20.07.2003 , Press release Raffaele Giammaria, Formula 3000

British GP – Race Report

Silverstone was a “school” Grand Prix for Raffaele Giammaria, but, despite he
didn’t know the track before, only the bad luck prevented the Italian driver from
getting a great result also in the seventh round of F.I.A. Formula 3000
International.
Immediately after the lights in fact Raffaele began to attack his opponents and
after a few laps (on lap 8) he did pass Baumgartner, the first overtaking of the
race. Durango’s driver started then to fight with Irish Michael Keohane:
Raffaele tried to overtake Astromega’s driver, who hit him hard. Raffaele ended
on the grass, finishing his race on lap 12.
“The race wasn’t good unfortunately –said Raffaele- mostly because I didn’t
know Silverstone track. Friday, in the first 30 minutes I had to gather
experience, learning the circuit, and then I had some set-up problems: due to
the understeer I wasn’t fast enough on the fast corners, while in the second
part of the circuit I was ok”.
“After the start I got stuck because of the other cars, but then I was able to
catch up and I overtook Zsolt Baumgartner. Later on, while I was trying to pass
Keohane, he hit me and forced me to go out. Unfortunately my race ended
here”.
Raffaele however is already working for the next race, the German Grand Prix,
which will take place on August 2 nd 2003, at Hockenheim.
“Silverstone was only an unlucky episode: Durango’s single-seater was always
highly competitive and the team is working in order to check the car and
prepare her for Hockenheim. I’m sure I will get a good result in Germany”.
“In Germany I drove in my first “professional” Championship after the F.
Renault, the German Formula 3. It was a very important year for me, a
beautiful experience: I’m really tied then to Nuerburgring and Hockenheim
races. Unfortunately the track has been modified (maybe I still prefer the older
version) and I can say that I know only an half of the new circuit, but I’m going
definitely to drive a good race”.