Tatuus Imagazine
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SPRINT TO THE FUTURE FORMULA REGIONAL EUROPEA Frederik Vesti is the first Champion FORMULA RENAULT EUROCUP The impressive debut of a new racecar USF 2000 - INDY PRO 2000 New generations grow up FORMULA 4 A star-studded European panorama Gianfranco De Bellis with Giovanni Delfino 2 The interview/Gianfranco De Bellis «The secret? W never stop» We enjoyed a conversation with Tatuus Racing CEO Gianfranco De Bellis, who shares thoughts about the success of his factory and the positive trend of EMI, the group that comprises Tatuus, Autotecnica Motori and Breda Racing. The key for success is to anticipate the market’s needs, as proved by the Woman Series experience 3 by Stefano Semeraro There will also be more pressure because there has been a lot of talk about the W Series around the world in recent months. The series will no 2019 has been another highly rewarding year for Tatuus, which longer be a novelty, but something that is expected to grow». proved able, as a manufacturer and service provider, to keep the pace with many racing series around the world. What should we What the W Series commitment meant for Tatuus? start with? «In the end, all the cars basically work in the same way. Relating with the «The best surprise of 2019 was the W Series. All the other projects high-level personnel that the W Series lined-up in every single went really well too, but they are now consolidated, managed department of such an important organization, that was undoubtedly an throughout long-standing partnerships with great motorsport outstanding experience. After 30 years in motorsports, I thought that professionals such as Renault, Dan Anderson for the Road to Indy there was nothing to invent any more. They made it happen though, and in the USA, or Jonathan Palmer in England. Even if we should never that’s the lesson we must take away. We shouldn’t wait for the market, take anything for granted, by working with them, you already know but be courageous and promote innovation in the first place. Most of the from the start that things will be fine. In fact, the results have times, it’s not easy. I would have never thought to an all-female series. At been exceptional. On the other hand, the W Series was a surprise, the beginning, there were scepticism and criticism, but the promoters especially for how the organizers managed to create something unique eventually managed to turn them into excitement». with a totally professional approach. It takes courage to try new ways, especially because those initiatives cost a lot, so I admire them. And maybe they started a new tendency… Those who do nothing new maybe do not make mistakes, «Exactly. I was at the final round of the Spanish Formula 4 but do not create anything to be remembered for». Championship with Giovanni Delfino, and three of the drivers were females, while Amna Al Qubaisi scored a historic win in the supporting What do you expect for season 2? race to the Formula 1 World Championship at Abu Dhabi. This was not «From a sporting and results point of view, I’m convinced that it will be imaginable even a few years ago. Of course, all the other drivers are even more important. The selection, the criteria adopted, more in-depth deserving and outstanding, like for example the youngsters of Formula knowledge of the car, the overall breaking-in of the organizational Renault. And the same goes for the French manufacturer, which stayed machine, will lead to a championship with higher performance. committed despite a difficult moment». W Series 4 USF 2000 It has been a challenging and exciting season… Anderson is also ours. We get to watch guys like Oliver Askew or Rinus «Definitely, and we know it because we had to supply spare parts and VeeKay, who started racing with our cars in USF 2000, complete the assistance, and we managed it all without any issue. Formula 4, the Road whole Road to Indy ladder and eventually debut in IndyCar. That is truly to Indy in the USA, Formula Renault, Formula Regional, the Asian a joy. We will see what will happen or if something changes with the championship, the Toyota Series in New Zealand, the W Series…. Not to acquisition of the whole group by Roger Penske. For our part, we will mention testing with many different engines, from Toyota to Alfa, and continue to offer good products to promoters and federations». Renault. Plus, there was the commitment towards signing agreements for the distribution of spare parts, and the many Tatuus engineers operating The new season is already here: what are the 2020 goals for Tatuus? on-track all around the world. Yes, if they asked me what was the most «The Toyota Racing Series, which is really important for us, is