Next weekend, Isotta Fraschini will face the most difficult challenge of the 2024 season, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To date, this adventure in the FIA World Endurance Championship for the Milanese company has been characterized by putting aside top ambitions, wisely aiming to make small steps forward with each outing on the track.
For the Type 6 LMH-C managed by Team Duqueine, the commitment in the Hypercar Class was well known to be very tough, against much more experienced and highly rated rivals, and with only Jean-Karl Vernay having a past in the world of motorsport that could grant him the status of Captain of the group.
With the Silver duo formed by Antonio Serravalle and Carl Bennett there is still a lot to do to reach a certain level of performance, but also the limited possibility of carrying out tests has obviously slowed down operations and every test session on the weekends of the race was used as training for everyone.
On the Circuit de la Sarthe the IF car will continue to have a Balance of Performance that is anything but favorable, but the long straights and top speeds can favor what is said to be good aerodynamics of the prototype developed by Michelotto Engineering, with Vernay first tip, needless to say.
Jean-Karl Vernay, Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Type6-C
Photo credit: Rainier Ehrhardt
“I had the opportunity to race at Le Mans 11 years ago and I am very happy to return here with a Hypercar, a nice celebration for the whole team too. We are very happy, a nice celebration begins for Isotta Fraschini and Duqueine, and we look forward to going down to the track on Sunday”, admits the Frenchman during ‘Le Pesage’ performed in the city centre.
“We are aware that we are going to compete against the most important manufacturers in the world, but with Isotta and Duqueine we are proud to be here; we are a small structure and we must try to do our best with what we have available”.
“The mission to complete for us is to get to the end of the race with a lot of work and accumulated experience. It is the goal of many, from our point of view we have already made improvements between Imola and Spa, finding more stability.”
“Personally, I will have to try to quickly brush up on my knowledge of this track, given that I raced there many years ago, giving a hand to my teammates who don’t know it well, in order to find a good balance and homogeneity in the choices between us” .
#11 Isotta Fraschini Isotta Fraschini Tipo6-C
Photo by: Nikolaz Godet
The word was then passed to Bennett: “Coming from Fernando Alonso’s Academy, I was able to exchange a few words with him regarding this commitment, which is totally new to me. For my growth I had already chosen the world of prototypes for some time, I like the challenging challenges like this.”
“Le Mans is the most challenging race I’ve done to date and I can’t wait to start it.”
Finally the microphone was passed to Serravalle: “Obviously Le Mans is one of the most important races in the world and I am very happy to be here, like everyone else. I think we are prepared and I hope that improvements can be made with each outing on the track, which For the moment that’s the main focus for us.”
“To learn the track I watched a few videos, but mainly I trained on the simulator and I think I’m ready, after many hours spent lapping virtually.”
“The traffic on the track? Honestly, it’s not bothering me too much. We’re in the class with the most power, so it’s about learning to manage and get used to certain situations. Every time you learn and improve.”
Miguel Valdecabres and Sandro Bortesi, Isotta Fraschini
Photo by: Isotta Fraschini
Management news in IF
In the meantime, there is also some news at a management level for Isotta Fraschini, which is aiming for expansion on the global automotive market after the relaunch of the brand in 2022.
The new CEO will be the Spaniard Miguel Valdecabres, who takes the place of Enzo Panacci, while the role of General Manager passes into the hands of Sandro Bortesi, with the declared intention of targeting the Far and Middle East, and North America.
“Miguel Valdecabres is a well-known name in the world of mobility and motoring, having been involved in Campos Racing as CFO immediately after obtaining his degree in Economics and a master’s degree from the University of Southampton (UK),” explains the company note.
“His subsequent 5-year commitment to PwC as a Senior Auditor provided him with business knowledge, which he used to start his first business venture Chic-Kles. But his passion for automotive and motorsports led him to co -found and become a board member of FIA Formula E”.
“With his entrepreneurial DNA he pioneered QEV Technologies, an engineering company specializing in the field of electric mobility and then, towards the end of 2020, Miguel decided to join as CEO at Ev Dynamics, for the production of buses and vans electricity in Hong Kong”.
“Sandro Bortesi is a finance professional, with over 30 years of experience in global strategy, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and operations. He has advised funds, corporates and blue-chip investors in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, working in sectors such as telecommunications, media, private equity, motorsports, automotive and real estate”.
“In his experience in the motorsport and sports car industry, he was the founder and managing partner of Racing Masters, a testing center based in Spain and consultant to McLaren Spain.”
Here are Bortesi’s first words: “I am extremely honored to have earned the trust of Giuliano Michelotto, Alessandro Fassina and the Board of Directors of Isotta Fraschini to support the group as together we plan and realize a successful future for this historic brand.”
“Isotta Fraschini Milano will once again find her place in the hearts of motorsports and supercar fans globally as we continue to build on the hard work and efforts of the organization.”
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