After a poor qualifying session, Tippet manages to secure second place at Aosta. Read the full report below.
Aosta Race Report
The fast flowing circuit of Aosta really suits the 1600 Formula Fords and the times were relatively close throughout the field. Again the battle for pole was between Roberto Olivetti and Fulvio Genova. Olivetti put in a superb lap to just edge out Fulvio. Third spot was taken by Olivier Boissel, followed closely by Tippet in fourth and Marco Boemi in fifth. Andy Graydon and Ken Jagger completed the grid.
As the engine revs rose and the drivers took off, it was Genova who took the lead into turn one, with Olivetti slipping down to third as Boissel also slid down the inside, Behind Graydon managed to once again get a flyer off the line to immediately take fifth from Boemi and gave Tippet something to think about into turn one as Tippet struggled to get traction, but keeping position. Boemi ran slightly wide into turn 1 and had to correct the car out of turn 2 which allowed Jagger to overtake up the inside and chase after Graydon. As Olivetti made a move on Boissel, there was some minor contact dropping both drivers back, with Olivetti taking to the pit. Boissel was close behind Boemi and slipped up the inside into the hairpin after Boemi went wide. At the end of lap 1 the positions were Genova, Tippet, Graydon, Jagger, Boissel, Boemi and Olivetti.
Jagger and Graydon were very close on track going into lap 2, closely followed by Boissel who made a move on Jagger coming off of turn 3, unfortunately for Jagger, Boissel clipped his front wheel and it threw Jagger off the track and into early retirement a lap later. Boissel closed on Graydon and overtook on lap 3, just brushing wheels to pass and take third but seemed unable to gain any real ground on Tippet in second place. Boemi closed up on Graydon through the final corner managing to go side by side with him into turn one, Boemi unfortunately spun the car allowing Graydon to hold onto fourth.
As the race started to settle down, Tippet tried to apply pressure to Genova but couldn't match his lap times so the gap slowly extended. An error on Lap 7 saw Graydon lose out to Boemi who took fourth, another mistake from Graydon allowed Olivetti, who had been running very quickly out of position in last place, through into fifth and rapidly decreased the difference to Boemi. A small slide from Boemi allowed Olivetti to take advantage and grasp fourth place. With a clear track in front of him, Olivetti pushed hard and broke the R2P lap record but was unable to catch Boissel.
Boemi and Graydon traded positon in the final laps as it looked like Boemi had no grip let and tagged the barrier, putting him behind Graydon. It was Genova's race though a super run to first and finishing 11 seconds ahead of Tippet with Boissel a further 7 seconds behind in third.
This Result means that Tippet and Genova go into the final round equal on points with 20 points each, Boissel is third only 4 points behind on 16, with Graydon, Olivetti both on 13 points and Boemi on 12.
The final round looks set to be very exciting.
You can watch the highlights of the race here
Aosta Race Report
The fast flowing circuit of Aosta really suits the 1600 Formula Fords and the times were relatively close throughout the field. Again the battle for pole was between Roberto Olivetti and Fulvio Genova. Olivetti put in a superb lap to just edge out Fulvio. Third spot was taken by Olivier Boissel, followed closely by Tippet in fourth and Marco Boemi in fifth. Andy Graydon and Ken Jagger completed the grid.
As the engine revs rose and the drivers took off, it was Genova who took the lead into turn one, with Olivetti slipping down to third as Boissel also slid down the inside, Behind Graydon managed to once again get a flyer off the line to immediately take fifth from Boemi and gave Tippet something to think about into turn one as Tippet struggled to get traction, but keeping position. Boemi ran slightly wide into turn 1 and had to correct the car out of turn 2 which allowed Jagger to overtake up the inside and chase after Graydon. As Olivetti made a move on Boissel, there was some minor contact dropping both drivers back, with Olivetti taking to the pit. Boissel was close behind Boemi and slipped up the inside into the hairpin after Boemi went wide. At the end of lap 1 the positions were Genova, Tippet, Graydon, Jagger, Boissel, Boemi and Olivetti.
Jagger and Graydon were very close on track going into lap 2, closely followed by Boissel who made a move on Jagger coming off of turn 3, unfortunately for Jagger, Boissel clipped his front wheel and it threw Jagger off the track and into early retirement a lap later. Boissel closed on Graydon and overtook on lap 3, just brushing wheels to pass and take third but seemed unable to gain any real ground on Tippet in second place. Boemi closed up on Graydon through the final corner managing to go side by side with him into turn one, Boemi unfortunately spun the car allowing Graydon to hold onto fourth.
As the race started to settle down, Tippet tried to apply pressure to Genova but couldn't match his lap times so the gap slowly extended. An error on Lap 7 saw Graydon lose out to Boemi who took fourth, another mistake from Graydon allowed Olivetti, who had been running very quickly out of position in last place, through into fifth and rapidly decreased the difference to Boemi. A small slide from Boemi allowed Olivetti to take advantage and grasp fourth place. With a clear track in front of him, Olivetti pushed hard and broke the R2P lap record but was unable to catch Boissel.
Boemi and Graydon traded positon in the final laps as it looked like Boemi had no grip let and tagged the barrier, putting him behind Graydon. It was Genova's race though a super run to first and finishing 11 seconds ahead of Tippet with Boissel a further 7 seconds behind in third.
This Result means that Tippet and Genova go into the final round equal on points with 20 points each, Boissel is third only 4 points behind on 16, with Graydon, Olivetti both on 13 points and Boemi on 12.
The final round looks set to be very exciting.
You can watch the highlights of the race here
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