Pacific Ferrari can fight for SUPER GT wins after “big” step

Japanese-Italian driver Cozzolino set one of the best time within the GT300 class throughout the two-day check within the Pacific Ferrari he shares with gentleman racer Takeshi Kimura, because the staff prepares for its sophomore SUPER GT season.

Final yr the squad confirmed flashes of potential, ending fourth at Suzuka and dropping a possible podium end to a puncture at Motegi.

However after a robust winter of testing that additionally yielded the third-fastest time within the earlier Okayama check, Cozzolino advised Motorsport.com he believes that he and Kimura are able to take the following step in 2022.

“In comparison with final yr we’re way more ready,” Cozzolino stated. “Final yr was the primary yr for the Ferrari-Yokohama bundle, the staff was new.

“This yr we are able to construct on final yr’s expertise and we have now a greater mixture with the tyre. We had been additionally capable of check at Okayama for just a few days previous to the official assessments, which we did not do final yr.

“It is actually troublesome to see everyone’s potential. We’re all the time flat out, however it’s laborious to inform if the others are holding one thing again. So I am unable to be too excited till we get to Okayama.

“However we had been capable of do a laptime sooner than we did in qualifying final yr at Fuji in Golden Week. So I feel we made a giant enchancment in comparison with final yr.”

Greatest GT300 check instances from Fuji:

Requested if he felt preventing for podiums or wins can be viable this season, Cozzolino replied: “Sure, undoubtedly. That’s why we determined to do one other yr, and that’s why Kimura-san is working so laborious.

“Just lately he’s solely driving the Ferrari. He’s doing the Le Mans 24 Hours, he’s doing ELMS, we’re doing the Japan Cup of GT World Problem Asia… wherever we are able to race with a Ferrari, we’re doing it.

“We’re one of many solely Professional-Am groups in SUPER GT now. However in a manner it’s change into a tyre administration collection – should you get the suitable tyres on the proper second, and you are able to do a no-tyre change, then you definitely’re up there. If we gamble and get fortunate, we might win a race.”

He added: “We nonetheless have to work on qualifying. If Kimura-san can go Q1, that might be a dream come true. However I feel it’s practical with the automobile we have now now.”

 

Cozzolino’s pace-setting time at Fuji meant that FIA GT3 vehicles topped three of the 4 official check days, however at Okayama the GT300-rules vehicles (previously JAF-GT300s) had been accused by a few of lapping a manner off their final tempo.

Requested whether or not he felt that was nonetheless the case at Fuji, Cozzolino stated it remained troublesome to make certain of whether or not the ‘JAF’ vehicles had been going flat out.

“I might see they had been missing straight line pace,” he stated. “However it’s truthfully laborious to inform if they’re going flat out. I used to be additionally anticipating extra from the [Nissan] GT-Rs. It is a bit bit unusual, I do not know in the event that they had been going flat out however it regarded like they had been struggling.

“It appears to be like just like the midship [GT3] vehicles, the Honda NSX and Lamborghini Huracan, are extra aggressive this yr, each on pure efficiency and race tempo. I feel it will likely be a very good battle with the Lamborghini and the NSX, primarily.”

The Pacific Ferrari may have an all-pro line-up of Cozzolino and Naoki Yokomizo for the season opener at Okayama on April 16-17 with Kimura unavailable as a consequence of a conflict with the European Le Mans Collection.