Paul Ricard, France – It was a very difficult week end for the Solaris Motorsport in Paul Ricard, theater of the International GT Open season debut. Some technical issues and the rain fallen down on Saturday morning slowed the Corvette Z06R of the italian team. Sini and Costantini raced without any reference points and with an approximate setup, gaining two placements in Top 10 in both races. Disappointed but not discouraged, the Notaresco-based team will race this week end in order to find a quick redemption taking part to the first race of the italian GT Championship in Vallelunga, home-race for the team.

The tricky French week end of Solaris Motorsport started on Friday morning, when an electronic issue on the ECU stopped the Corvette impeding to lap in the FP1. Other issues blocked the car at the box also in the FP2, so Sini and Costantini could complete just some laps to check the car for the tomorrow qualification. On Saturday morning the qualy session was disputed on the wet, a condition never tried before by the team, so the squad had to pay that lack of experience estimated in the start of the season: Sini setted the 10th time. The first race of the week end was raced on a dry track, with a car poor of reference points, Sini and Costantini caught the 9th place under the checkered flag in a difficult race useful to gain experience and to acquire data.

The Sunday qualification showed some improvements, Costantini was able to sign the 8th time on the grid, closer to the top of the standings. The start was great, with Costantini that took the fourth position, but at the end the #12 Corvette was 7th under the checkered flag, showing improving performances for the happiness of the Solaris guys that glimpsed a bit of light at the end of the tunnel during a week end completely different from they expected.

Clearly disappointed, Francesco Sini doesn’t give up: “I can’t be satisfied about this week end, for sure. We made a lot of tests during the winter and obviously our goal are totally different of what we showed today. We want and we have to be able to stay on top and fight with the best ones. We will have to understand the why of these problems and to find quickly a solution. This week end we will race in our home race and we want to stay in very different positions in front of our supporters!”

Solaris Motorsport will take part the first round of the italian GT championship in Vallelunga, always with a Corvette for Sini-Costantini, this time equipped with Pirelli tyres. Stefano Costantini was born not too far from the circuit and this is his home race: “In Vallelunga we want a very big redemption. I know exactly my value, the one of the team and of the car and I know it’s very different from that we showed in Paul Ricard. We had a lot of problems and now I want to make a good impression in front of my fans.” said Costantini, that won last time in Rome circuit in 2010.

“Saying we are disappointed is an euphemism, we started the season with very different goals and we have all the intentions to reach them. Unfortunately we had a lot of technical issue we never had before, that stopped and slowed us. We made our best on the track, but having made few laps during the practices, we didn’t have a good setup for the races. Probably it’s part of the experience gap we have to close with our opponents and we expected.” observed Roberto Sini, Team Principal. “Vallelunga awaits us, we know the track and we made some runs with the Pirelli tyres. We have some information, but all our rivals have a considerable experience advantage. For sure we want to redeem the Paul Ricard week end, we don’t go in Rome to be just a number.”

The first round of the Italian GT Championship is scheduled in Vallelunga this weekend. The two races will be streamed on the official website of the championship (www.acisportitalia.it/GT).

Massimiliano Palumbo