In current season Flying Finn Konsta Lappalainen competes in GT World Challenge Sprint European Championship series as Emil Frey Racing driver. Because of Italian GT3 Sprint series Emil Frey Racing driver Jasin Ferati suffered an illness, Lappalainen was called into service to drive with another Flying Finn Luka Nurmi in second weekend of the racing series which was driven in circuit of Imola.
Even the AF Corse team and its’ habits were different than Lappalainen had in Emil Frey Racing, he was rapidly able to get into speed and therefore a podium in Sundays race was a result team had hoped for. In Saturdays one hour race Nurmi suffered a collision with a fellow driver and was forced to retire in 5th position. In Sudays race Nurmi started in 9th position and Lappalainen delivered the car to chequerred flag as 3rd fastest in overall standings.
– In Saturdays race we experienced a deep dissapointment as a fellow rival in front of us lost the control of the car for a small moment and Luka was unable to react enough. He heavily hit the back of the car and because of the damages our car suffered, we had to retire the event as there were just few minutes to be driven. It was a frustrating moment as we had done a good job until that moment. However in Sundays race we made a thrilling step up in performance and collect P3 after starting the event in P9, Lappalainen tells.
– Especially happy I’m for the fact that me and Luka made some-kind-of motorsport history as only Markus Palttala with Pertti Kuismanen and Mika Salo with Toni Vilander have driven a PRO-group GT-car in international racing circuits. Now me and Luka joined this company and also delivered success with a podium for the Flying Finns. Even Saturday was a big dissapointment, Sunday delivered superb success, Lappalainen continues.
There was also third Finn who competed in the event as Aston Martin Vantage driver William Alatalo collect P6 in Saturdays and P5 in Sundays race at group of PRO-AM. Next round for Lappalainen is third racing weekend of GT World Challenge Sprint series which is to be driven in third weekend of July at traditional German circuit of Hockenheimring.
Final results Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Sprint GT3, Imola #1 Saturday 1st June 2024: Overall top-3:
1. Mattia Michelotto (ITA) & Gilles Stadsbader (BEL), Lamborghini Huracán Evo 2, 28 laps
2. Leonardo Moncini (ITA) & Andrea Cola (ITA), Audi R8 LMS, +1,390s
3. Riccardo Gazzaniga (ITA) & Alberto di Folco (ITA), Lamborghini Huracán Evo 2, +12,337s
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retired. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Luka Nurmi (FIN), Ferrari 296 GT3, crash
Final results Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo Sprint GT3, Imola #2 Sunday 2nd June 2024: Overall top-5:
1. Philippe Denes (USA) & Jack Bartholomew (GBR), Lamborghini Huracán Evo 2, 27 laps
2. Jake Dennis (GBR) & Jens Klingmann (DEU), BMW M4 GT3, +2,239s
3. Konsta Lappalainen (FIN) & Luka Nurmi (FIN), Ferrari 296 GT3, +2.575s
4. Rocco Mazzola (ITA) & Pietro Delli Guanti (ITA), Audi R8 LMS, +6.752s
5. Federico Malvestiti (ITA) & Pedro Ebrahim (BRA), BMW M4 GT3, +7.607s
