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Big start crash in the 1st race on Saturday and a happy Monza winner from the USA on Sunday!

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The 2023 MAXX Formula racing season started with an extremely spectacular start accident during the first sprint race on Saturday, which thankfully went smoothly in the end. Thomas Zeltner (SUI), who wanted to celebrate his MAXX Formula racing debut in Monza with a good result, misjudged his position right after the start when braking for the first chicane and crashed into the rear of Felix Grosse-Aschhoff (GER) with locking and smoking tires at very high speed. The GP2 of the Swiss was catapulted into the air and turned on its back in flight, so to speak. When it hit the track on the back, it also caught the rear diffuser of pole setter Phil Stratford in front, who was unfortunately also taken out of the race, in addition to the two cars directly involved. Thus the corridor was free for Patrick Harmuth (FRA) who could place his black-orange GP2 already in the qualifying directly behind the veteran Hans Laub (GER). Harmuth found the fastest way through the accident parts on the track and took the lead of the field. Hans Laub followed with a small gap. Frank Thomas (BEL), who was the only one representing the Masters class this weekend, left the German Michael Grosse-Aschhoff behind. Due to the accident the field drove 3 laps behind the safety car until the track was finally opened for the race. Harmuth drove a faultless race and took his first MAXX Formula victory ahead of the German Hans Laub and the Belgian Frank Thomas. The injured Thomas Zeltner (SUI) was evacuated from his heavily demolished GP2 by the very careful and fast reacting marshals, together with the medical team, and brought for the obligatory medical checks first to the medical center and then to the hospital in Monza for further examinations. It was not until late that night that the all-clear was finally given, and the Swiss driver was able to leave the hospital on his own without injury and "only" with a back contusion. Klaas Zwart, who had also arrived with his Jaguar R5, unfortunately could not use his 10-cylinder F1, massive gearbox problems prevented a start. Also not at the start were all Big Open Single Seaters, which rely on 15-inch tires (SuperLeague Formula and IndyCar). Due to the desolate supply situation for these tire sizes, participation was out of the question.

On Sunday, 8 drivers started the 2nd Sprint Race in bright sunshine and spring-like temperatures around 20 degrees. Fastest in Q2 was, as in Q1, the US-American Phil Stratford, whose team Mansell Motorsport got his Benetton F1 B 197 fit again overnight. This time, after a clean start by all drivers, he immediately took the lead and did not relinquish it until the end of the race. So, the long journey from California paid off for the declared favorite and he once again took the winner's trophy from Monza across the big pond. Second place went to the increasingly strong German youngster Felix Grosse-Aschhoff, who already drew attention to himself last season with some good results. The podium was completed by the Swiss Martin Kindler with his light blue Formula2 racecar from Switzerland. In the first race he still eliminated himself with a spin, but in the second race he managed a flawless performance and deserved his podium. 4th became Partick Harmuth (FRA), P5 went to Hans Laub (GER), P6 to the Masters winner Frank Thomas (BEL) and also Michael Grosse-Aschhoff (GER) brought his GP2 without special incidents in the classification to the finish.

Zeltner&Co. becomes presenter sponsor of MAXX Formula in the upcoming season!

16. January 2023

The “Landsail Maxx Formula series” will be supported by Zeltner & Co. as presenter sponsor from this season on. Thomas Zeltner, founder and CEO of Zeltner & Co. heads the Swiss investment boutique, which is best known for its investments […]

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