Race Report

EUROPEAN SERIES
Formula Abarth

Circuit: Valencia (E), Length 4,005 km, 06/07 & 08 May 2011, Rounds 1 & 2
www.circuitvalencia.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2011:
Patric Niederhauser (CH), Sergey Sirotkin (RUS) and Robert Visoiu (ROM)

Top two for Niederhauser/Sirotkin and vice versa

The first of seven meetings of the Formula Abarth European Series was run at Valencia (E) as part of the “Superstars” Event. The International Superstars Series, the Ferrari Challenge Europe, the International GT Sprint Series and the Europe Trophy Abarth 500, together with the Formula Abarth European Series offered a very lively program.

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Qualifying

Friday, 06/05/11, 16.20 – 16.50, Weather: Cloudy, 20°C

The rules of the championship only allow for one qualifying session, with each driver’s fastest lap determining their Race One grid positions. For Race Two the top eight are simply reversed, with the 8th fastest driver starting from pole, the 7^th fastest starting from 7^th, and so on. From 9^th place on, the positions are decided according to the results of Race One.
During the first part of the session Patric and Sergey were very quick, and were well ahead of everybody else, but after the tyre change the chase for best lap times started again, and the other competitors showed that they were ready, too. Patric ended up in 2^nd on the grid, only slightly behind the poleman. Sergey would start 5^th and Robert qualified 11^th.

Formula Abarth European Series

Race One (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Saturday, 07/05/11, 14.35, Weather: Overcast, Rain, 16°C

The sky was incredibly black on all sides and the first rain drops fell as the Formula Abarth cars lined up on the grid. Nevertheless the start went ahead as scheduled. Sergey had to avoid Barrabeig, who didn’t move when the race started, and he shot past him to go in front and claim the lead, with Patric just behind in 2^nd. Robert also gained a place and was now in 10^th while pole man Heche had fallen back to 7^th though he was now rapidly making up lost ground. Patric was very close to Sergey and started to put pressure on his team mate, but Sergey drove well and defended his lead for lap after lap. On lap 7 as the rain intensified, Patric went on the attack. Three laps later the lap times had slowed considerably because of the rain and Patric pulled alongside Sergey, going up the inside at the end of the straight to take the lead. The rain was increasing in volume when Heche, by now in 3^rd place, made a mistake and finished his race in the gravel trap. Robert held his place for a long time, but then began closing in on the group ahead of him. Two very courageous overtaking manoeuvres saw him rewarded with a richly deserved 6^th place. As the rain intensified even more, the race director finally decided to end the race six minutes early and hung out the red flag. It was the right decision because shortly afterwards the paddock was flooded when the area was hit by a powerful thunderstorm.

Formula Abarth European Series

Race 2 (28 minutes + 1 lap)

Sunday, 08/05/11, 13.20, Weather: Sunny, 24°C

Today the sun shone brightly, it was hot, and there was clearly not the slightest possibility of rain. Poleman Marasca managed to spin on the green flag lap and had to start from the back, which allowed Ghiotto to take the lead while Sergey snatched 2^nd place. Patric had moved up to 4^th by the end of the first lap and shortly afterwards Ghiotto was handed a drive-through penalty for a jump start, handing the lead to Sergey. It didn’t take Patric long to overtake Sofyan and to set off in pursuit of Sergey, but Sergey never gave him a chance and drove one fastest lap after the other. He made absolutely no mistakes and proudly claimed his first victory. Patric secured 2^nd place and completed the team’s second double win of the weekend. Robert started very well also and immediately gained two places. When the man ahead of him was also given a drive through penalty (for not respecting track limits), he gained another place, and after Ghiotto fell back, Robert took the chequered flag in an excellent 6^th place.

Championship Standings

2011 Formula Abarth European Series after 2 out of 14 races:

1^st Patric Niederhauser (CH), 32 points; 2^nd Sergey Sirotkin (RUS), 29 points; 3^rd Lorenzo Camplese (I), 16 points; 4^th Gerrard Barrabeig (E), 14 points; 5^th Robert Visoiu (ROM), 11 points; 6^th Nicolas Costa (BRA), 11 points

2011 FORMULA ABARTH RACE CALENDAR

2011 FORMULA ABARTH EUROPEAN SERIES

2011 FORMULA ABARTH ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Read more:

• www.acisportitalia.it/ABARTH_IT
• www.acisportitalia.it/ABARTH_EU
• www.italiaracing.net