Last weekend Rinaldi Racing went to the seasons opening of the Blancpain Sprint Series in Misano, Italy. On board the green Ferrari with the starting number 333. Alexander Mattschull and Daniel Keilwitz shared the work behind the steering wheel in the ProAm class.
At the first free practice under bright sunshine, Alexander Mattschull and Daniel Keilwitz could adapt themselves to the track conditions and as well to the brand new Ferrari 488 GT3. The second free practice took place in the evening and went until the night. There the drivers could get an idea of the track in the darkness.
On Saturday afternoon it was time for the qualifying. In the first part of the qualifying, Alexander Mattschull was behind the steering wheel of the Italian race car. He reached a very good second place in the ProAm class, just a few hundredth behind the leader in the class. Daniel Keilwitz disputed the second qualifying. While attempting to drive a fast lap he was blocked by an opponent in his first sector. At the end, it was just enough for the third position in class and the 23rd position overall for the qualifying race.
On time at 20.30 o’clock, the first race started and Daniel Keilwitz was the starting driver. But already in the first lap, an accident occurred where six cars were involved. Due to his fast reaction, Keilwitz could avoid the crash, but he caught the wing from an Audi that stuck in the front. During the safety car, Keilwitz had to come to the pits to remove this car part. Just as he left the pits, the red flag was waived and he stuck in front of the red lights at pit exit. So the #333 had to restart from the pits. That is the reason why the Ferrari lost one lap on the field. After the restart, Daniel Keilwitz moved forward and convinced with good lap times. After the pit stop, Alexander Mattschull was in the Ferrari 488 GT3. At the end, it was just enough for a disappointing fourth place in the ProAm class.
On Sunday morning Alexander Mattschull started in the main race. Already in the first laps, he moved from the fourth to the second position in the ProAm class. With very good lap times he reached the first place in class and handed over the car to Daniel Keilwitz at the pit stop on this position. At the end, Keilwitz crossed the line as winner of the ProAm class.
Michele Rinaldi: „Well, the first race was a complete flop. To restart the race with a gap of one lap, did not give us the chance to catch up. However, the Ferrari convinced with fast lap times and kept up with the speed of the leaders. On Sunday we were rewarded with the win of the ProAm class. Those are important points for the championship.“
This weekend Rinaldi Racing will go to the second run of the VLN at the Nürburgring.
