Orange1 FFF Racing Team had the potential to start in the best way the 2021 season of the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup, which kicked-off at Monza, but bad luck forced the Chinese squad to abandon its overall victory assault. Nonetheless, the team didn’t end the weekend with empty hands, scoring a good podium in the Pro-Am class.

The qualifying session displayed all the potential in the hands of Orange1 FFF Racing Team, as it conquered a superb pole-position with Mirko Bortolotti (fastest in Q1 in 1:46.949), Marco Mapelli and Andrea Caldarelli, and an average laptime of 1:47.006. Orange 1 FFF Racing Team was also in contention in the Pro-Am since the beginning, thanks to Phil Keen’s fastest lap in the class, signed in Q1 (1:47.865).

The 3-hour race soon saw mixed weather and difficult grip conditions due to the rain fallen after some laps. Bortolotti was leading the field after having started from the pole position, but a technical problem exiting the pit lane after a tyre-changing stop compromised the whole Sunday for him and his teammates. The Italian driver lost one lap, but together Mapelli and Caldarelli gave his maximum to recover up to the final 24th place.

Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Phil Keen brought home a key result for Orange 1 FFF Racing Team, crossing the line in second place in the Pro-Am class thanks to a 16th overall position. The pair, at the wheel of the #19 Huracán GT3 EVO, showed great consistency in a very tricky race, not only because of the rain but also for a huge number of full course yellow and safety-car phases to be managed, always fighting for the class win.

Fu Songyang, Team Owner Orange1 FFF Racing Team
“We have mixed feelings after the first weekend of the season in GT World Challenge Europe here in Monza. Looking at the positive side, we showed our level of speed in qualifying with a great pole-position set by Mirko, Marco and Andrea. In the first part of the race, we were on our way to an overall win, but a technical problem made us lose a lot of time, compromising our result. We’re disappointed by the outcome, but we’re also happy for the race of Hiroshi and Phil. They proved again to be top contenders in the Pro-Am class with a superb second place in a very difficult race for everyone. Now, we want to come back even stronger in the next round, knowing that we can aim at reconquering the 2019 titles”.