Davide Valsecchi hoping to become Italy’s next F1 sensation

After clinching the GP2 Series Championship around the streets of Singapore, Davide Valsecchi is now aiming to continue his journey towards the upper echelons of motor sport. Naturally a GP2 Champion’s ambition is to become a Formula 1 driver, and Valsecchi would be the first from Italy since Jarno Trulli in 2011.

The 2012 GP2 Series season was yet another thrilling contest between the motor sport Champions of the future, as Davide Valsecchi fought a season-long battle with the Arden International of Luiz Razia. The duo also had to fend off the likes of Esteban Gutierrez, Max Chilton and James Calado, who also showed their potential throughout the 24 races which spanned Asia and Europe.

Davide Valsecchi was understandably thrilled to become the GP2 Champion, something which current F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean have also claimed on their road to the top of the most revered form of motor sport in the world. Davide Valsecchi, like many of his former competitors in GP2, has previous testing experience with F1 machinery, after testing for HRT and Lotus in recent years.

“It’s unbelievable!” Exclaimed Davide Valsecchi, after clinching the Championship on Saturday in Singapore. “It’s a really good feeling, and I’m really, really happy, because this year we had a great season: I drove really well and our car was really competitive almost every time, so I’m really happy that at the end, when it was really important, we had the victory last time in Monza and we were one of the best this weekend too. When it was important, me and DAMS didn’t make any mistakes, and we showed this year with four victories, with ten podiums and with six fastest laps that we were the best!”

Davide Valsecchi’s Championship contender in the latter stages of the season was Luiz Razia, who challenged the 25-year-old Italian’s reign with superlative victories at Barcelona, Valencia and Silverstone. However, Valsecchi kept his cool in the closing stages of the season and was able to remain the dominant figure in GP2. However, Valsecchi had nothing but praise for his Championship rival, who has also tested F1 machinery in recent months.

“No one can become a hero if he doesn’t have a great contender, so I’m really happy to be the Champion, and I’m really happy to have a great contender in Razia, because to be honest he made our job really difficult!” Explained Davide Valsecchi, after beating Razia to the Championship by 25 points. “At one stage we wondered if we would be able to fight back at the top again, but in Budapest we took back the situation and were one of the quickest and I had a great weekend, although unfortunately so did Razia! But I just thought keep working like this and we’ll make the gap, and in Monza we did it, and I’m happy to put the last stone in it here in Singapore, at last!”

After a driver wins the GP2 Championship, he is not permitted to return to the Series in the future. This means Davide Valsecchi will need to move on after this season, either to Formula 1 or another category in the sport. Every GP2 Champion in the history of the sport [apart from Pantano in 2008] have gone on to become Formula 1 drivers the following season, with Romain Grosjean being the latest example of receiving ‘promotion’ from the lower categories. Valsecchi firmly believes he deserves an opportunity in F1, after a grueling season-long battle against Razia.

“I really hope to have the chance [to race in F1], because at the moment we are strong enough to use it, so I really hope I will have a chance, and that I can show that I deserve to be there, that I’m ready and I’m strong enough to be there.”

For a reigning GP2 Champion, Formula 1 has always been the next step up the ladder to greatness. With vacancies rumored to be opening up and down the paddock at teams such as Sauber, Force India and Caterham, Davide Valsecchi could well find himself on the grid come Melbourne next March. Regardless of where his career takes him, Valsecchi can now rejoice in becoming Italy’s next motor sport sensation after a terrific season in one of the most competitive forms of the sport.

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