP3/13 also enjoys a new nose, sidepods and engine cover. The car was fired up by Red Bull Racing F1 driver and MW Arden team boss Mark Webber, who seemed to enjoy the new exhaust note, and jokingly waved the crowd to move out of his way so he could drive the car out of the hospitality unit. GP3 Series CEO Bruno Michel was delighted to see the car launched. I am very proud of this new generation car, he said. Our main objective was to make sure that GP3 remains the best way to prepare young drivers for the next steps, GP2 and F1, which is why we designed a more powerful and more selective car

that, among other things, reduces the gap between GP3 and GP2. In order to do so, we carefully assessed the different single seater categories below GP2 and took into account observations from our drivers and teams. Were convinced that the way weve positioned the GP3/13 is the right one for the next three seasons. Even if the car has evolved, the costs will be similar to before. That was key. The teams will not have to buy a new car. We will provide them with a development kit. It was quite a challenge seeing how the aerodynamics and the engine are different. And speaking of the engine, we go from 280 to 400hp for the same price.

Evans started last, Abt eighth, but took the lead. Evans fought his way into the points, but a puncture dropped him to the back and dashed his dreams once again. Abt was passed by Tio Ellinas and Evans was champion for a lap... until Abt retook the lead. With two laps to go the Cypriot fought back and Abt could not respond. The German was heartbroken, but the very picture of grace in defeat; Evans was the champion. Somehow, against the odds, Evans had done it. You couldnt have made it up!

race 2

mitch evans 2012 gp3 champion

GP3 has been a big part of my career, and to follow Esteban and Valtteri as GP3 champion is a huge achievement. Ive learned many lessons in GP3, and have grown as a person and a racer. The level of competition is fierce and the quality of drivers has been so high. Its been hard, but it has been great fun.