Team manager Davide Mazzoleni thinks long term when it comes to his team. That's why he has put two promising rookies in the cockpits of his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup with #18 Keagan Masters (ZAF) and #19 Riccardo Pera (ITA). Masters finished second in the 2022 Carrera Cup Italia and was fourth fastest at the Imola Season Test. Pera brings with him a wealth of GT racing experience. Both drivers will be moulded in the fierce competition of the Supercup and developed into professionals who have what it takes to become series champions. The third driver on the team is #17 Risto Vukov (MKD), who is competing in his first Supercup season after having raced in national Porsche one-make series. Davide Mazzoleni told us at the Imola Season Test what he wants to achieve with his team in 2023.

Ciao Davide! You've won the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia last year. How do you plan to build on this success in the upcoming Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup season?
We're certainly looking to build on this success – but also on the experience we gained in our first season in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup last year. We start the new season with a lot more confidence. And we're much more relaxed because we know a lot of things that we didn't know in the past. This gives us a ton of enthusiasm and together with the experience we will start this season with a more aggressive approach.

 

In 2023, Budapest is back on the race calendar instead of Le Castellet, the other stops are the same as last year. Which race are you most excited about?
Clearly Monaco. Last year this particular race was one of the most stressful events for us in terms of logistics and planning. I didn't really get to enjoy the experience of being in Monaco – it was the first time in the team's history that we raced there with modern cars. So this year I want to enjoy the Monaco event more. We just have to rely on the drivers' ability to adapt quickly to the circuit – and I think our guys have what it takes to tackle this track.

What is your approach to managing and motivating the team during a high-pressure race weekend?
To be honest, I'm lucky that I don't have to motivate my team members too much. The team itself is a very strong group of people, almost like a family. And that is one of the things I really love about being in this environment: sharing the excitement with the team. Myself and my partners are always first in line when it's time to get on the track, and I'm sure that motivates the rest of the team as well.

You have a completely new driver line-up for the 2023 season. What are your expectations?
Yes, we’ve extended the line-up from two cars in 2022 to three cars this season. We have two drivers in the Rookie Classification, Riccardo Pera and Keegan Masters, and Risto Vukov in the Overall Classification. With Keegan and Riccardo coming from the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia, we are looking forward to building a base for the future.
All of our drivers come from different backgrounds, but they are all really talented behind the wheel with a great approach to the sport. We are looking forward to helping them become even better and in a couple of years we want to be a competitive team, fighting for the championship title.

How important do you think the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is for young drivers, who are looking for a career in motorsport?
It really is the stage where you need to put yourself to the test if you want to become a professional racing driver one day. If you are able to win races and to fight for the championship this is the place to be – the stepping stone to build a career. There are not many series that have such credibility in motorsport.
The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is also a strong advertising channel, even stronger than the national one-make series. All in all it's a championship I'm very proud and happy to be a part of. We are really looking forward to bringing more young and talented drivers to compete in this series over the next few years.

Thanks a lot for the talk, Davide!