Taponen frustrated to miss out on a podium in Imola Feature Race

Tuukka Taponen was disappointed to miss out on a place on the podium at this weekend’s Imola Feature Race but believes his P4 result was the best he could have achieved.

The ART Grand Prix driver made a strong start from fourth on the grid and was up to third after Lap 1. However, he could not maintain the position, with Noah Stromsted overtaking him on Lap 10.

Speaking after the race, Taponen reflected on the weekend in Italy, and where he feels he and ART need to improve going forward.

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“A bit frustrating,” said Taponen of his three days in Imola. “P3 in the end was not too far, but we were starting to struggle really early in the race. I couldn't keep up with Ramos and Câmara in the beginning.

“They were a lot quicker than me, and I decided I am going to defend my P3 position. I started to manage the tyres a bit, and I just simply did not have the pace to keep that P3, so I let Stromsted go and I decided to defend my P4 position.

“But at that moment my tyres were already quite gone. I think 12 laps to go, my tyres were already going, so I was a bit worried about the cars behind.

“But in the end, they started to struggle as well. So for sure a little improvement from Bahrain, but we need to work more to be fighting for the Pole Positions and race wins.”

When asked if he knows exactly where they can improve, Taponen said: “I know where we need to improve and also the team knows where we need to improve.

“I think we started a little on the back foot this weekend in Free Practice. We were quite off the pace, so going into Qualifying we did not have a good feeling for all the braking references, the balance, but in the end, I managed to do a really good lap in Qualifying.

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“This helped us with the starting position, but we need to find something for it to get a bit easier, we really need to not trip ourselves up, and it's still not enough. We know what we need to work on and we will try to do it. Monaco next week is a different story, it's not a normal track.”

After leaving the opening round in Melbourne without any points, Taponen has finished in the top seven in the last four races across the Bahrain and Imola weekends.

This includes a podium in the Sakhir Sprint and two fourth place finishes in the Feature Races. A fine run of results that the 18-year-old says were the best he could have done.

“I think I have been getting the maximum effort I can the last two rounds, Bahrain as well as here,” said Taponen.

“I have not had any more on the table, and I can be proud of myself, as well as the team, who have done a good job improving the car every time. I am trusting them fully that we will come and fight for the victories.”

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Taponen’s attentions now though are on continuing that run of form in Monte Carlo, and the Finn is looking forward to having a go on the iconic street track.

“I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “I did one street circuit track last year, in Macau, which didn’t go so well, but obviously Monaco will be another story, another car, another year.

“Everything is new for me, so we need to try to be on it straight away, but still not to take a massive risk, because I want to have all the laps possible in the Free Practice.”