The first round of the new Italian Formula Junior Championship, combined with Round 1 of the Euro F3 1000 Series is our only FJ race at Monza this year, much to the sorrow of our friends in the Monza Circuit organising team , Daniele Galbiati, Lorena Bellavista and Nicoletta, so it was a smaller , but still very International field that broke through the Winter gloom to arrive bathed in sunshine at the majestic Palace of Motor racing

Branca Formula Junior driver, Tommaso Gelmini of GPS Classico is the spirit behind the revival, no Italian FJ Championship having been run since the Scuderia Madunnina series finished in 2005. Tommaso has linked up with the Perone series of races, and he has put an incredible effort into the organisation. You have to have the cars , so Tommaso had been in the UK a few weeks before, assisting the purchase by 250F Maserati racer, Gigi Baulino, of Chris Dinnage’s , spare, Lotus 20 , now on drum brakes, and Martin Sheppard’s Cooper-BMC T 59, for fellow Swiss, Guido Haschke, Martin now being in search for a front engined Stanguellini

22 entries was a respectable field , including  4 runners in the F3 Euro Series, Vincent Rivet now replacing son, Geoffroy, in the family BT 28, Maurice Slotine in the Merlyn Mk 14, surprisingly rejected by Monaco, Roland Fischer ( Tecno) and new recruit, Christophe Widmer{ BT18} from Switzerland.  Duncan ( with Mair) towed the Alexis from England ,accompanied by Anthony Goddard in the Tojeiro joined the familiar Italian FJ contingent, Alessandro Ripamonti back in the fold with the Giannini Brabham BT6, and Tazio Taraschi in Daniele Salodini’s second Taraschi, his own under repair with a  cracked chassis

Free practice saw Pierre Tonetti ( BT6) fastest , from Angelo Baiguera , returning to FJ ,with Bruno Ferrari’s Branca , poor ,2009 Mille Miglia winner, Bruno still recovering from his F1 March 701 testing accident at Franciacorta .The sun continued to shine on Saturday , with Tonetti again comfortably fastest in qualifying, ahead of Baiguera and Gelmini, both on 2m 14.9, followed by Fischer, Paulo Marzatico ( Branca – still tended by octogenarian constructor, Aquilina Branca ), and Vincent.

Race 1 followed in the afternoon, and , sadly, Marzatico was out with a broken differential. Tonetti led away, from Baiguera and Gelmini, with Fisher already slowed with electrical problems. Rivet was moving well, passing Gelmini on lap 8, and heading after Baiguera , but the later’s modern single-seater experience proved the part, and it was still a couple of seconds between them at the end, from Gelmini, Patrizia Sbardolini in the bright blue Merlyn Mk 5, and Slotine, while Goddard was thoroughly enjoying himself , finishing ahead of Witmer, who spun a couple of times. At the back Duncan and Tazio Taraschi had a race long battle, switching places several times. A grand podium followed, with all class winners receiving a Parma region food parcel, wine , cheese, salami and other goodies, Unfortunately Baiguera was disqualified as the borrowed car was fitted with a Lambda censor, easily rectified for race 2, while the F3 cars had problems over their weights , largely because there was total inconsistency in the FIA papers as to the correct minimum weight for the Formula…. roll on Monaco !

Sunday was not quite so warm , and just as the FJs came out in late afternoon , the heavens opened briefly , which sent all the Euro F3s , on their modern AVONs, scurrying for rain tyres. Tonetti shot off again , but this time only to end up in the gravel at the Parabolica on lap 1, leaving wet shod Fisher to power away. Sadly for Roland , the electrical problems intervened again, and the leader drew to a halt past the first chicane on lap9, with Rivet , who had started from the pits moving from 7th at the end of lap one , past Slotine and Sbardolini, and then Baiguera on lap 5, followed by Gelmini a lap later, inheriting the lead to the flag, followed by Baiguera and Gelmini. Class winners were Baiguera,Goddard, Duncan, Taraschi, Angelo Delia ( F3 BT 15 running to Formula Storiche rules with Dunlop tyres ) and Rivet

An interesting addition to Tommaso’s programme is a separate “ Parato” for cars / drivers not yet ready to race , which included Stanguellini ,Cooper T52, Tecno F3, BWA F3, and a “ Formula Baby Junior” Tagliani 500 ! It is hoped that these cars will gradually join the full series, but provides an excellent opportunity for track time pro tem

There is no doubt that the Series is well backed, well resourced, and above all the weekend was great fun and relaxed. Next round is again the only Formula Junior race this year at Italy’s second F1 track, Imola , on 16th May , and more non Italian entries are most welcome , while the FIA Lurani Trophy joins the Series for R4 at Misano-Adriatico on 18th July

DCPR