Virtuosi Racing

United Kingdom Virtuosi Racing
Founded 2012
Team principal(s) Andy Roche
Current series Auto GP
GP2 Series
Current drivers Russia Nikita Zlobin

Virtuosi Racing (previously known as Virtuosi UK) is a British racing team that currently competing in the Auto GP series and ran the Russian Time outfit in the GP2 Series.

History

In 2012, Paul Devlin, Declan Lohan and Andy Roche founded Virtuosi UK team at Carleton Rode, Norfolk in order to participate in the Auto GP.[1] The team signed GP2 Series driver Pål Varhaug.[2] His team-mates in the first rounds was European F3 Open driver Matteo Beretta and Formula Renault 3.5 Series driver Sten Pentus, before they was replaced by Auto GP veteran Francesco Dracone.[3][4] Varhaug won feature race at Sonoma and reverse-grid races at Monza and Hungaroring, finishing as runner-up in the drivers' standings and bringing fourth place in the teams' standings.[5][6]

For 2013, the team signed FIA European Formula 3 Championship graduate Andrea Roda.[7] He was partnered by Max Snegirev, who previously raced for Campos Racing. Also British team supported Comtec by Virtuosi entry.[8] Unlike the previous season Virtuosi drivers even failed to achieve podium finish and downgraded to seventh in the teams' standings.

The squad prolonged Andrea Roda for 2014 campaign.[9] Also the team expanded to three cars for two opening rounds, fielding Richard Gonda and Sam Dejonghe.[10] At Imola, second car was occupied by returnee Varhaug but he was replaced at Spielberg by Tamás Pál Kiss, who left Zele Racing.[11][12] Also at Spielberg Roda won a reverse-grid race, it was first win for Virtuosi since 2012.[13] Kiss collected another two wins for the team at Nürburgring and Estoril.[14][15] The team finished as runner-up in the teams' standings.

In 2015, the team signed German Formula Three driver Nikita Zlobin.[16] As well the team will replace iSport International in the managing of the Russian Time team in the GP2 Series.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "The Team". Virtuosi Racing. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Rubino, Jacopo (5 March 2012). "Pal Varhaug nel primo round di Monza con il team Virtuosi UK" [Pal Varhaug in first round at Monza for team Virtuosi UK]. stopandgo.tv (in Italian) (Stop&Go). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  3. ↑ "Pentus joins the Series with Virtuosi UK". Auto GP World Series (Auto GP Organization). 27 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Mills, Peter (13 April 2012). "Sergio Campana leads Marrakech Auto GP practice". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). Retrieved 13 April 2012. Norwegian Varhaug has a new team-mate at Virtuosi UK this weekend. Former Euro Series 3000 veteran and IndyCar starter Franceso Dracone replaces Formula Renault 3.5 race winner Sten Pentus.
  5. ↑ "Varhaug clinches Race 2 win in Monza". Auto GP World Series (Auto GP Organisation). 11 March 2012. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  6. ↑ Mills, Peter (6 May 2012). "Paul Varhaug beats Adrian Quaife-Hobbs to win second Hungaroring Auto GP race". Autosport (Haymarket). Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Virtuosi signs Andrea Roda for Auto GP". Autosport (Haymarket Publications). 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Mills, Peter (5 August 2013). "Virtuosi to support new Comtec entry in Auto GP". Autosport (Haymarket). Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Khorounzhiy, Valentin (27 January 2014). "Roda stays with Virtuosi for 2014 Auto GP campaign". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Auto GP set for opener at Marrakech". Auto GP (Auto GP Organisation). 10 April 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "@varhaug: 26 June". Twitter. Twitter Inc. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "@VirtuosiRacing: 16 July". Twitter. Twitter Inc. 16 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Watkins, Gary (20 July 2014). "Red Bull Ring Auto GP: Roda takes first win in Virtuosi one-two". Autosport (Haymarket). Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  14. ↑ David, Gruz (17 August 2014). "Kiss wins as Sato is crowned Auto GP champion". Paddock Scout. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  15. ↑ Allen, Peter (19 October 2014). "Kiss wins first Estoril Auto GP race to secure runner-up spot". Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  16. ↑ Hensby, Paul (27 February 2015). "Virtuosi sign Nikita Zlobin for 2015 Auto GP season". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  17. ↑ Mills, Peter (18 March 2015). "Virtuosi to run Russian Time GP2 team". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com (Eurosport). Retrieved 18 March 2015.

External links

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