- Preview about the title fight in the International GT Open
- Championship contender Giacomo Altoè celebrates home race at season final
- Team heads into remaining championship races well-prepared
Safenwil (Switzerland), 08th October 2019:
The season is coming to an end. Just six months ago, Emil Frey Racing started into the collaboration with Lamborghini Squadra Corse and the cooperation with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO. Emil Frey Racing has absolved 12 exciting races at six rounds at some of the most breathtaking race tracks in Europe. Now the final showdown awaits this coming weekend, the last sprint in the fight for the title in the International GT Open Championship. The season could not come to an end at a more suitable place for the highlight of the year than the famous Grand-Prix-Tack Autodromo Nazionale Monza, which is both the home of Lamborghini and Giacomo Altoè.
Eight race victories, three of those as double victory can be credited to the Swiss race team. At only three races one car did not see the chequered flag – an impressive achievement. However, the stress is now on the focus of the last and all-decisive round of the season and to switch to attack mode. Albert Costa Balboa and Giacomo Altoè are heading-up the drivers table with 11 points. Emil Frey Racing has a 14-points lead in the team’s standings.
Back in 2017, the title was very much in reach, however, an unfortunate weekend ruined all hopes for the final triumph. Therefore, all stops have been pulled ahead of the last round. In addition to meticulous preparations in the workshop in Safenwil as well as driver trainings in the very-own Emil Frey Simulator, the team also underwent a two-day test at Vallelunga.
Emil Frey Racing has set everything in place in order to finish this season as the beaming winner of the International GT Open.
The race meeting of the International GT Open in the Parco di Monza begins on Friday, 11th October 2019 with two free practice sessions. The first qualifying takes place at 10:05 am on Saturday, 12th October 2019 with the 70-minute-race following at 03:15 pm. On Sunday, 13th October 2019, the second qualifying also takes place at 10:05 am and the very final race in the afternoon from 02:50 pm.
All practice sessions, qualifyings and races are broadcast live via: https://www.youtube.com/user/GTOPENseries
For more information, please visit www.emilfreyracing.com.
Team Quotes
Lorenz Frey-Hilti, Team Principal Emil Frey Racing
“The team is very much looking forward to the season final and we really would like to take home the titles. So far, we had a good season, but there were also some disappointments along the road of many successes. Furthermore, the time handicaps due to podium finishes are always a great strategic challenge in the International GT Open Championship. The cooperation with Lamborghini started very well and we as a team worked very well with the new cars. We were close to winning the title once already. This time we are not letting the win slip away again, but it will be very close as usual. Monza will be one very exciting weekend.”
Jürg Flach, Technical Director Emil Frey Racing
“Following the return from Barcelona, we measured and checked the Lamborghinis thoroughly. Some parts related to the drive shaft as well as the chassis were controlled, and crack tested. We also participated in a two-day test in Vallelunga to be best-prepared for the Low-Down-Force weekend at Monza. Since we managed to extend our lead in both the team and drivers’ standings, we must focus to defend our lead with two strong qualifying and races at Monza. We get the chance to find the optimum Set-up on Thursday at the official test of the GT Open to ensure to have a good performance. I believe in our team and the competitiveness of our cars. I am heading optimistically to Monza but with a certain respect, as we cannot allow any mistakes to happen.”
Driver Quotes Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #14
Norbert Siedler (AUT)
“Monza will not be easy for us. The track features many straights and we will have to see if we can keep up with the McLaren. But we will do all necessary optimizations to ensure we will be the great team on Sunday evening.”
Mikael Grenier (CAN)
“It´s hard to believe that Monza is already the final race of the season. It will be a difficult weekend for us, as we are not as strong with the top-speed as the McLaren, but we will give our best and push. Our goal is to win the championship for Emil Frey Racing and Lamborghini. So, we will pull out all the stops to make it happen.”
Driver Quotes Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #63
Albert Costa Balboa (ESP)
“Monza is the absolute high-speed track. At the same time, it´s the home race for my team-mate and the home of Lamborghini. I am very motivated and excited to come as the leader of the championship to the final race of the year. We have many possibilities and I am confident that we will succeed.”
Giacomo Altoè (ITA)
“Monza is my home race and already the last of the season. I am very excited. In my opinion, some of our competitors will work better with the track in Monza than we with our Lamborghinis. Nevertheless, the focus is on winning the title and we will see where we will stand in the end.”