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Formula Sprint 2
San Marino Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
Tuesday 30th of April 2024 19:00:00
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May 24, 2002
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Car's #7 & #8 have been run under 2 different names already this season! [DPI and TGM], but now the team has been taken over by someone who should give it some serious stability, stability that is badly needed if the team wants to improve. Please welcome - E.I.R.E to the GPVWC.
DPI Racing is the original base of this team, but after a serious set of disputes with the original team manager, the GPVWC Administration withdrew their entry. Then came TGM MotorSport, who effectively rebranded the DPI team with their name and Livery - the basis of the team remained unchanged. Unfortunately, the team management of TGM vanished and reappeared too often, and was far too inconsistent with their approach to stay with the league.
The driver who has been with the team for some months now, originally under the TGM banner - William Ponissi, has taken the reigns. The Irish born [italian based!] driver has renamed the team E.I.R.E ..
The team launch took place some days ago, and our reporter has only just returned! ..[must have been one hell of a party afterwards!]
Welcome to the quiet town of Rodano, just a few kms from Milan but still an untouched glance of country!
Today, the presentation of the 11th team in the GPVWC takes place! It's EIRE's day!.
The place is nice: an old warehouse has been changed into a top-class salon in which a car stands on a stage, still covered by a green sheet. There are champagne bottles everywhere, and the whole atmosphere is filled by a scent of richness, meaning that the team has at last found funds.
The lights go out, and Willy Ponissi, E.I.R.E lead driver and team manager, goes on the stage:
"We're so glad to see so many of you here tonight. Many rumours have been around about the fate of TGM, after Thomas Gustavsson quit. Well, you all knew the acronym of the team name, but now's time to explain you what it means."
On a screen just behind him, a big Irish shamrock appears, followed by the words "EMERALD IRISH ROMANIAN EQUIPE".
"We", says Ponissi, "are happy to announce that the team have been taken over by myself and a group of Romanian sportsmen and women. That's the reason of the double nationality. I'd expecially like to thank the Romanian gymnastics community for their support. The team will carry on most of the former TGM deals, which means we will be using Bridgestone tyres and Total fuel, and our sponsors will be MasterCard, Tommy Hilfiger, Universal Studios, Autosport and Kickers. But now, I suppose you're all quite curious about the new team livery."
The Irish driver goes to the car where, helped by Risto Taipale, 2nd driver, and Tim Williams, test driver, they uncover the car, painted by Max Downforce from a team idea. After the car presentation, the party goes on with the sponsors presentation, even if most of the people seem to be enjoying more the refreshment, with irish beers and Romanian food.
Here are some thoughts about the new team from the drivers and the lead engineers.
Willy Ponissi, 1st Driver and Team Manager, Rep. of Ireland
"I'm happy to be directing my own team, even if it will be really difficult to be there fighting for good results. I don't expect wins or podiums, but we will do our best. The team's young and committed, and we've got money to spend to improve the car. The most important thing will be testing, and I'm sure that Risto and Tim will do a great job."
Risto Taipale, 2nd driver, Finland
"Speed already exists when you're driving in a big team. You just need to sit back and show the way. Driving in a small team is more challenging. You must take the speed out of the low powered engine. That's not coming so easy. You must work hard, find the best setups and practice and start again. Small team drivers are not fighting for the drivers championship so they both can have full support from the team. No one is the number one driver. This is the only way to improve the performance of the team. As a driver you MUST beat your team mate. So comes The Speed."
Tim Williams, test driver, Wales
"I'm very pleased to be given the chance to test for E.I.R.E. After months of neglect from the previous management the car has fallen behind the rest. Now with an enthusiastic new management we have the chance to move forward and catch up. We all have a lot of hard work to do, especially me, as the testing I do should develop the car better for our two drivers, who have it hard enough already with our under developed and under powered engine. I will be privately testing every week as well as the official tests to try develop the car very quickly. My aim this season is to help our two drivers in every way I can to secure some points, and hopefully to impress the team manager enough as to take up the option to sign me next season."
Carlie Shaw, Commercial Manager
"The team wants to achieve great results in the long-term period. We will work hard to face the hard times, as we know we will celebrate someday. The old managements by DPI and TGM did a great job in saving money, but unfortunately they left us without a competitive car. Now it's time to use that money!"
Matthew Smith, Chief Designer
"Our section is working hard to prepare some innovative pieces for the remainder of the season, but we don't forget 2003. The plans for the new car are already prepared, and we will start deeper projects soon. We'll be using also next year the Windmill chassis, thanks to an agreement with Southern Cross we've reached in the past days. That's a very good starting point."
Andrew West, Chief Engineer
"We'll be suffering the lack of BHP from our dated Ford engine; anyway, they promised us some evolutions, which will mean more power. Let's hope it will be enough to fight in a good position in the next races. We've got to rely on reliability now."
Then the team moved to Monza for a "on-track" show of the car livery.