beginning challenging year for Tatuus, I would answer 2019, no hesitation. It was a in January and it will be the sixteenth consecutive year that we supply huge effort, but the results rewarded us. Then, of course, you can always them with cars. There will be the challenge of the new Formula 4 improve. When you are always under pressure and you have to meet an contender, with the Halo system and the other safety improvements. It is urgent deadline, you risk running into economic inefficiencies. definitely going to be a difficult exercise because the budget is limited, Sometimes, to deliver a piece to a customer on time, you spend more but safety is always a priority. It will be very important for us. As usual, than what you earn. But we never looked at that aspect: our goal has we will commit ourselves 120 per cent». always been to satisfy the customer». Tatuus, with Autotecnica Motori and Breda Racing, is part of the Eccellenze Motorsport Italia group. How is EMI working? Are there new additions on the horizon? «Actually, there is a really interesting prospect and I would like to expand the group, but for now we are evaluating it as an opportunity. At the moment, Tatuus, Autotecnica and Breda employ over 100 people and we developed great synergies between the companies while remaining independent and operating in full autonomy with the respective clients. We work with Renault through Oreca, with Cosworth for the Palmer- owned series, with Mazda in the USA. Autotecnica prepares engines for Formula Regional other brands and even Breda never left a client behind. That’s the goal that Giovanni Delfino and I set at the beginning, and we feel it has been F3 Asia met. We aim for the maximum professionalism towards any customer». What is the balance for the involvement of Tatuus in the Road To Indy program? What are the perspectives? «The American program is something really important for us. We take part in the supporting events of IndyCar, the second single-seater championship in the world, so the satisfaction of the teams and Dan 6 FIA Formula Regional European The dominator of season 1 is Frederik 1st of Denmark by Mattia Tremolada had to settle for second, while the Italian squad secured the team honours. Danish racer Frederik Vesti dominated the opening FIA Formula Sim-racer Igor Fraga, World FIA Grand Turismo Champion got the nod Regional European series, created by the FIA to bridge the gap between on David Schumacher for third place, while the young German Formula 4 and Formula 3. The series gathered good early support and experienced a positive season featuring four wins. Back on-track after a got all the 2019 teams committed for the next season. This success is horrific crash in the 2018 Macau Grand Prix, Sophia Floersch took sixth also coming from the success of the Tatuus T-318 package among teams place. Car counts kept rising throughout the opening season of the and drivers. championship which established itself on the world motorsports stage Thanks to a highly-impressive middle part of the season, in which he as a key step in the learning path for young drivers aiming for Formula 1 scored six wins in eight races (bringing his total to 13) Vesti clinched the or a professional career. Eight rounds, five of which on F1 venues, are title with one round to go at the end of the penultimate event of the confirmed for the next season as well as the 25 FIA Superlicense points season at Mugello. Fellow Prema Powerteam teammate Enzo Fittipaldi for the Champion and 200.000 euros in prize money. 8 Sophia Floersch Enzo Fittipaldi Igor Fraga David Schumacher 9 Formula Renault Eurocup Piastri, the wizard of Oz An extremely tight and exciting season handed the 2018 title to Australian Oscar Piastri, a protégé of Mark Webber, who narrowly beat Frenchman Martins showing his ability in taking the best out of the Tatuus F3 T-318 package by Massimo Costa Ten rounds were held, with two races each, on nine Formula 1 venues, including a dream weekend alongside F1 and F2 on the The opening season for the brand-new Formula Renault Eurocup, gorgeous Monte Carlo track. There was also the chance to race on an featuring the new Tatuus F3 T-318 machinery, was outstanding and extra-European circuit in Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi, where the season spectacular, decided at the last corner of the last race. After the end came to its completion. There was not a lot more to ask. of the previous era of the Formula Renault 2.0, with the Tatuus cars Eight teams were involved (R-Ace, MP Motorsport, Arden, JD that made history between 2000 and 2018, the French manufacturer Motorsport, M2 Competition, Bhaitech, GRS, FA by Drivex) with 32 went all-in on the new F3 challenge promoted by the FIA.