Colombian Chavez impresses in F3

Gabby Chavez

Young Colombian Gabby Chaves made a strong first impression in the Italian Formula 3 Championship this week (March 22-23) with a standout performance in testing at the Autodromo di Vallelunga, located just outside Rome. The Eurointernational rookie was among the leaders in both days of action, posting times on par with series veterans despite having never previously seen the track or having run the new Mygale M-10 chassis in race trim.

In preparation for his inaugural season European junior formula car competition, Chaves and the Eurointernational team traveled to the Autodromo di Vallelunga to take part in a collective private test, which featured the leading teams in the Italian Formula 3 Championship. The highly-rated American teenager, going head-to-head against drivers with a great deal more experience, immediately made his presence felt. Chaves quickly came to grips with his EuroInternational prepared Mygale M-10 chassis and the spec Kumho racing slicks, which were being utilized by all the teams for the first time during the two-day test. Chaves impressive first run in full race trim resulted in the second fastest time of the day (1:30.315), less than four tenths of a second off the quickest time.

Returning to the 2.538-mile road course one day later – the track which will host Rounds 11 and 12 of the series, Chaves continued his impressive run of form. Despite being a single-car effort, the reigning Formula BMW Americas champion was regularly able to match or better those racers with previous series experience driving for leading multi-car squads. Showcasing his intentions to challenge for not only race wins in his rookie season, but also the championship title, Chaves ended the morning session P1 and finished the afternoon session with the fifth best overall time, only five tenths behind the leader.

“I am feeling more and more comfortable with the car and the developing of this new Mygale- M10," stated Chaves. “Everything is going great so far. I have adjusted to these new tracks well and we will keep improving."

Chaves and the Eurointernational now returns to its San Pietro Mosezzo base of operations – just outside of Milan – to continue preparations for the 2010 Italian Formula 3 Championship. The American standout is scheduled to take part in official series testing at the Misano World Circuit on April 13-14, prior to the season getting underway at the same facility on April 24-25.

Additional information on Gabby Chaves can be obtained from his website @ www.GabbyChaves.com . For direct contact, please contact Gabriel Chaves at goschaves@yahoo.com

About Gabby Chaves:

Widely considered one the premier up-and-coming drivers in the junior formula car ranks, Chaves has made a name for himself by winning races and challenging for championship titles. The American first got behind the wheel of a race car at the age of 13, winning a Skip Barber Racing Shoot-out scholarship. In his first full-season of competition, the former Easy Kart, Stars of Karting and Florida Winter Tour champion captured the Colombian Grand Prix Formula Renault 2000 title and finished as the series runner-up in the Skip Barber Eastern Regional Series. Building on this success, Chaves went undefeated in the 2006-07 Skip Barber Regional Southern Series, winning all 10 races. The teenager continued his winning ways one year later, extending his Skip Barber Racing victory streak to 17 consecutive victories, leading the Skip Barber National Series before making the switch to Formula BMW Pacific competition. Last year, Chaves returned to the top of the championship charts, winning the final Formula BMW Americas title with five wins and podium finishes in every race. In 2010, Chaves will race full-time in Europe, competing in the Italian F3 Championship. The young American is also a candidate for the USF1 junior program.