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Rain Master Wears Shades in the Rain

25.06.2014 - Monty Semprini has something to smile about. With a big grin under dark shades under overcast skies in Assen, Holland, the Canadian celebrates a dominant single race victory in the rain.

"It's not all rain," said Semprini. "I'm soaked with champagne too. That stuff gets everywhere, haha!"

With the field torn over the starting race tyre, Semprini took slicks to his front row slot next to pole man Eddie Cheever on wets, but when the American peeled into the pits on lap 2 to switch compound, Semprini inherited the lead and never looked back. Although Elisa Michelsson in the funky green car gave spirited chase, by the seventh tour Monty began to widen a gap. While the drizzle showed signs of easing, it never did let up enough to allow the racing line to dry and by lap 16 the lead stretched from 1.5 seconds to over fifteen before the pitstops started.

"The spray wasn't too bad, but I was in the lead the whole way so for me it didn't matter," Semprini commented on the conditions. "I used to dread wet races, but the past couple of seasons I love them. Just call me Rain Master!"

On lap 20 of 32 Monty was the last man to box and despite a poor inlap (perhaps his only real error on the day), he rejoined fourteen seconds clear of Peter Hummel, who would finish on the second step of the podium with Paulo Italiano third.

"The car ran great on full fuel. We were the last to stop and the slicks were still in good shape, so (choosing slicks) was definitely the right move," Semprini remarked on his race strategy. In fact Michelsson, fourth at the flag, was the only car in the top six to start on the wet tyre. "We had an awesome setup for qualifying and even better adjustments for the weather, so I need to thank my race engineer Siarhei Rodić and all the lads in the garage for giving me the best car."

Semprini was not the quickest in the closing laps with only the seventh best fastest lap, but was nursing the healthy lead. The gap was still 10.7 seconds when the safety car made its only appearance four laps from the end, cementing the race order.

"Oh, I was barely pushing the whole race, said Semprini. "Too bad it finished under yellow. Fans were robbed of a show."

Having Ray-Ban as his prime sponsor, Semprini descended the podium donning sunglasses into the rain-soaked mob in the paddock. As the fans surrounded him he turned to the lovely blonde Dutch lady to his right.

"My your t-shirt is wet," he said.

https://www.myracingcareer.com/en/report/9-3560/