The presentation ended at about 23.50, when Willy Ponissi had to jump on a plane to fly USA, to assist colleague and friend Danny Regan during the birth of baby Jack.
Here are some pictures taken from the Monza laps.
DPI Racing is the original base of this team, but after a serious set of disputes with the original team manager, the GPVWC Administration withdrew their entry. Then came TGM MotorSport, who effectively rebranded the DPI team with their name and Livery - the basis of the team remained unchanged. Unfortunately, the team management of TGM vanished and reappeared too often, and was far too inconsistent with their approach to stay with the league.
The driver who has been with the team for some months now, originally under the TGM banner - William Ponissi, has taken the reigns. The Irish born [italian based!] driver has renamed the team E.I.R.E ..
The team launch took place some days ago, and our reporter has only just returned! ..[must have been one hell of a party afterwards!]
Welcome to the quiet town of Rodano, just a few kms from Milan but still an untouched glance of country!
Today, the presentation of the 11th team in the GPVWC takes place! It's EIRE's day!.
The place is nice: an old warehouse has been changed into a top-class salon in which a car stands on a stage, still covered by a green sheet. There are champagne bottles everywhere, and the whole atmosphere is filled by a scent of richness, meaning that the team has at last found funds.
The lights go out, and Willy Ponissi, E.I.R.E lead driver and team manager, goes on the stage:
"We're so glad to see so many of you here tonight. Many rumours have been around about the fate of TGM, after Thomas Gustavsson quit. Well, you all knew the acronym of the team name, but now's time to explain you what it means."
On a screen just behind him, a big Irish shamrock appears, followed by the words "EMERALD IRISH ROMANIAN EQUIPE".
"We", says Ponissi, "are happy to announce that the team have been taken over by myself and a group of Romanian sportsmen and women. That's the reason of the double nationality. I'd expecially like to thank the Romanian gymnastics community for their support. The team will carry on most of the former TGM deals, which means we will be using Bridgestone tyres and Total fuel, and our sponsors will be MasterCard, Tommy Hilfiger, Universal Studios, Autosport and Kickers. But now, I suppose you're all quite curious about the new team livery."
The Irish driver goes to the car where, helped by Risto Taipale, 2nd driver, and Tim Williams, test driver, they uncover the car, painted by Max Downforce from a team idea. After the car presentation, the party goes on with the sponsors presentation, even if most of the people seem to be enjoying more the refreshment, with irish beers and Romanian food.
Here are some thoughts about the new team from the drivers and the lead engineers.
Willy Ponissi, 1st Driver and Team Manager, Rep. of Ireland
"I'm happy to be directing my own team, even if it will be really difficult to be there fighting for good results. I don't expect wins or podiums, but we will do our best. The team's young and committed, and we've got money to spend to improve the car. The most important thing will be testing, and I'm sure that Risto and Tim will do a great job."
Risto Taipale, 2nd driver, Finland
"Speed already exists when you're driving in a big team. You just need to sit back and show the way. Driving in a small team is more challenging. You must take the speed out of the low powered engine. That's not coming so easy. You must work hard, find the best setups and practice and start again. Small team drivers are not fighting for the drivers championship so they both can have full support from the team. No one is the number one driver. This is the only way to improve the performance of the team. As a driver you MUST beat your team mate. So comes The Speed."
Tim Williams, test driver, Wales
"I'm very pleased to be given the chance to test for E.I.R.E. After months of neglect from the previous management the car has fallen behind the rest. Now with an enthusiastic new management we have the chance to move forward and catch up. We all have a lot of hard work to do, especially me, as the testing I do should develop the car better for our two drivers, who have it hard enough already with our under developed and under powered engine. I will be privately testing every week as well as the official tests to try develop the car very quickly. My aim this season is to help our two drivers in every way I can to secure some points, and hopefully to impress the team manager enough as to take up the option to sign me next season."
Carlie Shaw, Commercial Manager
"The team wants to achieve great results in the long-term period. We will work hard to face the hard times, as we know we will celebrate someday. The old managements by DPI and TGM did a great job in saving money, but unfortunately they left us without a competitive car. Now it's time to use that money!"
Matthew Smith, Chief Designer
"Our section is working hard to prepare some innovative pieces for the remainder of the season, but we don't forget 2003. The plans for the new car are already prepared, and we will start deeper projects soon. We'll be using also next year the Windmill chassis, thanks to an agreement with Southern Cross we've reached in the past days. That's a very good starting point."
Andrew West, Chief Engineer
"We'll be suffering the lack of BHP from our dated Ford engine; anyway, they promised us some evolutions, which will mean more power. Let's hope it will be enough to fight in a good position in the next races. We've got to rely on reliability now."
Then the team moved to Monza for a "on-track" show of the car livery.
The presentation ended at about 23.50, when Willy Ponissi had to jump on a plane to fly USA, to assist colleague and friend Danny Regan during the birth of baby Jack.
Here are some pictures taken from the Monza laps.
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