American Le Mans Series

Planetlemans talks to Gianmaria Bruni

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos

Gianmaria Bruni has started 2008 with a series of wins on the Ferrari 430 GT. Both FIA-GT and LMS events have seen him already on top of the podium so the young Roman is feeling pretty positive and confident at this time. Planetlemans met Gianmaria in between practice sessions at the Monza 1000 km and was able to get to know this fast driver better.

PLM- Gianmaria, you have had an excellent start of the season up to now, how does it feel?

GB- The first races have turned out very well indeed. I have been lucky to feel really good on the 430GT since the first time I drove it. It was quite different from the GP2 car I was driving just before and it was really reassuring to get almost immediately within 1/1000th of a second of the times of Dirk Müller. From there on I was able to improve constantly and drive faster every time, my profile has always been to be a regular driver so this is a very good thing for endurance. We also work hard and managed to get very good setups with the Michelotto Ferraris.

PLM- And now you drive two different setups in the same season.

GB- Indeed, in FIA-GT I drive on Michelins while here in LMS I drive on Dunlops which is quite different. Bare in mind that for Virgo I only come to the races and do no extra training so I have little time to adapt to the handling which is very good but different.

PLM- You are a Ferrari driver, how does that work, are you sent to chosen teams or…

GB- Well, I started at AF Corse in 2007. I found a great environment and I had good results, lost the championship for 5 points only so this year my objective is to win the championship. In the case of Virgo in September last year Michelotto was asked to recommend a driver and my name came up, I drove at Silverstone and won with Rob (Bell) with whom I feel very comfortable, we “clicked” immediately.

PLM- But you also drove in the US

GB- Certainly, I did four races last year with Risi to help Mika (Salo) and Jaime (Melo) win the ALMS championship. I felt really good and Risi asked me again this year to do Sebring, probably I will be on their team for Le Mans as well.

PLM- How did you like the ALMS?

GB- It’s wonderful!! My goal is to drive in the US one day, I like the tracks, got one pole, three 2nd places and one 3rd with hardly any practice.

PLM- You mentioned you want to win the FIA-GT championship, what about the LMS?

GB- It will be tough, I need to skip the Silverstone race due to a clash with the Brno round of FIA-GT, however I will do my best to get the championship for Virgo.

PLM- You are now 100% professional driver, right?

GB- That was a main goal for me and I have achieved it. Also, I drive for Ferrari, the team many people just dream of driving for. I’d like to stay as long as I can with Ferrari, a team which is very strong, united and always striving for improvement. Remain in the Ferrari family would be fantastic for me as Italian. It’s the team I always dreamt of.

PLM- How did the decision for endurance come about? You had, as many drivers do, a Formula career up to F1 where you made it to Minardi. Did you think of moving to America after that?

GB- I did actually try two CART drives, Newman-Haas and Forsythe after I left Minardi. But almost at the same time Dr. Cicarelli, who helps me with my physical training and knows my mentality well got me the right contact. He knows I need to compete, to fight constantly and he knew Amato Ferrari (owner of AF Corse) who in turn called me. He is a very fine person and we understood each other immediately. For me it was the chance to become 100% professional driver which was my objective and I certainly went for it.

PLM- Did you get in the team right away then?

GB- He called me to have a test drive at Fiorano, it was my first drive on the 430 and at the 3rd or 4th lap I was already making comparable times to those of Jaime (Melo). But it was not only a performance question, there was an immediate chemistry, a certain feeling, a sense of trust which was what got me into AF Corse.

PLM- Gianmaria, last item. How was the story of your lie to get into the karting track in Rome?

GB- Well, let me tell the whole story (laughs). I started racing in go-karts when I was 8 years old. I was a bit big and heavy for my age so a move to the 12-14 year category was very convenient in terms of being more competitive. My father crafted some counterfeit documents to get me in the higher class and we were successful: on my first race against kids of 12 to 14 years I did the pole and won the race, and I was only 8….

PLM- So how did the story end?

GB- Well, after 5 years on that class the karting federation realized something was wrong and suspended me for one year. In the end I had to demonstrate my age by showing my school documents (laughs) , there was no way to convince them anymore!!!

Gianmaria’s talent spoke for itself already at an early age and is certainly shining today with his current performance. He is as gentle as he is quick on the track and is ready to start collecting championships. Looking at the start of the season he seems to be on the right track…