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17TH APRIL 2013
16-YEAR-OLD RAMSAY ON FORM IN RED BULL RING TEST
After a superb points-scoring Formula Renault ALPS debut at Vallelunga, Scotland’s Gregor Ramsay has given himself even more momentum for the season with an excellent performance in the two-day test at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.
Against all the leading names from the top-notch Formula Renault Eurocup – the continent’s most-competitive series for junior drivers – Ramsay set the 13th fastest time of the 36 runners on the first morning of the test, and was quickest of the five drivers from Britain who were present.
As lap times continued to tumble, Gregor and his Euronova Racing Tatuus were firmly in the tight midfield mix on the second day. He decided not to run in the afternoon, in order not to aggravate the wrist injury that saw him sit out the final tests in the build-up to the opening Renault ALPS round.
“It’s been a great two days of testing with Euronova at the Red Bull Ring, on my debut outing with the Eurocup teams and the best young drivers in Europe,” said Ramsay. “To be placed in the top 15 drivers on day one was special and the second day was very good also.”
Gregor has managed to secure a coveted ‘wildcard’ entry for the Eurocup races at Spa-Francorchamps (home of the Belgian Grand Prix) and Barcelona (venue of the Spanish Grand Prix) in June and October respectively, in addition to his main programme in Formula Renault ALPS, which continues at Imola on 11th/12th May.
After his Red Bull Ring test performance, Ramsay recognised the help and assistance of Euronova team boss Vincenzo Sospiri – a former top international racing star – and lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir, whose backing has been invaluable to his career. Furthermore, help from Fernando Alonso’s trainer Fabrizio Borra has been crucial in getting him back to racing fitness after his injury.
“A big thankyou to Vincenzo and all at Euronova,” he said, “and the help from Fabrizio has been exceptional. I’m looking forward to Imola and the second round of the ALPS championship. Colin and Chris Weir have been super in their support of me this year. I hope to continue in bringing them good news and I can’t thank them enough!”
From Austria, Gregor is heading straight to Forli in Italy for more physio with Borra, before a flying visit home to Scotland and then a crucial test at Imola at the beginning of May.
9TH APRIL 2013
RAMSAY SHINES AFTER HELP FROM ALONSO’S TRAINER!
Scottish teenager Gregor Ramsay bounced back from injury to finish seventh on his debut in the ultra-competitive Formula Renault ALPS series – thanks in part to help from Fernando Alonso’s personal trainer!
With under four weeks remaining before the opening race at Vallelunga near Rome, 16-year-old Ramsay was testing at the Mugello circuit when he dislocated his wrist and fractured two fingers when they got caught in the steering wheel in a minor impact with the barriers.
Thanks to the expertise of Alonso’s trainer Fabrizio Borra, Ramsay – whose career has been followed by Ferrari – bounced back with the Euronova Racing team of former international racing star Vincenzo Sospiri.
On the same Vallelunga circuit where he took his maiden win in car racing last September (in the Formula Abarth European Series), Ramsay qualified his Euronova Formula Renault machine on the sixth row.
From this starting position, he was eighth by the end of lap two before overtaking Estonian Hans Villemi for seventh. By the finish he was challenging Brazilian Guilherme Silva – who like Villemi is already an experienced FRenault racer – before settling for seventh position.
Unfortunately, Ramsay was given a grid penalty for race two due to being slightly out of position from his grid box at the start of the first race. He lost his front wing in a collision after the start, but returned after a pit-stop to be one of the fastest drivers in the race.
“I am delighted to finish seventh on my Formula Renault debut,” said East Kilbride racer Gregor, “especially with the injury to my wrist and fingers. A big thankyou to Fabrizio Borra and Vincenzo Sospiri for their help in my very fast recovery.
“In the last quarter of the race I settled for seventh and took no risk with Silva, although I’m sure I was quicker! I was disappointed with my grid penalty for race two, but I’m happy to get strong points first time out.”
It was an intensely competitive field at Vallelunga, with 36 drivers – including McLaren protégé Nyck de Vries – in the field. Ramsay ran strongly despite his injury meaning he had to sit out official test sessions both at this track and at the Barcelona circuit. He ended the weekend in one of the top-10 championship positions, and was one of several of last year’s Formula Abarth front-runners to be ultra-competitive in the Formula Renault field, along with Brazilian Bruno Bonifacio and Italian Luca Ghiotto.
Like the Formula Abarth, the Formula Renault uses a carbon-composite monocoque chassis built by the Italian Tatuus company, but is regarded as a step up as it uses a two-litre 210bhp engine and seven-speed sequential gearbox.
