October 16, 2007 - Italian driver, Giacomo Ricci, participated in the F-3000 Euroseries last weekend at Spa Francorchamps and had a great come-back in the series.
Giacomo, who was the 2006 category champion, drove a G-Tec car and won Race-1 after starting from the 2nd position and overtaking the series leader on the first lap and beating him to the checkered flag. Ricci, from Milan, raced in the 2007 F-Atlantic season in America, and proved that he hasn’t lost his touch behind the Lola-Zytek wheel.
After such a promising Race-1, unfortunately, Giacomo was forced to retired at half-point of Race-2 with mechanical problems.
“My start of Race-1 wasn’t that good. Then immediately after Le Combes turn, I found the right opportunity and overtook Davide Rigon from the outside. I must thank my team for the opportunity I was given, and I hope that my result has paid it back. It has been really fantastic to be back as a winner in F-3000 after one year,” said Giacomo Ricci.
Racing and business advisor for the 21-year-old Italian is former Champ Car driver and Grand-Am series champion, Max Papis.
“After a successful season last year, winning the European and Italian F3000 Championships, making the move to the United States was a great step in Giacomo’s career. I was pleased with his progress during the F-Atlantic season this year. Giacomo got really close to podium finish a few times and ran strong to a 6th place finish in the championship. He proved to be very talented and gained lots of experience this year,” expressed Papis. “I was really pleased to see Ricci win at Spa. This is another statement of his great ability and versatility especially being such a difficult track, it shows how talented he is. I look forward to helping Giacomo and paving the road to his success in North America, in the years to come.”
Race-1 Spa Results:
1. Giacomo Ricci (G-Tec)
2. Davide Rigon (Minardi/GP Racing)
3. Kasper Andersen (G-Tec)
4. Luiz Razia (Elk Motorsport)
5. Oliver Martini (R.C. Motorsport)
6. Diego Nunes (Minardi/GP Racing)
7. Omar Leal (Engineering Durango)
8. Tuka Rocha (Elk Motorsport)
9. Jimmy Auby (ASR)
10. Emilio de Villota (Elk Motorsport)
11. Vladimir Arabadzhiev (ASR)
12. Francesco Dracone (2G Racing)