Interviews

Planetlemans talks to Paolo Ruberti

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

How many drivers can get quickest time in their first outing? What about being half a second off the time of a certain Nicolas Minassian after your first few laps ever on a prototype? Today I bring you the story of such a driver: Paolo Ruberti. Maybe an unsung hero as one of his friends likes to put it, maybe a champion to be….but read and judge by yourself.

© Planetlemans - Frank Feenstra

PLM- Ciao Paolo, how do you feel after the race at Oschesrleben?

PR- It was a tough weekend for us, my team mate spun during qualifying so our tyres were ruined. The window for qualifying is just 15 minutes so after that delay I jumped on the car but could do just one lap. In the race we had to change tyres almost immediately because the car was jumping like a kangaroo (laughs), but the "new" tyres were also pretty old.

PLM- Very old?

PR- They had 30 laps on them so their performance was not the best. On top of that we lost 35 seconds because of a rear wheel that did not want to go off…

PLM- So 5th place was not that bad after all…

PR- The crew cheered more than if we had won after the race, it was a fantastic result in the end given the circumstances but we could have done a lot better.

PLM- Paolo, let me take you back in time to 2001, unlike many drivers you moved pretty fast into tintops.

PR- It’s an easy move when you don’t have a budget!! (laughs) In fact my first real GT drive was with Graham Nash on the Saleen. A very good team but small, not at the top level. Even if we lacked on reliability I am enormously thankful to them for the chance they gave me, it was a great experience.

PLM- And from there to ALMS

PR- Exactly, through Pirelli I got the contact with Franz Konrad and we did two races: Sebring and Houston in 2005. In fact we had big engine problems but I did good times.

PLM- What about the American environment?

PR- Fabulous, very very nice racing atmosphere and a great show. In fact the best are the fans, they are huge racing fans and they are there at all times, since Friday already. In Europe that is a bit different in LMS or even FIA-GT.

PLM- And how did you get in touch with the Edil Cris team?

PR- I know the team owner since 2005. In fact he was doing Italian GT with a Ferrari 360 but come the LMS round at Monza the team drivers were double booked since they were doing GT1 in LMS with a Ferrari 550 so I got a chance to drive together with Arturo Merzario.

PLM- You just said Arturo Merzario????

PR- Indeed, it was amazing, the best part is I did the fastest time in practice and got second in qualifying, we got second in both races.

PLM- So how was it to drive with such a legend?

PR- Merzario is a character, extremely friendly, always telling stories of his old times, Formula 1 and always smoking. When the chequered flag falls he is lighting a cigarette in the car already!!!
PLM- So after that you made an impression!

PR- Well, I was hired in 2006 to do Open GT, we changed mid-season from a Ferrari 360 to a 430 and we could have had a shot at the championship. For this year in FIA-GT we have a stronger team, independent, competitive and our only difference with, say, AF Corse is the tyres. We’re working hard with Pirelli to bridge the gap.

PLM- But your results are encouraging

PR- Well, China was not good, we were second in Silverstone, retired in Bucharest with that crazy wet race. In Monza we had the pole and I gave the car to my team mate on second, Oschersleben fifth with used tyres…

PLM- So what’s in your future?

PR- Well, I love GT to be honest and I’m very thankful to Edil Cris so anything I’d do I’d first talk to them before any decision. I’m sure that if I continue to deliver I might attarct some phone calls in the future…

PLM- Like from the LMS?

PR- Well, in GT I’m not sure I’d do LMS. I believe FIA-GT is stronger in the GT field at the moment so I see no reason to do a GT move. Prototypes are different, I like them very much. I did a test in Barcelona with Creation a few years ago, 16 laps and it went really well. On equal tyres I was just half a second from Minassian’s time…

PLM- That’s imperssive. Changing subject, looking forward to the Spa 24 hours?

PR- I did it in 2004 already with GNM, a beautiful race. Passionate fans, 100.000 all around the track. We’ll be there with just 1 car and all four Edil Cris drivers. I like the night driving but I think we’ll go for 2 hour stints so I’ll get a bit of everything.

PLM- Favorite track and car?

PR- Spa, any prototype.

We’ll be keeping an eye on Paolo, his times and his career in the next races. He is one of those few drivers able to break through if given the chance, and it won’t be long before he gets his shot, he surely deserves it!

gabriel@planetlemans.com