Rafanelli 550's OK .... So Far!
23.2.01

After the experiences of last year's FIRST 550 Maranello's which ran in the FIA GT Championship one is weary of eulogising about prospects for this coming season, but it appears that the experienced Rafanelli team are making a good job of developing these much-maligned cars.

If it goes as well as it looks......

The tests at Vallelunga on February 7-9th went well and the most recent official FIA GT tests at Valencia confirmed that there might be cause for optimism.

Emanuele Naspetti did most of the running and completed 87 laps on the first day at Valencia with only one minor hitch and then completed 40 laps the next day starting with full tanks in a non-stop run. Compared to the quickest time of 1:32.5secs set by the 2000 front-running Lister team the 550 clocked 1:33.6secs which is excactly the same as last year's pole-position time with Julian Bailey driving the Lister.

The respected Rafanelli team might be the saviour of the 550 effort

Development work centered around the brakes, the engine management system and setting the car up for full-tank running which was one of its problem areas in the previous season.

A very strong driver line-up is in prospect, with Naspetti sharing one car with Mimmo Schiattarella and Marc Duez sharing the other with Guenther Blieninger.

The JMB Racing 360 Modenas were also at Valencia and were also going well. Compared to the quickest N-GT time of 1:38.7 set by (sometime F333SP driver) Philip Peter in a Porsche GT3-R the 360's managed 1:39.6. Further Michelotto-developed components are expected to improve their performance levels before the season starts.

The next test session will be at Monza on 7th and 8th March.

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