In a guest start in the GT Open at Monza, Formula One star Rubens Barrichello will drive for the team with which he competed in Formula 3000 in 1992
This weekend (October 11-13), Rubens Barrichello will embark on a double journey into his motorsport past. The former Formula One driver from Brazil will make a guest start in the GT Open championship. And he will do so at Monza, the track where he celebrated great victories in Formula One.
Barrichello will drive a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for the Italian team Il Barone Rampante – the team with which he laid the foundation for his subsequent Formula One career in 1992 with successes in the international Formula 3000 championship.
“I’m very happy to be driving the Lamborghini Huracan with Il Barone Rampante at Monza,” says Barrichello. ‘I used to race with them when we were still in Formula 3000. Of course, the team has changed categories and the people are different now, but it’s still an excellent team that won the Am class title and is fighting for the podium at every race.’
Successes with Il Barone Rampante in Formula 3000
Barrichello was considered an up-and-coming star after winning the British Formula 3 Championship when he joined Giuseppe Cipriani’s team in Formula 3000 in 1992, which at the time, comparable to today’s Formula 2, was the highest junior class below Formula 1.
Barrichello showed his talent in his very first race in Silverstone, finishing second. After further podium finishes on the street circuit in Pau and in Barcelona, Barrichello fought for the title for a long time in 1992, which was eventually secured by Luca Badoer with a winning streak.
Barrichello did not manage to win in Formula 3000, but by finishing third in the championship, he recommended himself for higher tasks and in 1993 he received a cockpit in Formula 1 at Jordan. The team Il Barone Rampante retired from Formula 3000 as early as 1993, but was revived as a vehicle for Cipriani’s own successes in GT racing.
Legendary F1 victories with Ferrari at Monza
With the guest start at Monza, the now 52-year-old Barrichello returns to his statistically most successful racetrack. He celebrated three of his eleven Grand Prix victories at the circuit in the Royal Park just outside Milan.
With his victories for Ferrari in 2002 and 2004 (when he and Michael Schumacher secured a one-two for the Scuderia in their home race), Barrichello won a place in the hearts of the Tifosi. In 2009, he celebrated the last victory of his long and successful Formula One career with Brawn in Monza.
“Racing at Monza is always something special for me. I had some wonderful moments with Ferrari and will never forget the great support of the fans, who always accompanied me lovingly even after I changed teams,” says Barrichello.
Little experience in Lambroghini GT3 car
With his guest start in the Lamborghini GT3 car, the experienced Brazilian is breaking new ground. “This is my first time competing in the GT Open, so everything is new to me,” says Barrichello. “I had the chance to do a few laps at Barcelona and I have to say I felt good. Now I can’t wait to get out on track and do my first tests!”
However, GT3 cars are not completely new to Barrichello. He previously competed in the 2018 Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
Rubens will not be the only Barrichello at Monza. His son Fernando will compete in the Euroformula Open supporting race, where he is currently third in the overall standings. “It will be a busy and hopefully successful weekend for the whole family,” says Barrichello.
