100 FA-World Championship
Quintarelli one step away from the podium

After two editions in which the Championship of the World was assigned after five trials, the 2003 edition has recorded a return to the past with the winning of the World Championship in a single trial. It was the prestigious Italian track at Sarno that hosted the event that was characterized by a regulation by which the competitors for the title could come from the drivers in the various CIK Formula A championships as well as the best talents expressed by the ICA category in addition to several guest stars like the former Pantano and Liuzzi. This opportunity allowed the Birel team to also field Ronnie Quintarelli, who during the course of the season competed in the Japanese Formula 3 Championship. Even the 125 specialist Laudato could not resist the opportunity to complete in a World Championship on his home track, while coming from the ICA, Tedeschini debuted with the higher category. On the other hand, also in the Birel house, Marco Ardigò was forced to forfeit due to a sudden attack of appendicitis.

After the qualifying heats, the names of Renaudie, Hanley, Forè, Cunningham and Quintarelli emerged. Due to going off the track, Fanetti had to start in the rear, while Pantano and Liuzzi were both in top ten. But it wasn’t to be their race and it was Cunningham, Kozlinski and Hanley who competed for the title after Renaudie left the scene. Quintarelli paid the price for a start that was not among the best and recovered almost to the podium, winning an excellent 4th place. Surprisingly, the 2003 title went to Cunningham, who preceded the Frenchman Kozlinski across the finish line. Also Gatto drove an excellent race, but an electrical problem stopped him when he was just a step away from the podium. Fanetti closed his first World Championship in 13th place, earning valuable experience.