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FIA SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP |
19/03/2001 |
Monza Testing |
Promising For Reynard, Ascari, Chrysler And Courage |
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SMG Courage, BMS Scuderia Italia, Ascari and Reynard were testing at Monza on March 14 / 15. The Reynard was the brand new Redman Bright 01Q for Mark Smithson and Peter Owen.
The Reynard completed over 600 kilometres at the Autodromo without any problems, leaving TM John Bright in bullish mood; “It went like clockwork and whilst we were not going for times, the potential is most definitely good. Both Mark (Smithson) and Peter (Owen) shared the duties and are really getting in to the swing of SR1 now. Mark coped well after breaking a bone in his arm last month skiing, and now we're all set for Barcelona.”
Ascari were quickest of the regular teams present at Monza, although their best of 1:38.27 was beaten by the Chrysler LMP’s 1:36.76.
Both Werner Lupberger and Ben Collins enjoyed lengthy stints in the Ascari. “I just concentrated on getting comfortable in the car and once I achieved that, everything felt great and I think there is a lot more to come from us,” said Collins.
“It was really a reliability test,” said new TM Ian Dawson. “We know the speed of the car and now we must ensure that we have the staying power as well. Ben and Werner are going to be really closely matched on pace and what is more they work so well together. We had a few little niggly problems but nothing that we can’t iron out at our last test on Thursday at Donington.”
BMS Scuderia Italia ran on the Wednesday with both of their Ferraris. Christian Pescatori set the outfit’s best time with a 1m 41.21s whilst the Calderari / Bryner / Zadra car clocked a 1:41.73s. “The test was just a question of checking reliability and getting as much data for the Monza 1000kms as possible,” said Tiziano Minuti.
Olivier Beretta set the 1:36.76 in the Chrysler LMP. Phillipe Gache’s Courage was also running in Le Mans trim, in preparation for the Monza 1000Kms.
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