Historic Czech victory in 24h Barcelona and Fermí Vélez trophy with Ferrari 458 GT3
Czech team Scuderia Praha and drivers Jiri Pisarik, Jaromir Jirik, Matteo Malucelli and Peter Kox won 24 hours race at Barcelona Circuit and took the Fermí Vélez trophy after their Ferrari 458 GT3 fough off challenge of almost seventy cars. I tis big step into history as it is first team in the modern history that a Czech team won outright 24 hours race and it is also important milestone for Ferrari as it is the first time that a Ferrari won 24h Barcelona race in its 16th edition and also thanks to second place of Kessel Ferrari it is first Ferrari double in 24h endurance since Spa 2004.
Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya, well known as a home of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix, hosted last weekend 16th edition of the 24 hours race that is part of the 24h Series where the highlight is 24h Dubai in January. However, Barcelona also saw a big field of almost 70 cars and exciting racing. Czech team Scuderia Praha entered on Ferrari 458 GT3 with Czech drivers Jiri Pisarik and Jaromir Jirik who were joined by experienced aces Peter Kox and Matteo Malucelli.
Starting grid was decided on Friday evening and Malucelli was entrusted to qualify #4 car. Italian driver with experience from Ferrari factory team put in faultless performance and claimed pole position with half a second margin. Saturday’s noon saw the start of the race with Kox behind the wheel of the red Ferrari. The Dutchman initially lost lead to reigning champion #1 Mercedes but soon was back in the lead. First sixth hours of the race brought several changes at the front with another Ferrari of Kessel was also in the mix but Czech team took it decisively in the evening and never gave it back. The team regularly changed drivers in sequence Kox, Pisarik, Malucelli and Jirik, only slightly altered due to situation on the track but all drivers spent at least 5 hours behind the wheels which is testament of the quality of the whole team. They were supported by a perfectly prepared car that has a good balance through the whole 24 hours and also ran faultlessly without any single glitch. Mechanics we fast with pitstops where the team also gained time on competitors during tyre and driver changes. The #4 was gradually building its lead and entered the final phase of the race with comfortable margin of seven laps. Kox took the flag ahead of Kessel’s Ferrari, so a great double for Maranello cars. Third was defending champion Hofor Racing with Mercedes. Moreover, the team took a perfect sweep of pole position, fastest lap set by Malucelli in the morning and outright victory.
Jiri Pisarik: „Simply said it was a perfect weekend we could not have asked for more. It was my first 24 hours race and it is unbelievable that there was no single mistake from anybody in our team during full distance. I must say that I was a bit surprised how hard it is driving in the night. It was new and interesting experience. The team prepared a perfect car, team-mates were greats and the result is fantastic. Personally I am so satisfied that I did such a long driving without mistake it is so tough races to keep focus all the team with speed differences between various cars. I enjoyed the podium a lot it was the first time they played a Czech anthem for me.
Jaromír Jirik: „Beautiful race from all perspectives we did not put a foot wrong from driving, strategy and reliability aspects. Maybe I could have gone a bit faster but it was more important to keep a constant lap times without mistakes which we all managed to do. Our performance is also valuable due to the fact that we regularly changed behind the wheel it was not like on or two drivers doing majority of the race. Big thanks to the team that prepared not only perfectly reliable car but also very nicely balanced one. It was a pleasure to drive it.”
Matteo Malucelli: „It is almost unbelievable that we did not have any single problem during whole 24 hours. The car ran footlessly as a team we did not do a single mistake. I was not sure what to expect before we started because I did not the team and my team-mates that well but I soon realised that we have a very good potential to fight for the victory. Thanks to the team for great car, quick pitstops and also thanks to my team-mates because to win endurance races you need to have the all crew to be quick and reliable. Difficult to ask for more - we have pole position, fastest lap and the win. I enjoyed both race and work with the team.”
Peter Kox: „To win any 24 hours race is never easy because to finish such draining race in itself is never easy but we did it. All team members put in a great work. We led vast majority of the race, had a good strategy calls and most importantly we did not do any mistakes. Maybe it is not such famous race like Le Mans or Spa but you still have 70 competitors and finish it without a glitch is quite rare. The team was well prepared as usual and was a pleasure to work with them again. I am pretty sure that I am now the most successful team driver in endurance races.”
Ivo Horn, team principal: „The result reflects work of the whole team, every single member. It may sound like a cliché but endurance races are a team sport not only between the drivers behind the wheel but also in the background. Both Peter and Matteo belong to the elite group of great endurance racing drivers and they did a great job in all aspects. Fast in heavy traffic and night. Jaromir and Jiri, who raced his first 24 hours race, were also impeccable like their famous team-mates, just a tiny bit slower and as reliable. We were rewarded for the big effort in preparation of the car and also had a bit of luck because you never have any guarantees in 24 hours races. It was great that after such a big race they played Czech national anthem.”
