ITALIAN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP - Round 5 (Val Vibrata Track) 21st/22nd/23rd July 2006

FA: CESETTI IS VICE-CHAMPION

VERY "AGGRESSIVE" TEAM TACTICS FOR TONY IN FAVOUR OF BOLLINGTOFT DEPRIVE CESETTI OF THE TITLE. GOOD PERFORMANCE OF ANTOLFELD (JUNIOR), WITTMANN (ICA) AND THE COUPLE LAUDATO - COZZAGLIO IN ICC.

Birel’s team has always given less importance to titles within the context of the Open Championship, during which primary importance is given to development within the context of a confrontation with the main characters of the International karting world. In this respect, the competitiveness demonstrated by Birel drivers in all categories is very comforting on the eve of the European Finals of the Junior and Ica classes as well as the world championship for SICC and FA. When one is just one step away from also winning an Open championship, this can represent a wonderful extra bonus. And Sauro Cesetti almost managed to reach this goal: he was only 3 points away from full success, thus becoming Vice-Champion behind the Danish driver Nikolaj Bollingtoft. The representative of Tony was openly helped by his team-mate Ardigò who blocked Cesetti for more than half the Race. It should be pointed out that the driver from Marche had started in 11th position because of the breakage of a rim in one of the legs (in the first one, he had won) and that, thanks to a relentless rhythm, within a few laps he had managed to be behind the leader. But Ardigò’s behaviour, who raced in such a way as to defend his team-mate, prevented Cesetti from trying to try his luck against Bolllingtoft, as well as reviving Antonucci and Bianchi, both among the leading drivers. The order of arrival therefore saw Bollingtoft winning in front of Ardigò, Antonucci, Cesetti and Bianchi. In Race 2 Bollingtoft’s 4th place behind Bianchi, Cesetti and Ardigò was enough for him to gain the title. The dynamics of the 1st test caused much discontent; both the Stewards and the Referee however detected no irregularities and therefore confirmed the results.
Both Birel’s team and Bianchi’s team (who was also a contender for the title) held on to their own opinion. Talking of Formula A, Lancaster’s retirement should be mentioned: after having taken part in the 1st session of free trials, the driver had to abandon the track because of the pain caused by the accident he had at Varennes. The British driver could have turned out to be a valuable ally of Cesetti but, because of some technical problems, he was not able to protect Risitano. The driver from Lazio ended Race 1 in 12th place, whereas in Race 2 he was obliged to withdraw during the first laps. Bad luck also for Gary Catt who, on the eve, of the race was leading the tables: the British driver only managed 11th place in Race 2. In the class 125 Icc Laudato was ready to test several technical developments in view of the World Cup in September and managed to gather many useful clues and, above all, obtained
good placements: 5th place in Race 1 and 3rd place in Race 2. Good performance also from Cozzaglio who, in Race 1, did better than his team-mate by conquering 4th place and ended in 8th place in Race 2, just a few seconds behind the winner Forè, who had also won Race 1. In terms of championship Manetti’s 8th place in Race 1 and his 2nd place in Race 2 were sufficient for him to conquer the title. In the 100 Ica, Marco Wittmann did not manage to catch up to narrow the gap which, in the general tables, separated him from Piccioni who, despite a very difficult weekend which did not yield any points, conquered the title in front of Birel’s German driver.
Wittmann actually concentrated more on technical work rather than on the championship where the gap between him and Piccioni was very big.
From this point of view, the Birel team is extremely satisfied: the race saw some novelties both in terms of chassis and of engine and a very good level of performance was obtained. In Race 1, the German driver ended in 6th place behind Mancinelli, Tambay, Meters, Andy, and Fontener, and achieved
the same result also in race 2 (which was won by Meters in front of Mancinelli and Fontener). In the Junior, the two races were tight and the gap between the top drivers was minimal. In this context Antolfeld had a great race, obtaining 4th place in Race 1 and 3rd in Race 2. On the other hand, it was a very negative
weekend for the British driver Jenkins, who did not qualify for the Finals. The driver, from the Intrepid team, managed in any case to conquer the title thanks to the results of the previous trials, which gave him a lead in the tables. One thing is for sure: celebrating the title watching from the stands at a time when the season is approaching the most important events is by no means pleasant. The British driver was given a hand by Camponeschi who, 2nd in the tables, was not able to take advantage of the situation and only got 10th place in Race 1 and was obliged to withdraw in Race 2. Victory went to Manzur over Toman and Taracon in Race 1 and to Taracon himself over
Manzur and Antolfeld in Race 2. The next rendezvous with International Karting is now for the weekend of 20th August when, on the track at Ampfing – in Germany -, the last round of the Euro FA and the continental Final of the 100 Ica will be held. A top weekend is to be expected for Birel.