YAMAZAKI, PORON AND RACERCHICK VANINA
ICKX ON FIRST FORMULA X SPORT PODIUM AT
MONZA
 Monza, 8 May, 2004 – The legendary
track of Monza hosted round 1 of the 2004
Formula X Sport Series today. The very first
race of this brand new series had all the
ingredients the organisers had been hoping for
when they launched Formula X six months ago:
close racing, and Japanese champion at the
front, a young talented Frenchman battling with
the daughter of a Belgian sportscar legend, no
major incidents and happy faces everywhere.
Sixteen drivers entered the first round of
the 2004 Formula X Sport Series. Most of them
had already tested the cars at one of the test
sessions at Paul Ricard or in Spa, but for some
of them it was a discovery of both car and
track. All drivers finished the free practice
sessions without incidents, bar a few technical
gremlins which were quickly solved by the
Formula X technical team. Manuele Gatto from
Italy was quickest in both free practice
sessions (1m58s825, average speed: 175.515kph).
Reigning Japanese GC-21 Champion, Shinsuke
Yamazaki, was second fastest, just 38/1000th of
a second behind.
For the first qualifying session, which
defined the starting grid Saturday’s first race,
the drivers had to deal with pouring rain as
well as still coming to grips with their cars
and the track. Proving the talent they all have,
none of them went off, although some had an
engine cooling problem related to the extreme
weather conditions. Yamazaki was quickest
(2m13s321) ahead of Benjamin Poron (2m14s495)
and Manuele Gatto (2m15s893). Vanina Ickx
proved to have the same “Rainmeister” genes as
her legendary father, Jacky Ickx, and posted the
fourth quickest time (2m16s321).
Fortunately the weather turned bright and
sunny for the start of the first 18-lap race.
Yamazaki made a perfect start and never looked
back, while Vanina Ickx came through
third at the first chicane. Japanese driver
Kasuyuki Nishizawa, who had started from 12th
place, tried to make up some ground at the
second chicane, but his manoeuvre proved to be a
bit too optimistic and he took himself, Fulvio
Ballabio and Enea Casoni off. While Casoni
managed to recover to fourth at the finish, the
race was over for Ballabio and Nishizawa.
While Yamazaki disappeared in the distance,
Benjamin Poron and Ickx had a long battle for
second. Said Ickx: “I had a very good start and
managed to tuck in behind Poron, while at the
same time I kept an eye on Gatto right behind
me. When Gatto disappeared I could concentrate
on Poron, but while being faster in some of the
technical parts, I couldn’t pass him on the
straights.”
Poron held off Ickx till the finish and was
more than happy with the result: “This morning,
when the engine blew in qualifying, I didn’t
even think I would make the start. But the
Formula X mechanics did a fantastic job and got
the car ready just in time. It didn’t feel the
same as it did in practice and qualifying, but,
finishing second after nearly not making it, I
won’t complain.”
Race winner Shinsuke Yamazaki was very
pleased with his first win in the Formula X
Sport series. “I’m very happy to have won. I
went off this morning, but the mechanics did a
great job getting the car back in shape. I made
a clean start and once I saw I had a bit of a
lead I could control it. The Dunlop tyres were
very consistent throughout the 18 laps, with
just a hint of understeer in the middle of the
race. Needless to say I’m looking forward to
tomorrow.”
Said series organiser Claude Chantala: “I
would like to thank all those who have helped us
these last months in turning Formula X from an
idea into reality, especially the investors who
visited us today. Apart from a few gremlins,
which are typical for any new series, we have
had an excellent start of the season and I look
forward to the rest of the year, when more cars
and drivers are expected to join.”
Qualifying times Round 1 – Monza
1. Yamazaki (J) 2m13s321;
2. Poron (F) 2m14s4995
3. Gatto (I) 2m15s893
4. Ickx (B) 2m16s321
5. Casoni (I) 2m17s048
6. Gerbi (F) 2m18s158
7. Hubert (A) 2m19s109
8. Ballabio (MC) 2m20s497
9. Sommereau (F) 2m26s189
10. Pappolla (F) 2m27s148
11. Mallat (USA) 2m27s801
12. Nichizawa (J) 2m30s867
13. Panzaviota (I) 2m31s996
14. Blaton (B) 2m38s383
15. Lemeret (B) No time
16. Khan (GB) No time
Result Round 1 – Monza
1. Shinsuke Yamazaki (J) 18 laps in 35m53s173
(Average speed: 174.341kph)
2. Benjamin Poron (F) + 0m22s224
3. Vanina Ickx (B) + 0m33s499
4. Enea Casoni (I) + 0m36s467
5. Dieter Huber (A) + 1m09s901
6. Marco Panzavuota (I) + 1m11s142
7. Jean-Michel Pappolla (F) + 1m45s734
8. Jean-Yves Mallat (USA) + 1 lap
9. Didier Sommereau (F) + 1 lap
10. Julien Gerbi (F) + 5 laps
DNF Kasuyuki Nishizawa (J) Accident damage
DNF Manuele Gatto (I) Engine misfire
DNF Fulvio Ballabio (I) Accident damage
DNS Stéphane Lemeret (B) Accident in qualifying
DNS Marc Blaton (B) Gearbox
DNS Ian Khan (GB) Engine
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