FIA GP3 - Conor Daly Race Preview Monza

Monza, Sept. 5, 2012: On the opening weekend of the season in Barcelona, Spain, American, Conor Daly stood on the top step of the GP3 podium with a convincing win. Since then he added four more podium finishes to his tally but in Monza, Italy this weekend, his aim is to again be on the top step.

In a season that has been punctuated with start line errors and a spectacular exit from race two in Monaco, Daly has shown great flashes of speed and his uncanny ability to pass cars. This weekend's races in Monza, where the final European Formula One race of the season takes place, will be Daly's last chances to put his Lotus GP team in the winner's circle.

"The season has been somewhat challenging especially at the start of the races," said Daly. "I have found it very difficult to get the timing just right when the lights go out and the races are so close that if I give up some positions at the start its very difficult to make that up in a 30 minute race."

Last year at Monza was the first race of the season where Daly did not finish every lap of the race when he was punted off the track on lap one by the 2011 champion, Valtteri Bottas. Monza was also the first time that Daly showed true race winning type pace and he feels that he knows the detail of the track enough to be a front running contender this coming weekend.

"Monza is a high speed slipstream battle with the lowest downforce level of the season and Lotus GP won last year so I know they have a good set up," said Daly. "My mission is the same as every other weekend, head down and aim to win. I know Monza, I like Monza and I have a great team."

Monza will be the final two races of the season for the Formula One support series, GP3. Each race takes place at a European Formula One venue from May to September. The cars are all identical Italian built Dallara chassis with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine developing 285HP.