Formula Junior made an early start to 2011 at the first Peroni meeting of the year in Italy, joining the Formule Storriche Challenge, now in its second year, run by GPS Classic’s Tommaso Gelmini.  With 34 entries, and the grid already oversubscribed for the next two rounds at Hockenheim and Donington Park, Formula Junior is looking forward to its best year yet.
However, there were the inevitable depletions – Steve Tonneman damaged his shoulder a week before, whilst Championship contender and 2010 President’s Cup winner Christoph Burckhardt broke two fingers whilst loading his Lotus 22 for the trip down from Switzerland.  Free practice saw Duncan complete but 3 laps in the newly rebuilt Alexis before a loss of power and plume of smoke signalled piston failure again, while Francesco Zadotti’s Tecno F3 ‘s motor also expired, leaving him to contemplate Tommaso Gelmini’s ex Marcus Mussa BT2 as a possible replacement for the future.  Francesco Liberatore lost a wheel in the ex-Mark Woodhouse Dolphin, when a stub axle broke, but the GPS mechanics had this sorted overnight.  Swiss winegrower Angelo Delia took to his bed overnight with flu and was replaced by son Cesare in the F3 BT15.  Guido di Egidio’s Stanguellini was sans moteur so he had been loaned Daniele Salodini’s ‘spare’ red Taraschi # 66 for the weekend, but did not look comfortable, and with diff oil under his seat, decided to forsake the drive after a few more laps in qualifying.
Pierre Tonetti (Brabham BT6) looked comfortably fastest in both Friday sessions, with John Fyda (Lotus 22) and Bruno Ferrari (Branca) both on the pace.  Qualifying was on Saturday morning with Tonetti now nearly 3s ahead of Fyda, with Paulo Marzatico (Branca) and Philipp Buhofer (Lola Mk5A) now too ahead of Manfredo Rossi having his first run in his ‘Italian Series’ car, the ex-Emanuele Benedini Brabham BT6. Class D leader, Chris Chilcott (Lotus 20) and Patrizia Sbardolini going well in her Merlyn 5 were next up, as was John Delane (Lotus 18) in 11th spot, having only made the decision 24 hours earlier to be on the flight from the USA, leaving Andy Willis with a surprise trip to Italy,while Liberatore’s Dolphin, all repaired, sounded very crisp.  Andrew Tart’s Bond led the front engined brigade.  John Chisholm (Gemini MkII) destroyed his starter motor, but fortunately Duncan had a spare, while Simone Tacconi’s engine managed one lap – and that was it!
The Juniors were out again on Saturday evening for Race 1.  A little bit of excitement on the line as Pizzicannella let off his Bianchini F3’s fire extinguisher and was pushed off.  True to form Tonetti maintained a comfortable lead throughout from Fyda, Marzatico and Buhofer.  Patrizia made a splendid start, but Rossi and Bruno Ferrari just had the pace. One good battle in mid field involved John Dowson’s BT2 and Delane, with Delane getting ahead after 8 laps, and Dowson getting back by the flag.  John Chisholm’s Gemini comprehensively destroyed its diff on the second lap, leaving the Bond a comfortable front engined winner, although Justin Fleming also looked purposeful in the white Elva 100.  There was some fun and games going on amongst the Italian cars – Taraschi, well ahead, suddenly dropped back to join Salodini, behind Biekens, the latter eventually deciding to leave them to it, and stay clear behind the Taraschi ‘Team’.
For Sunday, Patrizia reported to the Stewards that her Merlyn engine was not a runner, and the Stewards granted her permission to drive the “spare” Taraschi.  Up front it was a repeat of the Tonetti –Fyda – Marzatico podium, but this time Manfredo Rossi passed Buhofer, with Chilcott an excellent 6th.  Taraschi was up to 15th by lap 2, but as soon as Fleming had disappeared with engine problems, he dropped back to join the Biekens-Taraschi battle.  Jan determined to keep ahead of these two, got the bit between his teeth and hit the raised curve at the 2nd chicane sending the Stanguellini into a double barrel roll, ejecting Jan on the second rotation, fortunately and miraculously as it subsequently transpired with nothing actually broken but severebruising and lacerations.  With a lap to go the race ran its course, with excellent races for Steve Futter (Lotus 20), the Bond – winning the front engined class, and Leo Bartoli gave the Moroni a well deserved finish after an all night engine session.
While Mair went off with poor Jan to the hospital, proceedings were further delayed by a protest from Guido Haschke (Lotus 20/22) against Pierre Tonetti for an incident when the two cars touched wheels at the chicane when Guido had been lapped.  The Stewards heard all personal evidence, watched the video, and the Clerk of the Course heard reports from the track marshals.  In the light of all they heard and saw, the Stewards deemed this to have been a racing incident.
Despite Jan’s accident, and the protest, it had been another successful meeting, as at the 2010 event, and the relaxed atmosphere with all the trucks and race cars in one area in the paddock, even though the planned GPS hospitality truck broke down, and never reached the circuit, was a pleasant contrast to the larger Monza Historic meeting in June.

DCPR