CAAL Racing

Italy CAAL Racing
Base Todi, Province of Perugia
Team principal(s) Luca Canneori
Teams'
Championships		 2004 Superstars Series
2005 Superstars Series
2007 International Superstars Series
2008 International Superstars Series
2009 Superstars Series
Drivers'
Championships		 2007 International Superstars Series
2008 International Superstars Series

CAAL Racing in an Italian racing team competing in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series among other racing series. The team has won the team championship in the defunct Superstars Series five times. The team is based in Todi, Province of Perugia.

History

Superstars Series

CAAL Racing has been active in the Superstars Series since its inaugural season in 2004. The team fielded Francesco Ascani in a BMW M5 E39. The Italian driver won races at Varano and Monza. Ascani won the inaugural season of the start up series beating the only other full time driver, Mauro Simoncini, by 14 points. The following season the team, as well as the series, expanded. Ascani was retained by the team and two part-time drivers, Leonardo Baccarelli and Albert Colajanni joined the line-up. Ascani won the opening race at Adria and the team scored three more podium finishes clinching the team championship again.

In 2006 the team was beaten by Audi Sport Italia for the teams championship. Marco Gregori was the teams best driver placing fourth in the series championship. Ascani raced a new BMW 550i E60. The team continued to enter the BMW M5 E39 alongside the BMW 550i E60 in 2007. The team entered eleven different drivers in its three cars during the season. Only Giuliano Alessi raced all rounds scoring four podium finishes in the overall championship. The Italian won the International Superstars Series winning at Adria and Vallelunga. CAAL Racing driver Stefano Gabellini was very successful in 2008 winning two races in the overall championship. He finished second in the series standings, behind Gianni Morbidelli. Gabellini won the International Superstars Series. Gabellini again finished second in the overall series in 2009.

For 2010 the team switched from the BMW to the Mercedes C63 AMG. CAAL Racing driver Luigi Ferrara won both opening races at Monza. Scoring five more podium finishes Ferrara finished third in the series standings. Ferrari also finished third in the series championship in 2011 winning one race, at Misano. For 2012 Vitantonio Liuzzi was the series only full time driver. The team also received factory support from Mercedes-AMG.[1] Liuzzi was the best Mercedes driver finishing second in the series championship. The former Formula 1 driver won at Monza and the Hungaroring.

The 2013 season was the last Superstars Series season in its original form. Liuzzi left the team to join Romeo Ferraris. None of the four teams drivers competed all the rounds, nor achieved major results. Financial reasons caused the series to reform as the EuroV8 Series for 2014.[2] Diego Romanini scored the best results for the team with a third place at the season finale at the Hockenheimring.

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series

The car used by CAAL Racing's Salvador Tineo Arroyo in 2017

In 2013 the team debuted in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in the final two rounds at Monza and Le Mans. Fabrizio Armetta noted the best result, a fifth place in the Elite 1 class and two fourth places in Elite 2.[3] After the strong outing, the team decided to enter three cars for the 2014 season.[4] Eddie Cheever III, who raced his first season out of single-seaters, was the teams star performer. Cheever won races at Brands Hatch, Magione and the season finale at Le Mans. The Italian-American finished third in the Elite 1 series standings. Cheever remained for 2015 winning the season opener at Valencia. In the course of the season Cheever was surpassed by series newcomer Alon Day. Day won at Magione and both races at Zolder. The third car was manned by Nicolò Rocca who won at Venray, Tours and Magione. Despite the team winning seven out of twelve races, the series championship was won by Ander Vilariño with TFT Racing. Day was the best placed driver in the championship finishing second. The 2016 season was less successful with only Day remaining with the team, again winning three races. Day won races at Valencia, Brands Hatch and Adria. As he struggled on the ovals at Venray and Tours, taking only one top five finish, Day finished third in the championship standings.

Complete NASCAR results

Complete NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 1 results

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Complete NASCAR Whelen Euro Series - Elite 2 results

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

References

  1. ↑ "Superstar Series: AMG officieel partner CAAL Racing". Autosport.nl. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Superstars: Superstars ter ziele. Serie houdt op te bestaan". Autosport.nl. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Fabrizio Armetta". The Third Turn. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "CAAL Racing raises its game in NASCAR Whelen Euro Series". Automobilsport. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
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