Italia: Alberto Cerqui Vallelunga summary

Alberto Cerqui confirms himself on the rookies podium at Vallelunga too

Another podium for Alberto Cerqui at Vallelunga, theatre of the sixth round of the Italian Formula 3 Championship.

Qualifying on Saturday seemed to be destined to compromise the outcome of the whole weekend for the young talent from Brescia as he was slowed down by a technical problem which prevented him from going beyond the twenty-second absolute time (1'32.352). Race one unfortunately ended during the first lap for the winner of the 2009 Formula Azzurra title winner, when a contact with an opponent damaged a suspension rod of his Dallara forcing the driver to an early retirement.

In race two, a combative Alberto Cerqui recovered several positions since the start and did not stop pushing for the whole thirty minutes of racing and the thirteenth absolute position under the chequered flag awarded his sheer determination and was also worth the third place among the rookies.

Cerqui is currently fifth in the rookies classification with 75 points, 27 shy of the third position.

Alberto Cerqui:
"This hasn't been an easy weekend and I could express as I wanted only in race two: I recovered quite well and I lapped several times on the lap-times of the fastest drivers. Considering my starting position, the podium of the rookies is a great result that gives a measure of the potential we had on this track; now two rounds remain to be run in the next month and I intend to give my best to finish the season third of the rookies".

The Italian Formula 3 Championship will be back on track next 10 October at Mugello for the seventh and second-last round of the season.

-source: ac