Once again, Oregon Team impressed in the second round of the European Le Mans Series, the 4 Hours of Monza, held last weekend at their home track.
The team led by Jerry Canevisio and Piergiorgio Testa had all the needed ingredients to aim for success and that showed clearly in Saturday’s qualifying, where Damiano Fioravanti placed the Norma M30 LMP3 he shares with Lorenzo Bontempelli and Gustas Grinbergas on the second row. It was a positive beginning that increased the team’s expectations for a possible race win. The same win that escaped them (along with the podium) in the opening round held in mid-April on the French Paul Ricard circuit after a stellar pole.
At Monza Fioravanti was again in the spotlight, able to keep a good pace in his first driving stint. Running third in the early stages, the Roman went on to grab second place as well, overtaking Lucas Légerte at the straight around lap 30.
After the first pit stop, Oregon Team’s car returned on track seventh, but a safety car caused by Nobuya Yamanaka’s car dangerously stopped against the barriers after an hour and a half, race, regrouped the leading pack.
Bontempelli was the next to climb into the car. On lap 83, the #10 LMP3 stopped in the pit lane with a fire that was also the reason for the premature retirement.
“It all went wrong – said Canevisio – During the first pit stop, after Fioravanti started, we already had a problem with the fuel filler which delivered 60 litres instead of 80. Later, we took advantage of a safety car to refuel. Then, when Bontempelli got into the car, a hook holding the front nose in place broke and obstructed the brake ducts. Lorenzo returned to the pits and the brakes caught fire. We repaired the issue but it was decided not to take risks, keeping Grinbergas in the pits.”
Oregon team will be back on track on next 19th and 20th July for the third round of the European Le Mans Series that will take place at Barcelona. In Spain, the team will try to recover the points lost at Monza, and since the championship is long, the expectations remain high.
Oregon Team will also be on-track on May 25th and 26th for the Clio Cup Italia series at Imola.
