Max Wissel offered a timely reminder to his rivals that FC Basel hasn’t yet given up netting this season’s Superleague Formula by Sonangol title after recording the fastest aggregate time over the two free practice sessions at Monza, Italy today.

The 19 year-old, who suffered a frustrating weekend last time out in Estoril where he slipped 59 points behind league leaders Liverpool, posted a best time of 1m37.196s in the dying moments of the day’s second session to edge out Olympiacos’ Esteban Guerrieri by just 0.059 seconds after an equally late effort by the Argentine.

It was an excellent day’s work all round by the young German who ended opening free practice third before proving the most consistent performer of the day.

Home favourite and Monza specialist Giorgio Pantano had earlier stripped long-time pace-setter Nelson Panciatici of the top spot before ending the day third fastest thanks to his 1m37.371s lap, 0.151 seconds clear of Estoril Shootout winner Seville’s Sebastien Bourdais in fourth.

The morning session saw Tristan Gommendy – back at the wheel of his FC Porto car after Alvaro Parente’s Portuguese cameo – go some 0.739 seconds faster than anyone else when he became the only man to duck below the 1m38s barrier. And although the Frenchman would lower that time to a ’37.615 this afternoon, it would ultimately prove only good enough for fifth place.

Championship leader Adrian Valles finished second in the first session but could do no better than 12th in the second after failing to beat his best time of 1m38.734s from the morning. Closest title rival Craig Dolby meanwhile, who sits 58 points adrift of Liverpool in the League, wound up eighth, the Tottenham driver over a second down on Wissel’s ultimate pace.

Another “home” team, AS Roma, finished the day ninth quickest thanks to Superleague Formula debutant Julien Jousse’s 1m38.518s lap, with Antonio Pizzonia and Corinthians completing the top ten, 0.041 seconds further back.

Driver Quotes

Max Wissel, FC Basel: “The day was quite good for us. The first practice we were third and now we’re in first position. We used new tyres but I’m sure about nine or ten others did the same so it looks strong for tomorrow, like the whole year really. I’m really happy to be here, it’s my first time racing at Monza and I enjoyed it a lot. The track is fantastic to drive so I’m looking forward to qualifying, hoping for the best.”

Esteban Guerrieri, Olympiacos: “Today was a bit of a mixed day. At the beginning we had some problems in the last part of first free practice but as everyone was learning the car and circuit it wasn’t too bad. In the second session we found some good pace after sorting out the balance with my engineer, so I’m pleased.”

Giorgio Pantano, AC Milan: “We found a good set-up with the car today so we’re looking in good shape for qualifying tomorrow. At the moment I’ve got a good feeling. We’ll have to see tomorrow when everyone is out there on the same tyres when we’ll know who really is the quickest. We used older tyres which were in good condition so I think that’s a good lap time on those. We saw others were using a new set so I think it looks good for tomorrow.”

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The fifth round of this year’s Superleague Formula by Sonangol campaign comes from Monza this weekend (October 2/3/4) where Liverpool’s Adrian Valles will be hoping to establish an unassailable lead at the top of the championship.
The Spaniard heads to Italy with a 58 point advantage over the chasing pack, headed by Tottenham’s Craig Dolby, who leapfrogged Max Wissel’s FC Basel entry last time out in Portugal after the German suffered gearbox trouble in the opening race.

There is a third driver who Valles will be perhaps keeping the closest eye on in Italy however. A home favourite in more ways than one, Giorgio Pantano has every intention of making that title scrap a four way battle going into the final round at Jarama this November. The AC Milan driver has put together a consistent season so far to sit fourth in the standings, just 11 points shy of Wissel. But on home ground at Monza, a venue where he previously won in both GP2 and F3000, there’s every chance that a second Superleague Formula victory of the season could be on the cards.
“I hope to be fighting for victory this weekend,” confirmed Pantano, who won race two at Magny-Cours. “Normally I go quite well there in whatever car I’ve got so hopefully that will also be the case in Superleague. My experience from those other championships should also help because as you get to know the circuit, and all the little lines, it all adds up to make you go faster.
“A good result will also help with the championship fight, although that depends on what Liverpool do at Monza. I don’t really care about just settling for points because I need to close the gap to Adrian (Valles) if I’m going to have any chance of winning the title. If I win both races, or win one and get a podium in the other, then that’s obviously a good result. I’ll be giving the maximum I can so we can go to Spain in contention.
“Monza has a lot of long straights, where you can use the push-to-pass, followed by heavy breaking areas so it’s easier to overtake there than at some other circuits. It’s a place where, if you feel good with the car and it’s going well but you’re at the back of the reverse grid, there’s still a chance you can come through to the front.”
With the Monza circuit set in parkland to the north of the Italian capital, Pantano is also expecting a good turnout of the passionate Rossoneri.
“The team haven’t had such a great start to the season in Serie A so hopefully we can give them something to cheer about with a good result on the track!” he added.
Joining Pantano at Monza will be series debutant and Formula 2 race winner Julien Jousse who takes over from Frank Perera at Milan’s Serie A rivals AS Roma. Tristan Gommendy will return to the FC Porto cockpit hoping to build on Alvaro Parente’s victory for the Portuguese giants in Estoril last time out, while Jonathan Kennard will count on his previous Superleague experience when he deputises for Enrique Bernoldi at Brazilian side Flamengo.
As well as a host of driver transfers, the Monza round sees the adoption of a 39-minute +1 lap race format for each of the two races thanks to a packed support bill headed by International GT and F3 Open championships. For the same reason, there will be no Super Final in Italy, the five lap shootout instead returning for the final event at Jarama.
There will also be an extra special treat for AC Milan and Italian football fans on Saturday when 1982 World Cup winner Daniele Massaro pays a visit to the Superleague paddock. The two time UEFA Champions League winner, who scored twice in the 1994 4-0 final thrashing of Barcelona, will be on hand to sign autographs and cheer home the AC Milan car.

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