2020 Michelin Le Mans Cup GT3 Drivers Champion Rino Mastronardi returns with Team Champions Iron Lynx to defend his hard-won title.
The Italian will be joined in the no8 Ferrari 488 GT3 by compatriot and highly experienced GT racer Paolo Ruberti.
In 2020 Rino Mastronardi took seven podium finishes from the seven races, with four victories and five pole positions – an impressive record that amassed a total of 132 championship points at the end of the season.
We spoke to Rino Mastronardi ahead of the new season, which begins in Spain on Saturday 17 April.
Q: The 2020 season went well for you and Iron Lynx. If you could choose just one, what was the highlight of the year for you?
Rino Mastronardi: “The best and more emotional moment was the victory at Spa, the second in a row in two races. The fight for the first place went on from the first to the last lap.Iron Lynx, Giacomo and I did a masterpiece, especially Giacomo, who spent the last 10 laps of the race protecting our first position.”
Q: What have you been doing to keep busy since the last MLMC race in Portugal?
RM: “In November, December and January I have done the usual winter training by myself. Luckily, I did not have to wait too long to go back on track, in February I participated in the Asian Le Mans Series, finishing third in Championship.”
Q: You are returning to defend your title with Iron Lynx but you have a new teammate in Paolo Ruberti. How well do you know Paolo and have you raced with him before?
RM: “I have known Paolo a long time as driver. He is very quick; I am sure together we will have good chances to win the title again.”
Q: The open race will be in Spain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.What are your thoughts on the track?
RM: “I have not driven in Barcelona since 2017, but with Iron Lynx we are going to do a test there in the next few days. I do not particularly love the track, but in any case, I am sure at the race we will be competitive.”
Q: Which race on the 2021 calendar are you looking forward to the most and why?
RM: “Last year’s Road To Le Mans was a strange race for us. It rained just before the race, and, for a number of reasons, we decided to start the race with rain tyres.Unfortunately, it was the wrong choice because the track dried up very quickly, cutting us out for the victory.This year I would like to win that race.”
Round 1 of the six round 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup will take place in Barcelona in Spain on Saturday 17th April.
