Il y a quelques semaines, nous vous annoncions la signature du premier équipage de l’Aston Martin DBR9 n°9 : Jean-Denis Delétraz et Frédéric Makowiecki. Aujourd’hui, nous vous annonçons la signature d’un troisième pilote, cette fois-ci pour la DBR9 n°10 : le Monégasque Clivio Piccione. Voici un rappel de son palmarès, suivi d’une interview de cette nouvelle recrue :
Palmarès
Né le 24 février 1984 à Monaco
2008/2009 : A1 GP avec Team Monaco (1 podium, 1 pole position)
2008 : EuroSeries 3000 (1 podium)
2007 : World Series by Renault FR3.5 (2 podiums, 1 pole position)
2006 : GP2 Series ( 2 podiums)
2005 : GP2 Series ( 1 victoire)
2004 : Formule 3 GB (4ème, 2 victoires, 2 pole positions), 2ème F3 Euro Cup
2002 : Formule 3 GB (2ème, 3 victoires, 4 pole positions)
2000 : Karting Formule A, vice-Champion du Monde
1999 : Karting Intercontinentale A, 3ème au championnat d’Europe
Comment s’est passée la signature avec HEXIS AMR ?
J’ai rencontré Philippe Dumas (Cogérant et team manager d’HEXIS AMR) lorsque nous avons entendu parler du projet du Championnat du Monde FIA GT1 il y a quelques mois. Nous avions alors l’idée de monter une structure commune, avec HEXIS AMR et Team Monaco (team de Clivio Piccione). Malheureusement, Team Monaco n’a pas pu rassembler les moyens financiers suffisants pour pouvoir participer à ce nouveau championnat, et notre projet est tombé à l’eau. Malgré tout, j’ai gardé de bonnes relations avec Philippe, et j’ai manifesté mon souhait de rejoindre la structure d’HEXIS AMR. Nous nous sommes tenus au courant au fil des semaines …
Vous avez uniquement piloté des monoplaces jusqu’à présent …
Oui, conduire une GT est une première pour moi ! Cette signature est un grand virage et symbolise un challenge à relever. Mais je suis serein, il y a une bonne entente avec HEXIS AMR, je leur fais confiance et ils me font confiance. J’ai eu l’occasion de rencontrer toute l’équipe lors d’une journée d’essais à Lédenon (circuit où est basé HEXIS AMR), et j’ai visité leur structure. Je me suis également rendu aux journées tests sur le circuit Paul Ricard pour voir rouler la GT1 d’HEXIS AMR. Aujourd’hui, je suis vraiment fier de faire partie de l’équipe !
Quel regard portez-vous sur ce nouveau Championnat du Monde GT1 ?
Je pense que ce championnat a un bel avenir et qu’il va très certainement devenir la catégorie reine des GT dans les prochaines années. Et je mise beaucoup sur la réussite d’HEXIS AMR !
Le mot de la fin ?
Je remercie mes partenaires, la marque de vodka White Birch et l’horloger Horus. Et un grand merci à HEXIS AMR pour la confiance qu’ils m’accordent.
Newsletter #2 – March 2010
A few weeks ago, we announced you the signature of the first crew of drivers for the Aston Martin DBR9 #9: Jean-Denis Delétraz and Frédéric Makowiecki. Today, we announce you the signature of a third driver, this time for the DBR9 #10: the Monegasque Clivio Piccione. Here is a reminder of his record, followed by an interview of this new recruit.
Career highlights
Born February 24th, 1984 in Monaco
2008/2009 : A1 GP with Team Monaco (1 podium finish, 1 pole position)
2008 : EuroSeries 3000 (1 podium finish)
2007 : World Series by Renault FR3.5 (2 podium finishes, 1 pole position)
2006 : GP2 Series (2 podium finishes)
2005 : GP2 Series (1 race win)
2004 : British Formula 3 (4th, 2 race wins, 2 pole positions), 2nd F3 Euro Cup
2002 : British Formula 3 (2nd, 3 race wins, 4 pole positions)
2000 : Karting Formula A, World Championship runner-up
1999 : Karting Intercontinental A, 3rd European Championship
How did the signature with HEXIS AMR go?
I met Philippe Dumas (co-owner and team manager of HEXIS AMR) when we heard about the FIA GT1 World Championship a few months ago. We then had in mind to create a common structure to HEXIS AMR and Team Monaco (Clivio Piccione’s team). Unfortunately, Team Monaco couldn’t gather enough financial means to take part in this new championship, and our project fell through. Despite everything, I kept good relations with Philippe, and I showed my interest in joining HEXIS AMR’s structure. We kept in touch over the weeks…
You have only been driving single-seaters until now …
Yes I have, driving a GT is a first for me! This signature is a big shift and symbolizes a challenge to take up. But I’m serene and in good terms with HEXIS AMR: I trust them and they trust me. I had the chance to meet the whole team during a test day in Lédenon (circuit where HEXIS AMR are based), and I visited their structure. I also attended the Paul Ricard test days, where I could see HEXIS AMR’s GT1 run. Today, I’m really proud to be part of the team!
What kind of look do you have on this new FIA GT1 World Championship?
I think this championship has a bright future and that it will certainly become the GTs queen category in the upcoming years. And I count a lot on the success of HEXIS AMR!
Any closing words?
I thank all my partners, the vodka brand White Birch and the watchmaker Horus. And a big thank-you to HEXIS AMR for the trust they give me.
Teixeira is also working closely with his major partners and suppliers to ensure their continued support.
“I shall be meeting all of them personally in the next couple of days. I want them to understand this is a series that is here to stay on the motorsport scene, and they need to know their involvement is with a series that is going from strength to strength.”
The way Teixeira sees the series now is as starting with a totally clean sheet with a re-structuring that has no outstanding issues that can hold back its growth: “We have always put on a fantastic show and this is only going to get better.”
However, he was also realistic about the adverse publicity that the series has received, and was quick to reassure all those involved that many of the stories were very wide of the mark.
“I have seen all the stories written over the past few weeks doubting the future of the series, and these are not new to me as I have seen them at the start of every one of our four seasons. These are not things I like to read and I feel frustrated that I cannot always come out and explain exactly what we are doing, but, as you know, we have always delivered every season and race we have committed to,” he said.
The series has recently announced a new deal with IMG Sports Media to market its worldwide media rights for the next three years and also the Season Five calendar. Teixeira is now working on further deals, and in the coming weeks the grid for the race in Surfers Paradise will be announced after final deals have been put in place.
The one outstanding issue that will be dealt with soon is the liquidation of A1 Grand Prix Operations Limited, that was a subsidiary of A1 Holdings Ltd. Administration for this company has now been applied for and this will be heard on the 6th October.
Teixeira’s message to all of the company’s creditors was: “Our intention is to settle all our outstanding creditors prior to the administration hearing, and would like to thank them for their patience and support.
“We at A1GP have been so lucky to have such loyal support from all our stake holders – management and staff, race promoters, team owners, partners, suppliers, TV rights holders, sponsors and last but not least our fans”.
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