Dino Zamparelli is looking to start the new Porsche Carrera Cup racing season off, where he left 2017, as the beginning of the season starts this weekend at Brands Hatch in Kent.
Having joined reigning champions Redline Racing for this season, switching over from JTR, and now being backed by Nationwide Accident Repairs, the combination that brought so much success to Zamparelli’s arch rival Dan Cammish (who is now racing in the BTCC), the 25-year-old Bristolian is keen to get straight into things:
“I’m really excited about the new season; I’ve got a new team and a big sponsor in Nationwide Accident Repairs. I am of course working with my existing personal sponsors in DMS, Arbuthnot Latham, Eden Private Staff, Performance Car Finance, CitiMark and also a host of new ‘Sponsors’ Club’ partners – so I’m really excited to get things started and aiming for the best possible start to the campaign!”
“This year we have a new rule in the format, which is a reverse top 6 for race two. This means that if you put it on pole position and go on to win the first race, then you could start either 4th, 5th, or 6th for race two. The idea is that it will promote more exciting racing. I don’t mind the new rule, it will make things a bit tougher but I’m a strong overtaker and enjoy the challenge.”
As per last year, the Carrera Cup will feature live on ITV4 on Sunday’s and have two races on Sunday. The first race takes place on Sunday morning whilst the second will be in the afternoon, live on TV and in front of thousands of trackside motor-racing fans. It’s a 16-race calendar over 8 weekends, and it will be the total of 15 best results that will determine the championship winner in September.
Bouncing back from last year, where Zamparelli tied on points with the eventual champion, Dino is keen to clean up a few areas into this year and lead the charge from Round 1:
“Last year the opening couple of rounds were a bit scruffy from me, I was a tad rusty and lost a position or two over doing it. We had issues with the team being disqualified as well; so we lost far too many points in my opinion. Therefore, for this year, I want to start right and get qualifying and race 1 with pole position and a win. Race 2 we’ll go for the podium at the least, but I will push on for the second win on the TV too. Let’s see how it plays out!”
“There are new faces on the grid and my two main rivals are racing elsewhere in 2018. There will be quick drivers challenging and I’m not going to underestimate anyone. I’m really excited to get everything going – I feel good in the new team and car and can’t wait to start battling it out!”
You can watch the race live on ITV4 Sunday at 15:40 – and follow all of the timing live on TSL here.