Motorsports Mondial

Photo: minardiit

Good opening for Davide Rigon in the Blancpain GT Endurance Series.

Going back to competitions after a terrible accident occurred about one year ago, the brilliant driver from Veneto has shown his best abilities handling a good week end on Monza track, started with a pole position and finished just next to the podium.

Driving a 458 GT3 of the Kessel Racing team (together with Zampieri/Gattuso), Rigon soon gets familiar with the drive style requested by the car, gaining top positions since free tests. As far as standing is concerned, two red flags and 53 cars don’t help the 25 year-old driver, who gets the pole thanks to his team mate.

Under difficult weather conditions, due to heavy rain, Rigon, after taking the sceptre from Gattuso, leads the car to the top three just before passing the sceptre to the Roman driver for the final rush. A non perfect pit-stop drops the Swiss team to lower positions even if the equipe 71, in the end, manages an exciting fourth place.

DAVIDE RIGON: “ I’m very happy about the week end in Monza . Although I didn’t know the car, I quickly tried to get familiar with it and in all sessions we’ve run so fast. Unfortunately we’ve lost time at the pit-stop and this has compromised the final victory. By the way, I ‘m satisfied because we’ve shown all our talent to win. Driving a Ferrari is always a great emotion and now I’m looking forward to take part to next race.”

GIOVANNI MINARDI (Manager): “ I’m very happy to see Davide back to competitions after a hard year. It took only few laps for him to get familiar with the new car, even if the difference between this and a formula is so big. During qualifying, he has been really unlucky: two red flags  and, in his only good lap, after marking the best splits in the first two sectors, he has been overtaken by some cars in the last sector. The goal was reached by team mate Zampieri.

Bad weather conditions made the race even more hard. The whole team managed so good and only a problem at the pit-stop was an obstacle to reach the podium. I’m sure that, starting from next race, team and pilots will give rivals a rough ride and fight for the win. “