Page 23 - Paddock Life Issue 13 ADRENALINE

Craig Blake-Jones CatChes up with one of the raCing worlds most down to earth drivers
WORDS CRAIG BLAKE-JONES IMAGES CURTESY OF KASPERSKY
Giancarlo Fisichella is a name every motorsport fan seems to remember, it just sounds so Italian, so romantic, you can’t
even say it without effecting an Italian accent...
Born in Rome in 1973 he raced his way through Karts from the age of 8 and into Formula 3. At 23 years old Giancarlo made his debut on the hallowed grid of Formula 1, which is why we all know his name. Starting at Minardi Giancarlo raced for Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault and Force India before landing the seat every driver really wants, at Ferrari. Although retiring from F1 in 2009, Giancarlo remained with Ferrari as third driver, whilst campaigning the Le Mans Series with the AF Corse team. His achievements continued to grow racing within the Ferrari driven team and he is currently the GT Class winner of the 6 hours di Roma.
When Kaspersky motorsports decided to elevate their GT racing from the amateur class to Pro Driver, Fisichella’s 13 years at the pinnacle of motorsport made him an obvious choice for the team whose association with Ferrari has been deep routed for many years. The AF Corse prepared Ferrari 488 of Kaspersky Motorsport has had a good season so far as we approach the Spa 24, probably the highlight race and definitely the most intensive and gruelling of the season for both drivers, mechanics and team alike. It’s a race that tests every element of team to the maximum.
It is in the Kaspersky hospitality unit in the paddock at Spa Francorchamps that we catch up with Fisichella for a chat. We have been trading calls with the Kaspersky team since Silverstone when Giancarlo and team mates James Caldo and Marco Cioci put their White, Red and Green 488 GT3 on the podium. When we finally arranged to meet on the Saturday morning of the Total 24 hours of Spa race none of us knew I would be talking to the pole sitter.
The number 55 Ferrari is on pole for the start of todays 24 hour race. Surprisingly modest, Giancarlo told me the car was set up really well and James Calado put in a super fast qualifying session, as probably the most experienced driver on the team he casually takes little credit for such a great achievement. Very much part of the Ferrari family still he tells me how racing with the Kaspersky team gives him the excitement and adrenaline rush that he needs, he loves to race. The two time Le Mans GT Class winner loves this circuit. Any 24 hour race is hard work, Spa lacks the long straights of Le Mans, were he says he can take a rest... the rise and fall, twists and turns of the Spa Francorchamps circuit makes it much more exciting, he tells me. Very pleased to be starting on pole he knows there is a very competitive grid behind him so it is important to get a good start as the they roll past the line up the hill of Le Raidillon. The genuine enthusiasm for the race is apparent in a driver who was born to race and today he is at one of the most challenging circuits in the world, that also happens to be one of his favourites, in a car that is perfectly set up. He seems very relaxed and comfortable with the entire team. His family are here to watch and he can’t wait to get in the car.
We talk briefly about his life and other interests, but family man Giancarlo is still typically modest, he doesn’t seem to do all the flash racing driver stuff, there are no big watches or super yachts. Like most Italians he likes good wine, when I ask him about cars, he’s not much for classics, other than the expected appreciation of a lifelong racing driver, but he’s not a collector. It’s great to sit with someone who is a genuine racing driver, so I have to ask about road cars. Does he drive a Ferrari? As a member of the Ferrari family for many years he has owned and driven most of their current models, but does he have one in his garage today? No, and the car he does drive, for me, really says a lot about his personality and confidence. Giancarlo’s every day car is a Fiat 500... a very cool guy.
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