They are not two absolute rookies, but two rookies in the Carrera Cup Italia and on the 911 GT3 Cup, absolutely yes. Although with different assumptions, a consequence of two different ages, paths and careers in single-seater racing, from which they both come, Lirim Zendeli and Francesco Braschi at this start of the season in Misano are the two main protagonists of the new Rookie classification introduced this year by Porsche Italia flagship store.
In this morning’s qualifying there was the first real direct comparison after it had already appeared clear in the tests that right from Misano the challenge for the first Rookie title would involve them and put them in competition with each other even beyond the absolute ranking.
In race 1 tonight at 9.00pm, Braschi will start from fourth place behind Ten Voorde, Iaquinta and Masters, while Zendeli finished seventh. Tomorrow in race 2 at 12.00 it will be Zendeli who will place himself on the fourth spot on the grid, while the young Catholic, who plays at home in Misano, will start from sixth position.
Zendeli is a driver who, although still only 24 years old, already boasts extensive experience in motor racing, with an important (and even successful) past in FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3. The German with an Albanian passport is the new leader of Ombra Racing and despite in fact the experience is still being learned in GT in general and on the 911 GT3 Cup in particular.
However, his CV is important and the fact of being an expert and fast driver makes it preferable for him to do the best possible in the overall rather than thinking about the Rookie title: “I like to look at the general ranking and there aren’t so many weekends, so for me it’s more important to work on my evolution and try to do better from race to race, obtaining podiums and victories. Of course I would like to win the Rookie title, but from a good position overall”.
This morning could have started even better, among other things: “I’m not too happy but not negative either, it was interesting to see how my first qualifying went. P7 for race 1 and P4 for race 2. I can accept fourth place, a shame only for a yellow flag which forced me to abort the Then on the next lap I found some traffic and so I didn’t have the best opportunity.”.
After all, also tackling a single-make series with pros, rookies, very young and gentleman drivers and something new: “We are many drivers and of different levels, you just have to accept it and for me it’s part of the learning process. I like to stay further ahead, but it was my first qualifying and I didn’t want to put excessive pressure on myself. Let’s see how the race goes. I did a good simulation last night in free practice and I can’t wait to get started”.
Finally, a consideration on these first days behind the wheel of the 911 GT3 Cup: “Sometimes I feel really good, I really like the car, as well as the way you have to drive it. Sometimes I still think with the mind of a Formula driver when the time comes to use the new tire and start pushing, so I tend to push like in a single-seater. So maybe I didn’t do everything right during my first qualifying, that’s why I have to look at the data, learn from it and do better next time. Give me a couple of days and I’ll get there too.”.
On the other side of the “ring” there is Braschi, who moved permanently to GT well before Zendeli, that is to say at 19 years old (with two appearances already last year in Dinamic even as an 18 year old). Here too it is quite natural that in his case the Rookie ranking takes on greater weight: “A title is always a title, so we definitely look at the Rookie championship, it’s probably my priority”.
Misano would be an opportunity to make the most of, therefore, given that in race 1 Braschi starts close to the top-3. And what’s more, we play at home: “It has a good effect, but it’s a track like the others. It’s not my favourite, it’s not the worst. This morning in qualifying we could have done much better with the second set of new Michelins, perhaps to get into the top three, in any case to the race is here and we are ready”.
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