Racereport 2003 / 01 Monza

FiA-GTC and FIA-TC

Round 1 of the 2003 Season in Monza 23rd to 25th May.

Our first race of the 2003 season took place in Monza, a race track that is almost sacred amongst the cognoscenti. In this respect the entry for the 53rd COPPA INTEREUROPA was soon over subscribed. This led to entries having to be denied in both the FIA-GT Cup as well as in the FIA–Touring Car Challenge. The organisers would like to apologise for this and hope that in future a early registration from the teams will ensure that everyone has a place on the grid.

All the teams and drivers present appeared to enjoy themselves and the enthusiasm for which they took part in both the practices and the races indicates that there is no need to be concerned about the future of the FIA-Championships. It was also very pleasing to see so many different nationalities - from the far north to the Mediterranean south - taking part.

For the first time in 2003 the organisers offered hospitality - the FIA-truck, FIA-tent and the mobile office of series organiser Ronny G. Bredhauer. This hospitality centre soon became a well used meeting place for all entrants and the services on offer were so well called upon by all, that there was, due to the heat, a danger of the liquid refreshment running out. A quick trip to the local supermarket meant service could continue. In the course of time the catering will surely become more professional, however with only 13 German entrants amongst the more than 200 entrants, the German speciality of Frankfurters and potato salad was very popular.

It was immediately apparent that this very European race series would have to adopt English as its “official” language. German and French were also possible but English appears to be the second language for so many of the European competitors. Our apologies to the Italian speakers as none of our organisation team spoke Italian, but next year we will be able to pronounce your names correctly.

Our championships were a huge part of the 53rd COPPA INTEREUROPA; with a free practice, a 50 minute timed practice and two 30 minute races for the GTs, and a free practice, a 50 minute timed practice and a one hour race for each of the touring car groups. Without wishing to be judgemental it was clear in both categories that few competitors were driving within themselves. Even in free practice competitors were indulging in unnecessary off track excursions. This can be explained that for many Monza was a new circuit. Somewhat surprising was the number of retirements - no doubt due to the high temperatures of nearly 30°C in the shade.

All races were extremely exciting and there were many battles of two or more cars throughout the field, whereby almost all were fought in a fair and sporting manner. Even the first chicane on the first lap was almost incident free which was surely due to the sympathetic way the awaiting hassles were described by the race director in the drivers briefing. Naturally there were some minor incidents but they passed without any serious damage.

With so many competitors we can only mention the first three in each race, but a full set of results is available on our home page www.fia-tc.com and www.fia-gtc.com. Winners of the Touring Car race for Group A was Massimo Sordi in an Alfa Romeo, second were Giuliano Giuliani and Simone Stanguellini, sharing a BMW und third was Daniele Facetti with co-driver Fabio Sordi, also Alfa Romeo – what else with those surnames. It is worth mentioning that apart from one Austrian team the whole of the field for Group A was made up of Italian entrants. It was a different picture in Group B with a very European look to it. Bo Warmenius and Gunnar Turebrand won by 23 seconds in a Ford Lotus Cortina in front of the British pair of Andy Wolfe and Philip Walker, also Cortina. The third placed finishers, Mikael and Carl Gustavsson were also Cortina mounted.

In the GT races you did not even have to get used to a new name! Bo Warmenius managed a hat trick of wins for the weekend as he won both GT races as well as the touring car race, now every one in Monza knows the Swedish national anthem. In the first race, second place went to the Belgian Guy Francois and third to the Swede Thomas Henrysson. The first three all driving Lotus Elans, much to the chagrin of the American V8 and Jaguar E type competitors. As already mentioned Bo Warmenius won the second race this time by two seconds from a hard charging Sean Walker who had unfortunately retired from the first race. The honour of the big bangers was saved by Adriano Nicodemi driving the Jaguar E type of Roberto Stella. He was the only driver the whole weekend who was able to break the phalanx of Lotus Elans.

At this point we would like to congratulate the overall winners and all the class winners. We will in future reports, provide more details about the class winners and the races themselves. Monza was a premiere for the Organisers and due to the pressures of a first night, they were unable to follow intensively all the on-track action. It was also a first time in Monza for the author of this report who will have a lot more time for the details in the next race in Zolder

We hope that the memories of the Monza weekend remain with you for a long time. The organiser Ronny G. Bredhauer was very pleased that you were able to participate in the FiA-GTC und the FIA-TC championships. The future of the series is in no danger judging by the number of teams who want to enter further races. Obviously not every circuit is Monza and not every Italian will be able to cross the Alps but if the “spirit” generated in Monza continues then we will have an excellent season.

See you in Zolder

VEIT AVEMARG