After a successful shakedown test at Barcelona (Spain) last week, Superleague Formula teams AC Milan and Galatasaray SK headed to Italy to continue their pre-season testing programme at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome.
On Wednesday August 6 and Thursday August 7, the 750-hp, V12-powered cars enjoyed a problem-free two-day test around the 4.085km circuit despite the extreme heat. Testing will resume on Friday.
Scuderia Playteam used the test to continue working on data gathered at Barcelona in order to prepare for the start of the season at Donington on August 30-31, 2008, the first ever race of the series. Dutchman Robert Doornbos was at the wheel for AC Milan while Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi and Turkey's Jason Tahinci were in action for Galatasaray SK.
Robert Doornbos dominated the first two days of testing, setting the best times on both days. AC Milan, Scuderia Playteam clocked 1.23.754 on day one of the tests while Galatasaray SK, was third with a best lap of 1.24.012. On day two, Robert Doornbos covered 51 laps and set another best time (1.23.184) in the closing stages of the day when the weather was slightly cooler and all teams improved on Wednesday's times with Doornbos finding six tenths of a second.
Galatasaray SK finished Thursday in fourth after covering 56 laps, the best in 1.23.475. The competitive lap times confirm the high level of preparation of the two teams.
"The tests were quite useful to work on some modifications on the car after the results in Barcelona. It was a positive two days of work and now and I am getting very familiar with the car. We have done more laps than in Barcelona and this is very positive," commented Alessandro Pier Guidi. "Everyday we tried to develop the car better to be in best shape for the first race in Donington at the end of the month. I think we are on the right path."
"This second session was very important," added Robert Doornbos. "In Barcelona we only covered very few laps compared to this session and we needed to get familiar with the car. Now we are only a few days away from the first race and we would need more time to get to excellent results.
I am happy with the work of the team and the engineers. I worked previously with Gabriele Tredozi in F1 and this of course helps during the hard moments and crucial last minute choices because we already have a comprehensive working routine together from the past."
"Even I did not drive the car a lot, I have a good feeling now with it," said Jason Tahinci. "The team is doing a good job. Step by step we are building our competitiveness ahead of the start of the season and we are progressing in the right direction."
Nine teams were present in Vallelunga on occasion of this three days test session, including on top of AC Milan and Galatasaray SK, Borussia Dortmund, FC Basel, Olympiacos, Flamengo, Anderlecht, Glasgow Rangers and Roma.
Times day I
1 AC Milan, Scuderia Playteam 1.23.754
2 Borussia Dortmund, Zakspeed 1.23.965
3 Galatasaray, Playteam 1.24.012
4 AS Roma, Fisichella 1.24.372
5 Flamengo, Astromega 1.24.445
6 Anderlecht, Astromega 1.25.521
7 Olympiacos, GU Racing 1.26.482
8 FC Basel, GU Racing 1.27.753
Times day II
1.AC Milan , Scuderia Playteam 1.23.184 (51 laps)
2. Borussia Dortmund 1.23.192 (42 laps)
3. AS Roma - 1.23.474 (41 laps)
4 Galatasaray 1.23.475 (56 laps)
5. Flamengo 1.24.590 (42 laps)
6 Olympiacos - 1.25.306 (28 laps)
FC Basel 1.25.849 (19 laps)
Anderlecht 1.26.034 (26 laps)
9. Glasgow Rangers - 2 laps
The complete Superleague Formula calendar includes Donington Park (August 30-31), Nurburgring (September 20-21), Zolder (October 4-5), Estoril (October 18-19), Vallelunga (November 1-2) and Jerez (November 22-23)
-Agnes Carlier- photo Superleague Formula