The next round is at the former San Marino Grand Prix circuit of Imola on May 11th/12th, although in the meantime there will be testing, with Gregor out at Misano this week and at Austria’s Red Bull Ring next week.
Ramsay Joins Euronova Racing for Formula Renault
Sixteen-year-old Scottish rising star Gregor Ramsay has been signed up by ex-international racing ace Vincenzo Sospiri to contest the Formula Renault ALPS Championship in 2013.
Ferrari protégé Ramsay took a race win at Vallelunga and a podium finish at Imola in his rookie Formula Abarth season this year. Just 15 years old when the season started, he finished a highly creditable eighth in the European Series. Now he will drive for Sospiri’s Euronova Racing team as it re-enters the Formula Renault category.
It comes after two tests, at Varano and Imola, in one of Euronova’s Formula Abarth machines, in which Gregor created a very favourable impression alongside the team’s newly-crowned Abarth champion, Brazilian Nicolas Costa.
“We are all looking forward to the new challenge and to already have Gregor on board is a great start,” said Sospiri. “So far he has been very impressive during testing. He hit all his targets regarding fast lap times and consistency, which is very important.
“I believe that Gregor and I will work together very well and that he will develop into an excellent racer capable of reaching the top. Based on what I have seen of him so far I have no doubt that he has the potential to be the next British motorsport star.”
The Formula Renault ALPS Championship attracts many of racing’s brightest young stars, competing at prestige Grand Prix circuits such as Monza in Italy, Spa in Belgium and Barcelona in Spain, as well as events in Austria and France.
“I’m very proud to be part of Euronova Racing,” said East Kilbride racer Ramsay. “I had my first tests with the team last week and they went really well. I was very comfortable in the car and the team were really good to work with.
“Vincenzo is an excellent driver coach and I have already learned a lot just from these two tests, so I’m really looking forward to next year. The Renault ALPS Championship is very competitive and we will be doing a lot of preparation over the winter in order to be at the front when the racing starts.”
As one of the leading young talents of his generation, Sospiri won the 1988 Formula Ford Festival and then the 1990 Formula Vauxhall Lotus title before moving into the international ranks. He became champion in Formula 3000 – the forerunner of today’s GP2 Series – in 1995 and graduated to Formula 1 with the short-lived Lola project in 1997. After racing in Indycars he switched to sportscar racing, driving for the factory Toyota team in the Le Mans 24 Hours and twice becoming an international sports-prototype champion before retiring at the end of the 1999 season.
In 2002 he set up Euronova Racing, and since then has run future racing stars such as Formula 1 racers Robert Kubica, Vitaly Petrov and Jerome d’Ambrosio, and GP2 talent Luca Filippi.
Ramsay, who is backed by Clyde Blowers as well as Europe’s biggest-ever lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir, will head off to the Ferrari Driver Academy, overseen by former F1 team chief engineer Luca Baldisserri, for more focus on his development as a driver. He will also continue testing with Euronova until mid-December, and will relocate from Scotland to the Sospiri family home in Italy, where he will continue his education and learn Italian and German.
The Formula Renault category will be boosted by the introduction of an exciting new Tatuus-built chassis in 2013, further cementing its position as the strongest and most competitive junior single-seater category in Europe.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Scott Ramsay (mail@gregorramsay.com and +44 (0) 772 992 7772).
Ramsay Stars to take Win at Vallelunga
Up-and-coming Scottish racer Gregor Ramsay has caused a sensation by winning a round of the Formula Abarth European Series at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome.
Ramsay, who is just 16 years and two months old, led the field home on the famous and challenging circuit for his first win in car racing. It came just two weeks after Ramsay, who drives for the Swiss-based Jenzer Motorsport team, took his first podium, at Imola.
The East Kilbride racer, who is being mentored by the prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy, finished sixth in the first of the three races over the Vallelunga weekend, and was ninth in race two.
From pole position, he then controlled the third race from Jenzer team-mate Kevin Joerg. Although Joerg briefly got ahead, Ramsay decisively repassed him to take an emotional win in 29-degree heat by just a third of a second.
“I’m over the moon with that,” said Gregor. “To have my first podium just at Imola and now to win a race at Vallelunga, it’s amazing.
“We had the pace in testing, so I knew if I could get a good start that I was quick enough to stay in front the whole race. Kevin got me just after I missed a downshift and for a quick moment I had no power onto the next straight, but I got a cutback move on him to move straight back in front.
“It was roasting in the car – especially when you’re in the lead and you’ve got all the pressure of that. It was unreal, so I’m really glad to get the win.”
