FFF Racing doubles up GT Asia efforts with Mul and Antinucci
The leading FFF Racing Team is doubling up its efforts for the next round of the GT Asia Series at the Shanghai International Circuit (20-21 August).
The Roger Dubuis-backed outfit will field a second Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for Jeroen Mul of the Netherlands and Richard Antinucci of the USA alongside its existing drivers, Edoardo Liberati and Andrea Amici, who currently top the championship standings.
Mul realised a long-held dream when he was recruited for Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse GT3 Junior Driver Programme in 2015.
The 26-year old Dutch racer first sat behind the wheel of Lamborghini machinery in the 2014 Dubai 24 Hours and this preceded a full and triumphant season in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe, which he concluded as Vice Champion to earn a coveted place on the Italian supercar manufacturer’s young driver academy.
Upon joining the Lamborghini family, Mul dovetailed an entry in the Blancpain Endurance and Sprint Series’ with commitments as a professional driving instructor at the Accademia and Lamborghini Esperienza customer programmes.
As a result, the Amsterdam resident has been afforded an opportunity to join the FFF Racing fold for the GT Asia Series’ forthcoming outing at the Shanghai International Circuit (20-21 August), as teammate to fellow Lamborghini’s factory drivers Antinucci, Liberati and Amici.
“I’m really excited, because I’ve raced once before in Asia as part of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Final, but never as part of an Asian racing series,” said Mul. “It will be my first visit to the beautiful Shanghai International Circuit and it will take a little preparation to make sure I’m up to speed for the races, because the short notice means I haven’t been able to spend any time on the simulator.
“I have followed the performances of Andrea Amici and Edoardo Liberati, who I know well through Lamborghini marketing activities. I also know Richard Antinucci and we will make a good pairing, as he’s a nice guy and we both have smooth, fluid styles. We will be there in a supporting role for Andrea and Edoardo, but we will perform at our best while looking after the sister car, which has a strong chance of winning the title.”
Completing FFF Racing’s first-rate line-up is Antinucci, who not only boasts an enviable racing record, but also hails from a family steeped in motorsport history.
It was while watching his uncle, Formula 1 star and Indy 500 winner Eddie Cheever, compete at the highest level that he was inspired to pursue a professional racing career himself.
Karting successes have since been complemented by victorious open-wheeled campaigns on three continents and, while his résumé includes appearances in the Indy Lights and IndyCar Series’, his highest accolade is perhaps beating half a dozen current F1 stars to the FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup in 2003.
Antinucci from San Diego in Southern California won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America title in 2015, finished second in the world the previous year and recorded the fastest lap in a Huracan GTD at Daytona, therefore he goes to Shanghai confident that he will be an asset to FFF Racing.
“I’m really thankful to Andrea Caldarelli and everybody at FFF Racing Team, as this represents an excellent opportunity to help the squad with its primary goal of winning the GT Asia Series title,” said Antinucci. “I go there to do the best I can, but to also enjoy the experience.
“The Shanghai International Circuit will be new to me, but I always adapt quickly and I’ll benefit from the fact that Jeroen (Mul) and I are familiar with each other, having already tested together and worked alongside each other at Lamborghini’s Winter Academy event in Aspen. He’s a great guy and a smooth driver, and I think we’re both going into this with a tonne of optimism.”
FFF Racing welcomes Mul and Antinucci as it looks to consolidate on its position at the head of GT Asia standings with Liberati and Amici, and Team Owner, Sean Fu Songyang, said: “It is fantastic to add a second Lamborghini Huracan to our GT Asia programme in Shanghai and to have two drivers of Richard Antinucci and Jeroen Mul’s calibre makes it all the more exciting.
“They are very talented race drivers and we are looking forward to running them alongside our Drivers’ Championship-leading pair, Edoardo Liberati and Andrea Amici. The Shanghai International Circuit is new to them, but they are both very professional and they are coming to win races, not to make up the numbers.”
