Post Race Notes From Monza

Industry Leaders Gather At Monza

A very significant gathering of Automotive industry leaders gathered at Monza for the FIA WEC weekend.

From Stellantis came CEO Carlos Tavares to see the racing debut of the new Peugeot 9X8, also present were Peugeot CEO Linda Richards and Stellantis VP of Motorsport Jean-Marc Finot.

Carlos Tavares is not only the CEO of the Stellantis Group, which encompasses 14 global automotive marques, he’s also an accomplished racer and scored a class podium at Le Mans Classic, his latest outing in a motorsport ‘career’ that has spanned 41 years as a driver!

Tavares has also been credited by Philippe Sinault for the revival of Alpine, and for green-lighting the marque’s return to international racing during his tenure at Renault.

Ferrari too had senior management on-site, CEO Benedetto Vigna led a high-powered delegation.

Lamborghini too had the big guns out with President Stephan Winkelmann and head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna both present.

Curva Alboreto

The 2022 ELMS and WEC double-header marked the first time the ACO Rules caravan has raced at Monza since the renaming last September of the Parabolica as ‘Curva Alboreto’ in memory of racing legend Michele Alboreto who lost his life in 2001 testing an Audi R8 at Lausitzring.

Audi Legends On Site

Amongst the other famous face on-site over the weekend were ex Audi racers Alan McNish, Dindo Capello and Benoit Treluyer.

Jota Change Livery

Jota, who have suffered a season-long social media spat with the WEC TV presenters over the similarity of the liveries of the #28 and #38 Orecas, made a change for Monza, the new vinyl reflect the astonishing record of 10 podium finishes scored by the team’s cars at le mans in the last 9 years.

Sadly the vinyls are on both cars so they are still impossible to tell apart on TV!

ARC Bratislava Confirm Fuji Withdrawal

The #44 ARC Bratislava Oreca will not make the trip to Fuji for round 5 of the 2022 FIA WEC for budgetary and logistical reasons but will rejoin the field in Bahrain for the season finale.

Get Well Soon Richie

Richard Lietz tested positive for COVID 19 after the ELMS weekend at Monza and was forced to miss the 6 Hours of Monza, replaced by Frederic Makowiecki in the #91 Porsche.

It was therefore the first race missed by Lietz after an unbroken run of 55 in the FIA WEC.

The grid saw his helmet atop the car with a Get Well message to the Austrian.