07-18-2004 OPEN MASTERS – 5th TRIAL – JESOLO (VENICE)

THE 2004 EDITION CAME TO ITS END IN JESOLO

The Pista Azzurra of Jesolo hosted the last trial of the Open Masters Championship 2004. This event is particularly important to car manufacturers, as it enables them to test at this time of the season their latest solutions in view of their international commitments. From the sports’ point of view, the Jesolo race awarded the titles for the Junior (Eng), Ica (Waldschmidt) and FA (Forè), whereas the 125 Icc had already been won by Manetti after the second-last test. The Birel Team has drawn excellent technical advice from the Veneto race, finding excellent solutions in all of the classes. Unfortunately, a contact during the race cost Nicholas Risitano the title in the 100 Ica, a title the Latium-born driver has extensively proved to deserve, both because of the 2 victories won by a large margin at the beginning of the season, and for the efficacy expressed also in Jesolo in the course of the entire weekend. Risitano and Waldschmidt faced each other in Jesolo with the same possibility of success, and on the track they took their chances on equal terms. In the Final, the Birel driver had to face the consequences of starting in the outer lane, which penalized him in favour of his rival during the first laps. While Waldschmidt was able to pass second behind Mancinelli, Risitano was 5th after the 1st lap. This handicap forced Risitano to start a recovery to catch up in the rival’s wake. The hook-up occurred after a few laps, but once close to each other, the two contenders got in each other’s way and ended on the grass. Once back on the track, they quickly recovered the head of the race, one behind the other. 10 laps from the end, Waldschmid was leading with Risitano right at his back. The Birel driver caught up many metres of his rival’s lead in a few laps, but at the climax of the race he paid a high price for his lack of experience: although having 8 more laps to plan and carry out his attack, he tried a difficult overtaking at the first bend. The result was a contact costing the Birel driver both the front spoiler and the title. However, the excellent material Risitano can count on surely provides him with partial relief in view of the important continental trial in Mariembourg on September 5th. Among the protagonists in Belgium there will be also Jon Lancaster, second place at the finishing line in Jesolo right after winner Mancinelli. Thus, the Englishman attains the 3rd place in the general results of the Championship after Waldschmidt (who ended 3rd) and his team-mate Risitano. In the Junior, not even Grubmuller (5th at the end of the race) has been able to crown his excellent season in the Opens with a title: arriving second after Wittmann, Eng conquered the title by 11 points. In the FA, winner Forè was penalized for a false start, but still managed in the Championship to beat Antonucci (4th) by one point. The victory was won by Molina, but Cesetti might have been the spotlight chaser as well, if he hadn’t had a technical problem during the rounds and a contact in the course of the race. The Marches-born driver tested new solutions both as far as the engine (TM) and the chassis are concerned in view of the last trial of the European Championship, where he will run as the favourite. During the test laps, he succeeded in being the only driver able to get below the 46” barrier, attaining the pole position; also later in the weekend, he always performed at top levels. In the 125 class, the competition had already been decided in Muro Leccese, and Laudato, the new European Champion, has been testing many solutions in view of the next World Cup. By the way, the Campania-born driver ended his race 5th, thus confirming his 2nd place in the championship.