Maranello, 6 February - Raffaele Marciello had put it on record that, “I would be unhappy if, at the end of this great experience, I would have to return to Europe without having done something worth talking abut. So often, things did not go as they should have done and I hope that the luck is finally going my way a bit.” Last weekend in the fourth of the five rounds of the Toyota Racing Series, the Ferrari Driver Academy driver took the win that several times recently, has evaporated through bad luck.

At the Hampton Downs circuit in New Zealand Marciello’s weekend got off to a less than encouraging start when his engine failed during free practice and had to be changed. “The spare engine was not the most powerful,” commented Raffaele, “but I still managed to qualify fourth. The car was well balanced and we thus managed to make up in part for the lack of top speed.”

After finishing fifth in Race 1, Marciello lined up second for the start of the next race. “I knew my chances hung on being able to take the lead at the start,” explained “Lello” as he is known. “Because the engine would not have allowed me to overtake down the straights. That’s how it turned out, I got away well and immediately built up enough of a lead so that others could not get a two from me.”

Raffaele won, three seconds clear of his pursuers and stood on the top step of the podium delighted with his achievement. “I am pleased for myself and also for the team,” he revealed. “Because there have been several occasions when I deserved to finish on the podium and it did not happen through circumstances beyond our control. It was a great day and a reward for all our hard work.”

For the final race of the weekend, Raffaele was running fifth until three laps from the finish, when there was a collision with another car which dropped him to twelfth. With three laps to go, Marciello made up four places, taking the chequered flag in eighth spot.

The 2012 Toyota Racing Series ends this weekend at Manfield circuit in New Zealand, which is seen to be the key event of the championship. “I would like to end this trip in the best way possible,” commented Marciello “and the key to doing that will be to do well in qualifying. If I can get pole, I’ve a good chance of going home to Europe with a couple more trophies.”