F3 – Nicholas Latifi "My target is the rookie title"

From Canada to Italy. From karts to Italian Formula 3 European series. This weekend for the sixteen year old Italian-Canadian driver Nicholas Latifi begin an exciting ew challenge in the national series at the wheel of the Dallara FTP with the team BVM-Target.

It will be their first experience in the car after having performed well in the Canadian championships in karting and having opened in 2012 by winning the title in the “Florida Winter Tour DD2,” which follows the many successes in the past season and the laurels of 2011 and 2012 leagues in the Americas and in the Bridgestone F2000-2010.
Our microphones have reached the pilot who could become the new Villeneuve.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE VICTORY IN THE “FLORIDA WINTER TOUR DD2” THIS VICTORY CAME AT THE LAST RACE THAT MAKES THE TITLE EVEN MORE EXCITING. TELL US ABOUT YOUR SEASON.
For the first and second round of the championship back in January, I didn’t quite get the start I wanted in the championship. I had the speed to win but things just didn’t go my way that weekend. For the third and fourth rounds I completely swept the weekend and scores maximum points which was a big confidence booster.
In the last 2 rounds this past weekend we were struggling a bit to get the chassis dialed in but we managed to pull off two 2nd place finishes which was good enough to secure me the championship. I’m really going to be looking forward to the world finals in Portugal at the end of the year!
IN ONE WEEK YOU WILL DRIVE THE FORMULA 3 CAR IN A RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM RACING GO-KARTS – WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE VALENCIA RACE AND FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP
For the Valencia race I am just going in with an open mind with know expectations. I just want to get through the weekend cleanly with no problems.
As for the rest of the season I am hoping to get some consistent results near the front of the grid in the later part of the year and hopefully earn the rookie of the year title.
WHAT WAS YOUR IMPRESSION ABOUT DRIVING THE FORMULA 3 CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME – TELL US ABOUT HOW THE CAR FELT AND HOW YOU ADAPTED TO THE CAR COMING FROM GO-KARTS
The first thing that came to mind after driving the formula 3 car for the first time was that it was a lot of fun. The amount of downforce it had was really surprising to me because just looking at it I would’ve have never known. Jumping from karts to cars really required a lot of adaptation because there are many aspects to driving the formula 3 car that are different from a kart, such as the breaking technique. Then you also have the bigger differences such as the weight difference and the suspension in a car, whereas in a kart, there is virtually none.
EVERYTHING WILL BE NEW TO YOU THIS YEAR – NEW CAR, NEW TRACKS TO LEARN AND A NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RACING CARS – HOW WILL YOU PREPARE YOURSELF PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR THIS SEASON
To prepare myself physically, when I have been home, I have been regularly working out. Aside from that I have been doing the best thing possible which is actually driving the car. We have tried to get me as much seat time as possible before the first race and hopefully that has paid off.
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE MADE A COMFORTABLE TRANSITION FROM KARTS TO CARS – DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY FURTHER CHALLENGES WITH THIS TRANSITION AND ALSO HOW WILL YOU MANAGE THE TRANSITION BACK TO KARTS
I feel that my transition from karts to cars has gone pretty well. As far as I know I am right on target to where I should be with regards to lap times. The only other challenge I am anticipating is when I actually have to “race” in the car. In a kart I am used to practically being right on my competitors bumper through turns, and with cars, especially cars with downforce, it is very difficult to do this.
It is just something that I will get better at as I get more experience.I don’t think I will have any problem transitioning back to karts because if anything, I feel that driving cars helps me for when I go back to karts. It really makes you a lot smoother on the wheel and also makes you understand tire mangament better.
Nicholas Latifi
Date of birth: June 29th 1995
Age: 16
Nazionality: Canadian, Italian
Years karting: 2,5 years
World Ranking: 7°
Current class: Formula 3 European Series
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 70Kg
Web site:
Mail: info@nicholaslatifi.com