Kart – Only a problem stops Karol Basz at La Conca

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At La Conca International Circuit the new season of WSK Championship Cup in 2015 has started and among the protagonists we were waiting for the Polish Karol Basz, brand-new recruit of Kosmic Racing Team, determined to do well with the new colours.

Rain has characterized much of working days and in karting, as in car racing, the presence of rain becomes a resource, boosting performances of the most talented drivers. Along the 1250 meters of the go-kart track in Muro Leccese, the 22-year-old driver from Krakow didn’t lived up to expectations, winning the pole position in KF Qualifying sessions, thanks to a win and two second places, after testing in Qualifying test sessions that ended with a sixth place. Started from pole position in Pre-Final, there is immediately real battle with Nielsen. At the end of the sixteen rounds, the Dane overcame the Polish, who was forced to close at the foot of the podium.

In KF Final, Karol moved immediately to third place, behind Nielsen and Verschoor, but after a few laps, a downpour forced the direction to raise red flag. All drivers came back to put on wet tires (only operation allowed by regulation). At the restart, however, it came the unexpected: the engine of #201 kart of Basz stopped working. “Until then, the weekend had gone very well. Unfortunately, during formation lap I had a problem with the spark that made me turn off the engine. Really an unlucky day, because until then I had been very fast. Anyway, I’m happy with work done with my new team of Kosmic Racing Team. In a week the speedy redemption“, Karol Basz says.

“We were sure that the change of team would bring results, given the continuity with materials. Unfortunately, in the final destiny was not friend, denying Karol a possible victory“, Alberto Tonti analyzes.

Therefore, the first date of WSK Championship Cup KF is ended with a reward of fourteen points. In a week (from 5th to 8th February) the Polish driver will again be in action at “La Conca”, for the second round.

Let the show begin

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After Force India, Williams, McLaren-Honda and Sauber, Ferrari-Day has finally come. “Digital spotlights” are now turned on, focused on the new SF15-T, the first Ferrari branded Marchionne, entrusted to Vettel-Raikkonen pair that together represents a good five World Titles.

Now we are very nearly to switch on the engines. Although there are still cars to be revealed – those in late with the overcoming of crash-tests, like Red Bull, those struggling with budget problems, like Force India and others with problems of continuity, like Marussia and Caterham – today, February 1st, starts officially the new season, with the first day of winter test sessions in Jerez Spanish track. Among cars yet to be revealed (whose veils will fall down in Jerez, although their first images have been unveiled), there are World Champions in office, that is to say Mercedes that has dominated the scene with Hamilton and Rosberg. Thanks to the incredible power proved in 2014, are certainly the favourites thanks to the continuity of the project. Behind them, there is Williams FW37 of Bottas and Massa, which showed a precise development of the 2024 car with so much satisfaction to the English team. Then there is the McLaren-Honda MP4-30. Engineers have done a great job. Very impressive the sidepods, tapered in the back part and lower than competitors. Also nose is to note, in addition to being pleasing to the eye, should work well for the aerodynamic flow under the bottom. Certainly, the attention will be on Honda, to evaluate the job of Japanese. At Ferrari, the new car has an attractive nose, but so large sidepods may be questionable and create some problems for flows passage.

Lotus, after a very disappointing 2014, is debuting with Mercedes E23 Hybrid motorization. Great effort has been made in Enstone, to bring the car in Spain. There is clean break with past season. Same situation at Sauber. The Swiss team is looking for redemption after closing the year with zero points. A lot of work has been done to place Ferrari’s engine as best as possible. They have high and long sidepods too. New car, but also new livery. New colours captured my attention; those blue (although much lighter) and yellow that bring me back to a past Minardi.

Finally we have Toro Rosso. Aesthetically and technically it looks more and more like Red Bull RB11. They moved into sidepods the ERS unit, moving forward about 100 mm the Turbo V6 engine Energy F1 Hybrid. So, they have been able to achieve a very rear, facilitating flows passage towards the rear.

Unfortunately, Force India will not be in Jerez, whose assembly is slowed by financial problems. In Mexico they have launched the new livery, but soon debut will come also for them. The two Cinderellas (Marussia and Caterham), assuming that they will play the game, will have to deal with a significant difference in performance with the rest of the lot.

At this point, we just have to switch on the engines and go on track. Let the show begin!

Gian Carlo Minardi