Andy Welch, Gregor’s race engineer at Jenzer Motorsport, said: “Gregor made an absolutely blinding start and controlled the race.
“Kevin put up a good fight, and there are some very experienced people in the series who had very good pace over the weekend, but Gregor did an excellent job and showed that his own speed is coming on very strongly.
Bearing in mind his lack of experience, we hoped that by the end of the season Gregor would be on the podium – so it’s a real bonus to win one!”
Ramsay enjoys welcome backing from Clyde Blowers as well as from Colin and Chris Weir, Europe’s biggest-ever lottery winners who are proud that their new protégé has already hit the Formula Abarth jackpot!
He is eighth in the Formula Abarth European Series standings, and a close third in the rookie classification with just one round remaining, on the historic Italian Grand Prix circuit of Monza on September 29/30.
“I’m really looking forward to Monza,” said Ramsay. “I’ve been testing there and gone pretty quickly, so hopefully it’ll be another podium or maybe even another win to round off the season.”
The Formula Abarth cars are built to FIA Formula 3 standards by Italian constructor Tatuus, using carbon-composite monocoque chassis and powered by a 1400cc turbo engine giving 180bhp. The championship is very closely monitored by Ferrari. The Ferrari Driver Academy, which Ramsay is on the shortlist to join, includes Formula 1 star Sergio Perez.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Scott Ramsay (mail@gregorramsay.com) and +44 (0) 772 992 7772).
Please check Gregor Ramsay’s website, gregorramsay.com, for further updates and photos.
Imola Podium is Sweet for 16-Year-Old Ramsay
Scottish racing talent Gregor Ramsay has made history by becoming one of the youngest British drivers to take a podium finish in an international single-seater race. Aged 16 years, two months and two days, Ramsay finished third in a round of the Formula Abarth European Series at the famous Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari at Imola in Italy on 2nd September.
Driving for the Swiss Jenzer Motorsport team, the East Kilbride ace, who is mentored by Ferrari, had already finished fifth in the opening two races of the weekend to score a good haul of points in the overall championship. Ramsay also netted his first two wins in the concurrent Rookie trophy over the Imola meeting, solidifying his top-three spot in the season’s Rookie standings.
It was a great boost for ex-karting star Ramsay, who got his break into car racing when the ultra-prestigious Ferrari Driver Academy was instrumental in his acquiring a coveted International C licence – at the age of just 15!
From ninth on the grid, Ramsay raced to fifth in the opening race at Imola, despite getting pushed into the gravel trap on lap one. In race two, he ran his older set of tyres but once again climbed the order from ninth to fifth. In the third race he had a front-row start and, after briefly running wide on dust at the Villeneuve chicane, he tucked in behind the two leaders and drove a controlled race to third.
“It was very special to get my first podium in a single-seater at Imola, with Ferrari watching on in the famous and prestigious Autodromo,” said Gregor. “It was a very emotional moment for me.
“My dad and supporters are well pleased, as they keep telling me I’ve set British motorsport history! Certainly it’s fantastic to be doing well for my country in Formula Abarth – they are great cars and very professionally run.”
Ramsay’s Jenzer Motorsport engineer Andy Welch added: “It was a good performance from Gregor over the weekend. He has been working on some important aspects of his technique, and the end result is better lap times and a third place in the final race. It was a good effort and a well-deserved first podium.”
The son of former Formula Ford 1600 champion Scott Ramsay, Gregor is loyally backed by Clyde Blowers as well as Europe’s biggest-ever lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir – who are expecting their new protégé to hit another jackpot!
The Formula Abarth cars are built to FIA Formula 3 standards by Italian constructor Tatuus, using carbon-composite monocoques and powered by a 1400cc turbo engine giving 180bhp. The championship is very closely monitored by Ferrari. The Ferrari Driver Academy, which Ramsay is on the shortlist to join, includes Formula 1 star Sergio Perez. The next round of the Formula Abarth European Series is at Vallelunga, just outside Rome, on September 15/16.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Scott Ramsay (mail@gregorramsay.com) and +44 (0) 772 992 7772).
Please check Gregor Ramsay’s website, gregorramsay.com, for further updates and photos.
Chris and Colin Weir Sponsor 15 year old
Scottish Racing Sensation
Chris and Colin Weir have joined Jim McColl, of Clyde Blowers, as co-sponsors of Scottish racing sensation Gregor Ramsay. The Weirs decided to support the 15 year old from East Kilbride in his first season racing in the European and Italian F3 European Abarth after learning that he was looking for the balance of sponsorship money needed for 2012/13.
