2015 Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship: Gautam Singhania bags double podium at Imola, Italy
Indian driver Gautam Singhania's second time at the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship has been rather eventful - he bagged a couple more podiums at the Imola round of the series as he came in second in both races. He was bested by Ineco-MP Racing driver Erich Prinoth, whose performance in this round has further strengthened his position at second in the overall championship standings. Championship leader, Jacques Duyver, had to settle for third in these races but he continues to lead with 140 points. But with Prinoth only three points behind him, the next few rounds of the series are bound to culminate in nailbiting finishes.
Gautam Singhania, who's racing with Kessel Racing, has a total of 113 points under his belt. Having secured a double podium at the first round in Monza (Italy) in April, followed by podiums in Budapest (Hungary) and Le Castellet (France), the FMSCI-endorsed driver is looking forward to making it to the grid for the World Finals in November.
On his recent victory, Singhania said, "I am extremely thrilled to have secured a double podium finish and it is a yet another proud moment for me at the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship at Imola, Italy. It has been a great season for me at this prestigious Ferrari event as I am proud to see the India flag furl on this track and have set my sights on The World Finals 2015 in November."
The sixth round of the Ferrari Challenge will be held in October at Valencia, Spain.
Gautam Hari Singhania secures yet another double podium finish at the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship 2015 at Imola, ITALY
| ~Finishes 2nd in Race 1 and Race 2 after qualifying 2nd and 1st respectively for the race~ ~Currently placed 3rd in overall standings with seven podiums and 113 points~ Imola, ITALY / Mumbai, 20th September, 2015: - Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond Limited and Founder Chairman, Super Car Club, finished 2nd in the Race 1 and Race 2 at Imola, ITALY and secured yet another historic double podium finish at the prestigious Ferrari event Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship 2015. He finished 2nd in Race 1 and Race 2 in the Coppa Shell category and had also qualified 2nd and 1st pole position respectively for the race. He has currently secured seven podiums with a total of 113 points as of today and is placed 3rd overall in the championship. He surely aims to climb up the table with forthcoming races next month. The Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship 2015 started in April 2015 at Monza, Italy where Singhania secured a double podium finish followed by another podium finish at Budapest, Hungary and Le Castellet, France in June and July respectively. He is representing India and is endorsed by the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI). Commenting on his historic win, Gautam Hari Singhania said "I am extremely thrilled to have secured a double podium finish and it is a yet another proud moment for me at the fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe Championship at Imola, ITALY. It has been a great season for me at this prestigious Ferrari event as I am proud to see the India flag furl on this track and have set my sights on The World Finals 2015 in November." Race 1 - Erich Prinoth (Ineco-MP Racing), who is second in the general ranking secured 1st position in the Coppa Shell and narrowed the gap between him and first place. Italy's driver, and the leader in the Gentlemen's Cup, started in pole position and maintained the lead from the first to the last lap. Gautam Hari Singhania (Kessel Racing) followed close behind. The fifty-year-old driver from India handled the race superbly and came in second despite having a problem with the body of his 458 Challenge EVO near the end of the race. Belgium's driver, and the leader in the general ranking, Jacques Duyver (Kessel Racing) came in third followed by Austria's Gerald Grohmann (Ferrari Bucharest), Sweden's Tommy Lindroth (Baron Service) and Italy's Thomas Gostner (Ineco-MP Racing). Race 2 - An unexpected turn of events reshuffled the cards before the start of Race-2 of Coppa Shell. Belgian driver Jacques Duyver, of Kessel Racing, who had recorded the best qualification time, was moved back to last place after a measurement of the airfoil of his 458 Challenge Evo. Gautam Singhania (Kessel) thus took the pole position, sharing first raw with Erich Prinoth (Ineco-MP Racing), who took advantage of a slip of the Indian driver on the sixth lap and passed him in spectacular fashion at curve 15 ending on the grass with all four wheels. Another lively battle, for third place, developed behind Prinoth and Singhania: in the end, the Dutch "shark" Fons Scheltema (Kessel) managed to overcome his Canadian teammate Rick Lovat. In the standing, Duyver, author of a great comeback that took him from the very rear to 8th place, retains the lead with 140 points, but Prinoth with 137 points and Singhania with 113 are now much closer. The entire season comprises in total of 15 races with two races a weekend, spread over six weekends mainly at Monza (ITALY), Imola (ITALY), Mugello (ITALY), Le Castellet (FRANCE), Valencia (SPAIN) and Budapest (HUNGARY). This culminates into to the world finals, consisting of three races in November 2015, where one race is together with the other two regions of Asia and North America. The grid will consist of about 40-50 cars like last year and there's sure to be some competitive racing that promises to be a great experience. Gautam Hari Singhania raced with the renowned Swiss Team named Kessel Racing that has registered numerous wins and an exhaustive experience under its belt. Former F1 driver and current GT driver Andrea Motermini is his coach for the entire season. The next race takes place next month at Valencia, Spain. | |
