Thousands at the American Festival of Rome in Vallelunga. Adrenaline and thrills for the Legend Cars drivers of Toscano Racing. Michele Locatelli forced to miss Race 4 due to a bad accident in Race 3. Fede Casper Chili finished all four races showing great regularity
Thousands at the American Festival of Rome
The Autodrome of Vallelunga in Campagnano di Roma once again served as a spectacular setting for theAmerican Festival of Romethe exciting two days dedicated to adrenaline rushes Legend Cars and cars Euronascar Pro and Euronascar 2. Between tests, races and events as a corollary to this extraordinary event, the weekend of 18 and 19 May 2024 literally flew by.
Legend Cars, Euronascar Pro and Euronascar2
The thousands of people who crowded the famous Roman venue certainly didn’t have time to get bored because even in the moments of pause between one race and another, the numerous initiatives proposed by the organizers created an overwhelming festive atmosphere. Between car parades, walks on the starting grid and in the pits, various shows and entertainmentVallelunga was not only a point of reference for motorsport enthusiasts, but also the epicenter of two days of unparalleled fun!
The competition program
From Saturday morning to Sunday evening the prestigious asphalt ring in Lazio hosted free practice and qualifying for each of the three categories on the track, as well ten races: two for both Euronascar categories and four for the Legend Cars. And if the Euronascars stand out for their power and speed, what attracted the attention of fans more than ever was not only the beautiful dancers who performed several times on the starting grid in shows which received thunderous applause, but also the colorful liveries of the Legend Cars with their drivers. Each a character: all with that pinch of healthy madness indispensable when on the track you have to “do battle” with something like forty opponents at each race.
Michele Locatelli and Fede Casper Chili at the start
Could the pilots of Legend Cars by Toscano Racing give up the American Festival of Rome? Absolutely not, so already Friday afternoon Michele Locatelli #23 and Fede Casper Chili #125 they were in the plant, working on their respective cars. Obviously, the entire Toscano Marketing team was also present, ready as always to capture the highlights of the races and immortalize them with the lenses of cameras and video cameras, creating spectacular reels and videos, practically in real time, for the competitors.
Adrenaline and chills for Michele Locatelli, the tests
No one would have expected that Michele Locatelli #23’s weekend could end in the infirmary, but unfortunately, that’s what happened. Fortunately for the rider from Bergamo, fear aside, nothing serious, but the disappointment of missing Race 4, that was there. But let’s get to the tests:
«I started free practice with some electrical problems with the car – he says – Qualifying took place in heavy traffic, in the end some direct competitors stole my trail and stole the top positions from me. In any case, at the start of Race 1 we were all more or less on the same level.”
Bind
«Race 1 saw me cross the finish line eighth, at the end of an exciting comeback because on the third lap I was “cannonballed” by an opponent and found myself at the back of the grid. An exciting race with a historic overtaking because, in full comeback, I overtook four riders in one go. In Race 2 I started fourth, I got stuck in traffic and involved in some contact which cost me 3 or 4 positions. However, I recovered and in the end I placed fourth.
Finally, in Race 3 things had already gotten bad shortly after the start when I was rear-ended and my fenders exploded. But the worst came more or less halfway through the race when, still in traffic, I turned around and was hit by another car. I no longer remember anything about what happened, except that I was taken to the infirmary where… I saw Game 4 as a spectator. I played the bonus of two races not played this weekend, now, until the end of the Championship, if I want to aspire to something important I won’t be able to make any more mistakes.”
Fede Casper Chili, a great desire to learn
We learned about him in Varano, on the occasion of the first release of the Legend Cars. Fede Casper Chili #125 is a humble boy, 46 years old from Lomagna (LC). He decided to take to the track to exorcise his fear (about 14 years ago he risked his life due to a serious road accident): «I’m starting from the back with my car, for this year without pretensions, but only with a great desire to learn»he claims.
Despite this, those who thought that Fede was the black jersey of the Legend Cars were very wrong:
«In all four races of the weekend I never finished last, but always between 35th and 32nd position. For me as a beginner, these are certainly encouraging results. Then, it must be said that, while the others return to the pits at the end of the race to fine-tune their car, I… prefer to drink a coffee at the bar and have a chat with the public who are always very attracted by the fuchsia livery of the my car.”
Nice and light, it seems born specifically to experience motorsport: Fede is the manifesto of the Legend Cars values that everyone should embrace. «This year goes like this, I am everyone’s friend ready to let those in search of glory pass – he concludes – But next year, be careful, there won’t be any for anyone!». Finally, two words cannot be missing for teammate Michele Locatelli #23: «I know well what it means to have an accident- he states – Given what happened, at the start of Race 4 my heart was in my mouth».
But then the tension eased and the rider from Brianza finished his races without any worries.
Next appointment
The next exciting appointment with the Legend Cars is with theFX Racing Weekend in Varano de’ Melegari, next June 8th and 9th: synchronize your watches, the countdown has already begun!
