FIA Motorsport Games: Vallelunga, Friday Morning Paddock Notes

The inaugural FIA Motorsport Games at Vallelunga were launched yesterday evening with an ambitious ceremony in central Rome featuring 33 of the cars entered parading some 9 km on the streets of the Italian Capital, from across a number of the disciplines that will be contested over the weekend.

Each of the 192 drivers who will represent 49 National Sporting Authorities (ASN) were in attendance at Circus Maximus, an ancient chariot racing venue located just a few minutes from the Colosseum for an opening ceremony on a grand scale though the weather gods played their part with torrential rain taking the edge off proceedings, and a subsequent lighting failure in the deluge playing its part in bringing proceedings to a somewhat premature conclusion.

The parade through the centre of Rome though provided some stunning photo opportunities with GT, Touring Car, Formula 4 and Drifting machinery all represented.

After beginning at Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (the location for Rome’s Formula E race, and winding its way around some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the parade concluded with the cars parked around the stage at Circo Massimo in preparation for the opening ceremony.

Proceedings began in earnest when a Roman chariot arrived in the arena carrying FIA Drivers’ Commission President Tom Kristensen.

The nine-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner on hand to unveil the new FIA Motorsport Games trophy, which will be awarded to the ASN with the greatest medal haul at the end of this weekend’s contest.

Led by their team captains, the competitors then entered the arena in the colours of their national flags and assembled on-stage – that part of proceedings getting underway unfortunately just as the rain began to fall.

Competition begins with free practice today with the first medals awarded in the Drifting Cup and Digital Cup on Saturday.

Sunday will see the four remaining contests settled as the GT Cup, Touring Car Cup, Formula 4 Cup and Karting Slalom Cup competitors battle for gold.

DSC’s principal interest is, of course in the GT3-based GT Cup with 22 cars representing their respective ASNs over the weekend – the cars liveried with heavy emphasis on national colours.