Italian Formula 3 – Grand Chelem and 1-2 for Coloni!

A “grand finale” for Coloni Motorsport in the Italian F3 at Vallelunga with the second consecutive 1-2 result for the team led by Enzo and Paolo Coloni, which conquers the vice-champion title with Christian Montanari, absolute leader of the week end.

After the supremacy showed in the free practice, qualifying and warm up, Christian Montanari and Marco Bonanomi also led the race form lights to flag, not leaving any chance to the opponents. Montanari finished first taking the third victory of 2003 (the second consecutive win, worth of the second place in standings), while Marco Bonanomi took a second place that brings him on place fourth in the final standings, only one point off the third place. Coloni’s drivers did earn a consistent lead: over 20 seconds on the third, the “European” Alvaro Parente lined up by Ghinzani.

The just ended season gave excellent results to Coloni, the facts are clear: four wins on the most prestigious tracks of the championship (Imola, Mugello, Monza and Vallelunga), many podiums and his drivers placed second and fourth in the final standings, apart from an unquestioned superiority on fast, slow and medium-fast tracks. We don’t have to forget then that Coloni Motorsport led to success a completely new car, the new Lola Dome – Mugen Honda. Only the 1-2 result unfortunately vanished in the five last laps at Varano prevented the Italian team from taking the first and second place in championship. Finally, Coloni Motorsport would have taken a solid first place in the “virtual” teams’ standings (in the Italian F3 doesn’t exist Team standings) thanks to his 175 points.

Coloni Motorsport wants to thanks Lola, Dome and Mugen for the precious support supplied during the season, jointly to Motul and Hankook. Thanks also to the sponsors, which allowed the Italian team to reach such an important target.

But Formula 3 doesn’t stop here: Coloni Motorsport will participate in fact on Oct. 30 / 1 and 2 Nov. in the prestigious international race of “F3 Sardinia Master” on the occasion of Cagliari Grand Prix, where Coloni will be able to challenge the teams of the foreign championship, testing the Avon tires.

Christian Montanari, 1st : “This week end was perfect and we lay down the law: best time in free practice, qualifying and warm up. In race then we took victory and we set the fastest lap, it was wonderful. We had begun this season with a new car and we achieved these results, it’s incredible and so I want to thank Coloni Motorsport, which did an excellent job. In November we’ll go to Cagliari and I’m sure we have all the possibilities to obtain another good outcome”.

Marco Bonanomi, 2nd : “The race went good. I skidded after the lights but then we could pull away and then we had only to manage our lead. The fourth place in championship is an important result, I’m very happy, also for my team that worked really well during the season and gave me a very competitive car. Now we are ready for Cagliari, a race very important, which will allow to show off my qualities on an international level scene, where I will aim at the win”.

Paolo Coloni, Team Principal : “I’m very satisfied with the job done by technicians, drivers and mechanics: we reached all the targets we had arranged, leading our rookies to fight for the Title and developing the car so that now the Lola Dome is the most competitive car in F3. We will continue the development of the F106 in the next days in sight of the significant Cagliari race. A special thank to everyone who contributed in this ambitious project”: