[27-08-2007]
RAGUES MASTERFUL IN OSCHERSLEBEN
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[23-08-2007]
CARBONE FAST BUT UNLUCKY AT SUZUKA
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[07-08-2007]
MORTARA STARS AT FORMULA 3 MASTERS IN ZOLDER
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[03-08-2007]
RAGUES CONTINUES TEST PROGRAMME AT OSCHERSLEBEN
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[30-07-2007]
MORTARA CLIMBS A LEARNING CURVE AT ZANDVOORT
[Full Article]
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[30-07-2007]
MORTARA CLIMBS A LEARNING CURVE AT ZANDVOORT
French-Italian driver Edoardo Mortara had an adventurous time at the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort last weekend, for the latest round of the Formula 3 Euroseries.
It was yet another completely new circuit for Edoardo, who is only in his second year of racing cars after a highly successful karting career. Nonetheless, the Signature team driver adapted quickly to the specific demands of the circuit, setting an impressive second-fastest time during free practice.
Unfortunately, Edoardo encountered some traffic during his all-important qualifying laps that prevented him from setting a similar time when it counted. Having put on some new tyres for his first fast run, he then found himself unable to make use of them due to waved yellow flags on the circuit. During his second qualifying run the situation became even worse: the session was red-flagged. All these stoppages meant that Edoardo started race one from ninth on the grid (whereas his free practice time would have put him fifth).
The 20 year-old got a good start, making up two places straightaway, but his hard work was undone by a small mistake on turn two – which cost him four places. He spent the rest of the race battling for eighth place with Oliver Jakes, until he picked up a slow puncture that made him drop to 14th at the chequered flag.
Under the Euroseries rules, this was also the grid position from which he would start race two on Sunday. The weather conditions looked uncertain, but the race start was dry enough for slick tyres. Pushing hard to make up lost ground, Edoardo ran wide on lap five and dropped to 22nd. He faced a tough task – but then the rain started to fall. A brilliant call from the Signature team saw Edoardo pit early for wet tyres, and then he was able to mount a remarkable fightback through the field.
By lap 11 the top 10 was in sight, but then Edoardo had to avoid another competitor in front of him who was struggling. That cost him more time, but he refused to give up and set the same lap times as the leaders all the way to the finish. He ended up ninth, which ensures that he maintains second place in the rookies’ championship.
Edoardo commented: “It was a bit frustrating as we had the clear potential to do much more this weekend. But there were a lot of positives: my car was good in all conditions, and the job of our mechanics in switching us quickly to wet tyres in race two was really up to Formula 1 standard.
Edoardo will be racing in Belgium once more next weekend, in the prestigious F3 Masters Grand Prix that takes place at Zolder.
For more information please contact: media@quadrasports.com
www.edoardomortara.com
www.signature-team.com
www.f3euroseries.com
Zandvoort, 30/07/07
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