Explaining why they decided to fund Gregor, Chris Weir said:
“Gregor is an exceptionally gifted driver and to have achieved what he has by the age of 15 years old is astonishing. He has been well-supported by family, friends and Clyde Blowers for a number of years but when we heard he needed additional financial support, we were only too happy to step forward.
“Gregor is already world class. As the youngest driver in F3 Abarth, he is racing against the best 18 and 19 year olds in the world. With the prospect of attending Ferrari’s Driver Academy, he has an amazing future ahead of him and as F1 fans, we will be watching his progress with close interest. We are very pleased and proud to be in a position to provide this sponsorship for him.”
Gregor is currently racing with top Swiss team Jenzer but is being mentored by Ferrari, who have scouted him to join their Driver Academy when a place becomes available. Ferrari has six drivers in the Academy at any time, including two F1 drivers, and the team provides an engineer to support Gregor when he races.
Gregor Ramsay welcomed the sponsorship from Chris and Colin Weir, saying:
“I am so grateful to Chris and Colin for giving me the balance of sponsorship money I needed for this season. It means I can focus on my driving without worrying about raising any more money. I can’t thank them enough and it’s great to have them on my team.”
Gregor is currently second in the European Rookie Championship after the first round in Valencia earlier this month. He leaves on Thursday (3rd May) for the F1 track at Hungaroring in Budapest, Hungary, for round two of the Championships. He will compete in in three races with the European F3, which is a support race to the WTCC (World Touring Car Championship).
THE SUN - FRIDAY 13TH JANUARY 2012
Rising Star Ramsay's Champion at the Bit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY 12TH JANUARY 2012
Scottish Sensation Ramsay moves up with Ferrari
Scottish sensation Gregor Ramsay is to attack a full season in the Formula Abarth European Series and Italian Formula Abarth Championship in 2012.
Ramsay has been steered into Formula Abarth by Ferrari Driver Academy Manager Luca Baldisserri, the ex-Formula 1 Ferrari chief engineer who was hugely impressed with Ramsay’s performances at the Academy on the legendary Fiorano test track last July.
It means that Glasgow lad Ramsay became the UK’s youngest driver in international single-seater competition when he made his Formula Abarth debut at Monza last October, at the age of just 15 years and three months! Two weeks later he finished 12th on his second appearance, at the Circuit de Catalunya season finale.
Gregor has now switched to the Swiss-based Jenzer Motorsport team for 2012, when he will be engineered by Englishman Andy Welch, the man who guided the early car-racing careers of the late Dan Wheldon and USA racing star Danica Patrick.
He will contest all eight race weekends, which comprise three races each and take place on top-level tracks including Monza, Hungaroring, Imola, Red Bull Ring, Valencia and Mugello.
“It’s fantastic for me to race on these tracks,” said Ramsay. “Jenzer was the best team for me to go to, as having a British engineer with Andy was the number-one box for me to tick. My plan is to win the Rookie championship in 2012 and then go for the overall championship in 2013.”
Jenzer, run by Andreas Jenzer, has a leading record in most junior categories and particularly in Formula Abarth, where the team won the 2011 European teams title and carried Patric Niederhauser to the drivers title in Italy. Concurrently, the Jenzer Welch Asia Racing team – run by Welch on behalf of Jenzer – won the Formula Pilota China series for Formula Abarth cars with Matheo Tuscher.
Talking of Ramsay’s performance at the Ferrari Driver Academy, Baldisserri said: “Gregor is very quick to understand what he has to do. He is precise and clean in his way of driving. He was quite consistent in improving the lap time run by run, and quite quick to achieve confidence needed for quick corners. He showed good coordination and ability, and doesn’t seem to be under stress.”
“Despite his young age, we are very keen to suggest to Gregor the move from karts to cars, especially if his goal is to become the next British World Champion!”
Gregor attended the Ferrari Driver Academy with Tony Kart, the leading Italian kart team, which he moved to during the 2010 season and where he has been coached by Terry Fullerton, the ex-karting hero who Ayrton Senna once described as his toughest ever rival.
He also formerly drove for the Zip Young Guns team of the late British karting hero Martin Hines.
Gregor is backed in his career by East Kilbride-based Clyde Blowers Capital. He is the son of Scott Ramsay, the 1992 Scottish Junior Formula Ford 1600 champion and 1995 BRC British FF1600 champion and a former racing rival of Paul di Resta’s father Louis – di Resta Snr is another to have played a role in coaching Gregor.
His first race weekend of 2012, after an intensive testing programme, will be March 31st/April 1st at Valencia.
ENDS
For further information on opportunities concerning Gregor Ramsay, please contact Scott Ramsay
For further media information, please contact Marcus Simmons (simsportpress@aol.com)
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