COLONI MOTORSPORT srl Via Baroncino 26 06069 Tuoro sul Trasimeno (Perugia) Italy Tel. +39 075 828488 - 829301  Fax  +39 075 829302 info@colonimotorsport.com For more information: colonipress@tin.it

Coloni Motorsport conquered a fantastic podium with Giorgio Pantano

Giorgio Pantano drove a fantastic race today to take an extremely good third position on the podium and four points in the championship. Enrico toccacelo did not have such a good day as in Interlagos. He made a good start but during the first lap he went off the track at Rivazza corner and dropped a lot of place. Pantano was third over the chequered flag behind the frenchman Sebastien Bourdais and the Brazil race winner Rodrigo Sperafico. Giorgio had not a good start but struggled for the same pace as the leaders and on the sixth lap passed Pizzonia. Giorgio lost his position a couple of laps later only to be regained the podium with three laps remaining. Pantano battled with Antonio Pizzonia to almost take third place and he was running very competitively in the last four laps, after he overtook Pizzonia, and scored the fastest time of the race just the penultimate lap. Giorrgio is happy with the result; he has taken four points for his campaign and now lies 5th in the driver's championship. Enrico Toccacelo, who was starting in 8th place, unfortunately had a bad start and went out at Rivazza in the first lap, as reported. When he rejoined the track he was at the back of the grid but managed to move up to 12th by the end of the race. Sebastien Bourdais won the race from pole position followed by championship leader Rodrigo Sperafico. 

Giorgio Pantano: "It has been a very good day and week for us. It would be difficult to do anything better, because I did not tested in Imola before the race and I did not know the track in dry conditions. Since I have started to work together with Coloni, we improve every time the car, so I am pretty confident for Barcelona, because the car is performing well and very constant all the way. I am very happy for the whole team, because they did a very good job."

Enrico Tocccaelo: "I am disappointed because I did some mistake and I have finished out of the points. After I went out in Rivazza, the car was not really very good and there were some problems with the front tyres, that I destroyed in the first lap. It is a shame because with all these problems I was turning out some respectable lap times but of course with no hope for any position in the points. I am looking forward Barcelona with confident, because I have a good car.” 

Coloni Motorsport: “We are very happy for Giorgio and, at the same time, very disappointed for Enrico. This podium was the 2^nd for Coloni Motorsport after Nurburgring ’99, and we are confident that it could be the first of a long series. I am extrememely satisfied with the cooperation with C.S.A.I. (Italian Federation) and very proud to represente Italy in a such prestigious and competitive championship. We will going and demonstrating that young italian driver are strong and fast like foreign driver and colud have a chance to take a F.1 seat.”