Motorsport: Ticino driver in the Mazda World Cup

Gabriele Gardel laughs when asked about the origin of his participation in the European elimination of this unique Mazda campaign. Because only people with a fondness for the brand were eligible. "Mazda Switzerland invited me to do it. On the one hand because I am a Mazda dealer in Ticino, on the other hand because of my racing experience. For me, there was also a risk involved, because I could well have made a fool of myself..."

But he didn't, although as an "old-school racer," as he describes himself, he had new experiences. "We had to prove ourselves, for example, with a computer game, karting, drifting, reflex exercises and interviews with the media." The 38-year-old from Ticino did everything so well that he was shortlisted after his driving skills were checked. In the end, the 2005 FIA GT champion, who also raced for Emil Frey Racing in a Jaguar GT3 from 2012 to 2015, got the nod. Thus, the Ticino native will soon experience something new. Like a German, a Pole, a Briton and a Swede, he will represent his country in the Global Mazda MX-5 Cup at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the US state of California in September, where he will meet other drivers from all over the world.

The small roadster feels much stronger
"Mazda Europe is really handling the matter very professionally," says the chosen one, praising the initiators. This is a special way for them to promote the sporty qualities of their MX-5, which will soon be launched on the market as a roadster with a hardtop. As a dealer, he was already enthusiastic about the production version of the MX-5, but now he is also enthusiastic about the racing version: "Although the car only has 150 hp, its low weight and extremely good balance make it feel as if you are driving with 250 hp. It's a lot of fun, and I'm extremely looking forward to the finale in the USA."

www.mazda.ch
www.gabrielegardel.com
Photos: Mazda