Our race weekend at Round 3 of the UCS
After a weekend full of valuable lessons, we headed to the Mugello circuit for another round of our season with the Nova NP02.
In particularly demanding conditions with very high temperatures, the challenge was twofold: maintaining performance while managing the heat as effectively as possible, both for the drivers and the car. Despite these difficult conditions, the team remained focused and committed throughout the weekend to continue improving and better understand the car’s behaviour.
Practice and Qualifying: A costly red flag
The practice sessions went well, allowing us to continue getting comfortable with the Nova NP02 and prepare as effectively as possible for the weekend in the challenging Mugello heat.
Unfortunately, qualifying was affected by bad luck. During Q2, a red flag interrupted the session, which was eventually cancelled. As a result, we did not have the opportunity to set a lap time, forcing us to start from a further back position alongside the other competitors who were also unable to complete a timed lap.
Despite this situation being beyond our control, we had to take on the challenge of starting from 24th place on the grid and focus on making progress throughout the race.
The race :
The race had a promising start with a great getaway that allowed us to gain several positions in the opening laps. The pace was encouraging, and we were able to progressively move up through the field.
Unfortunately, a technical issue disrupted our progress and forced us to make an additional pit stop. This intervention cost us valuable time and many positions, significantly affecting our final result.
Despite this setback, the team and drivers remained fully committed until the chequered flag. After a challenging race, we eventually finished 34th out of 35, a result that does not reflect our true potential but provides us with valuable experience for the rest of the season.
Key takeaways from the weekend
A weekend full of learning with the Nova NP02, despite the challenging heat and some unfortunate circumstances. Between a qualifying session disrupted by a red flag and a technical issue during the race, the final result does not reflect our true potential.
Nevertheless, we leave Mugello with valuable experience gained and the motivation to keep improving for the upcoming rounds.
