November
1

Two-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx has confirmed he will attend the Autosport International Show next January, citing the event as a vital part in his season.

The Guernsey-man has been a regular at Autosport International for many years but since winning the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) twice, attending the show has become even more important.

“I love the Autosport Show,” said Priaulx, who thrilled British fans by winning his home WTCC round at Brands Hatch this year. “It’s a great place to meet people because my schedule is so packed at race meetings that I don’t get to see the fans as much as I would like.”

Priaulx has always made himself available for the show’s autograph sessions and says meeting the fans is definitely one of the high points of Autosport International. “There’s no pressure at the show so I can just relax and get to talk to fans as well,” he said.

“It’s a great day out with attractions like the Live Action Arena and the Autosport stage giving visitors plenty of things to do. It’s definitely worth a visit for all racing fans!”

With a possible third WTCC title in the pipeline for Priaulx, you could see the reigning champion celebrate in style at Autosport International, where you will also find the ’50 Years of British touring cars’ feature showcasing the best cars and drivers from this UK’s most exciting race series.

Autosport International will be open to the public on Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 January 2008 with trade-only days on Thursday 10 and Friday 11 January. Adult tickets start at £28.00 per day with children’s tickets from £18.50. To book, visit autosport-international.com or call 0044 (0)870 040 0396.

0
October
23

First turn crucial - Nunes, Martini and Andersen immediately out

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) is European and Italian F.3000 champion. The driver took the double title in
Monza Race-1.

Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing): ” My start has been perfect. But also my team-mate Nunes has gone off well in the first metres. Then I was able to overtake him and I arrived with blocked wheels in the first chicane, damaging a tyre. Nunes has delayed the braking a lot thus blocking the wheels and therefore behind him there’s been hell. I have had some difficulties in the left turns when I had to brake, fortunately the car was perfectly balanced and so I have been able to win and gain the double title. For this I thank my whole team.”

Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport): ” Compared to the practices during the race the car was much better . During the first day we were far from the best ones, nonetheless the team has done a wonderful job reducing the gap with the Minardi drivers. Starting sixth and finishing second: that’s a nice result”.

Luiz Razia:” Today my Lola went particularly fast. I have started well, then I have passed unharmed the bagarre in the first chicane. Very soon I could overtake Arabadzhiev, thus reaching the third place which I have kept till the end”.

RACE 1 – MONZA
1. Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) in 22’03”111
2. Giacomo Ricci (Elk Motorsport) at 2”787
3. Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport) at 3”849
4. Martin Kudzak (G-Tec) at 21”433
5. Omar Leal (Engineering Durango) at 21”643
6. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (ASR) at 24”603
7. Francesco Dracone (2G Racing) at 8 laps
8. Johnny Cecotto Jr (Elk Motorsport) at 9 laps
9. Jimmy Auby (ASR) at 12 laps
10. Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing) at 12 laps
11. Kasper Andersen (G-Tec) at 13 laps
12. Oliver Martini (R.C. Motorsport) at 13 laps
Fastest lap: Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing) in 1’40”467

EUROSERIES 3000 – Drivers’ rankings (after 13 races)
Rigon (92 points) – Nunes (62) – Razia (51) – Martini (32) - Danielsson (32) – Arabadzhiev (22) – Ricci (18) - Merchan
(16) - Maldonado (12) – Saez Merino (11) - Tahinci (9) – Bennani (9) – Mikola (8) – Leal (8) - Tuka Rocha (6) - Miguez
(6) – Andersen (6) – Kudzak (5) - Auby (4) – De Villota (3) - Sposito (2) - Dracone (2) – Amaduzzi (0) - Fausti (0) –
Sebastiani N. (0) – Sebastiani V.(0) – Cecotto Jr. (0)

EUROSERIES 3000 – Teams’ rankings (after 13 races)
Minardi by GP Racing (154 points) – ELK Motorsport (100) – G-Tec (58) – RC Motorsport (32) - Fisichella Motor Sport
by Durango (30) – ASR (26) - Durango (8) – 2G Racing (2) – Dueppì/Paragon (0) – Racing Box (0)– Facondini (0)

CAMPIONATO ITALIANO F.3000 - Drivers’ rankings (after 7 races)
Rigon (51 points) – Nunes (32) – Danielsson (26) – Razia (26) – Martini (23) - Arabadzhiev (15) – Maldonado (12) –
Merchan (12) – Ricci (8) – Mikola (8) – Kudzak (5) – Leal (5) – Bennani (3) – Tahinci (1) – Dracone (0) - Amaduzzi (0) -
Fausti (0) – Sposito (0) – Cecotto Jr. (0) – Auby (0) – Andersen (0)

CAMPIONATO ITALIANO F.3000 - Teams’ rankings (after 7 races)
Minardi by GP Racing (83 points) – ELK Motorsport (53) – G-Tec (26) – RC Motorsport (23) - Fisichella Motor Sport by
Durango (20) – ASR (15) - Durango (5) – 2G Racing (2) – Dueppì/Paragon (0) – Facondini (0)

0
October
22


Kimi Raikkonen won the Brazilian Grand Prix to take the Drivers’ World Championship title, the first of his career and the fifteenth for Ferrari in Formula 1. This was win number 201 from 758 Grands Prix entered by Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the fifteenth from 122 race starts for Kimi. The Scuderia’s number of wins in this race is now nine.

Jean Todt: “A dream that it seemed would be impossible to come true was transformed into reality at the end of a race which the drivers and the team managed superbly, which is self evident from looking at the details of the race. We had to get a one-two and then see what our main competitors could do. We needed a “helping hand” from others, both those in the running for the title as well as those out of the running to bring home both titles. And yes, because not only have we taken the Drivers’ title with Kimi, but we also numerically confirmed the Constructors’ title that we acquired after the decision of the FIA World Council back on 13 September. Two titles, nine wins, four one-two finishes, nine pole positions, twelve fastest race laps: these are exceptional figures in a season which included some difficult moments, but in which we never gave up the fight. Today was our reward for all this work. I wish to congratulate Kimi and thank Felipe, who again today demonstrated his loyalty to Ferrari: without his help, we would have not reached this result.”

Kimi Raikkonen: “It is very difficult for me to explain in words what I am feeling at the moment: it is an incredible emotion. I want to thank the team for everything they have done this year. Even when we went through some difficult times and it looked as though there was no way to fight back, we never gave up and this work produced its reward today. Thanks also to my parents, to my wife Jenni and everyone who believed in me. I have achieved what I have been after for a long time. Now everything else will be an extra. Today, Felipe’s help was vital and he was amazing. We had to get a one-two and then see what the others did. This time, things went our way and the unexpected did happen. This has been a very nice year for me during which I have enjoyed Formula 1 like never before. In Ferrari, I have found a great family and I am proud to have won the title with them.”

Felipe Massa: “Today is a great day for the team and for Kimi, who has won the Drivers’ title. Of course I would have liked to have won my home race again this year, but I am happy to have helped my team-mate, who was the only one of us still in with a chance of taking the title. I am proud to have done it for Ferrari who believed in me even when I was not in Formula 1. It is thanks to the people in Maranello that I am here and it is with them that I have grown as a driver and as a man. After everything that has happened this year, both on and off the track, today it is great to be able to celebrate two world titles. Today I had a fantastic car and I could have gone even quicker on track than I did. I also want to thank all our partners for all their support.”

Luca Baldisserri: “We needed a perfect race and we produced one. However, even that on its own would not have been enough and we needed a little help from the others. Our two drivers were fantastic and the car was up to their level. This result is a dream and we were so keen to win it on the race track. It confirms we are a fantastic group.”

0