It has been a very useful testing day at the circuit of Vallelunga for Rome-based Scuderia Baldini. The Italian team fielded the Ferrari 488 GT3 that three great champions of the likes of Jacques Villeneuve, Giancarlo Fisichella and Stefano Gai, will drive in the Endurance series of the Italian GT Championship.
The Canadian driver, 1997 Formula One Champion, monopolized the attention of staff at the circuit and completed several laps to get acquainted with the car and to adapt the seat and driving position. “I am really happy about competing in the Italian GT – the Canadian F1 1997 World Champion explained – alongside experienced drivers like Giancarlo Fisichella and Stefano Gai. I would like to thank Scuderia Baldini for this opportunity and I am confident we will have a good racing season; for the time being, I got some confidence with the car. This is the first step towards the Italian GT that this year will have a different format with endurance races.”
Villeneuve’s commitment is currently confirmed in the Endurance series, but team owner Fabio Baldini, has already announced that he is trying to field two Ferrari 488 in the Sprint series, involving, if possible, the three drivers.
“Today it was a great chance to get back on track after the good 2018 – Fisichella stated – Stefano and I know very well the car, today’s test was important especially for Jacques: he put in a strong session posting very interesting laptimes. I know him since Formula 1 times, and I am confident the three of us are a good lineup.”
“Yeah, we got some rust off today – Gai added – but we still have to work a lot, the season is going to be quite difficult, with several highly ranked teams and cars. I found a car well balanced and I liked a lot Jacques’ attitude: he has been humble and looked for useful indications. At the moment my involvement is only in the Endurance series, but I am working to extend my presence also to the Sprint series.”
Season 2019 will get underway in Monza with the Endurance series next April 7th and will continue in Misano (May 19th), Vallelunga (September 13th) and Mugello (October 6th), while the Sprint series will take place in the weekends of May 4-5 (Vallelunga), June 22-23 (Imola), July 20-21 (Mugello) and October 19-20 (Monza).
On Twitter
@CIGranTurismo
@GTavoni
