F4 – Crash at 200km/h for Vieira at Imola. "Luckily I feel good"

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The sixth and penultimate event of Joao Vieira’s Italian Formula 4 Championship at Imola was affected by a bad accident at over 200 kmh in the vicinity of the Tamburello bend.
The Brazilian Antonelli standard-bearer was quickly carried to Hospital and underwent medical examinations to evaluate possible injures to the back.

Luckily, Vieira didn’t receive serious damage except for a strong backache. Now, he wants rapidly forget this week-end. “The shock is over.  Luckily I feel good even if I still have a strong backache” it’s the comment of Joao Vieira who will continue the medical checks in the next few days. “There is not much to add. I am happy because all things considered, especially how the car is destroyed, I got lucky. I really hope to get again in the car for the last event at Misano”.

“For Joao it has been a catastrophic week-end. He has been involved in accidents in both races and the consequences could have been much worse than they are. Luckily while the rest of the car shattered, the body resisted very well. In the next days Joao’s checks will go on. We wants to come back at Minoan circuit. It could have been a positive week-end to us but it eneded with nothing. Moreover Commissioners have been too prudent with who caused the accident” manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

Kart- Good results at Le Mans for Negro and Vigorito with OK1

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The prestigious Le Mans international circuit has staged the International KZ2 Super Cup and the World KZ Champs. To defend the colors of Minardi Management, Riccardo Negro and Gianni Vigorito were on the starting grid of the trans-alpine circuit with the material of OK1 managed by Lorenzo Foschiani who belongs to the IPKarting group that also contains the brands Praga and FK.
A useful week-end for both Riccardo (KZ2) who defends again the color of an official group thanks to Iame and Gianni (KZ). They have been both maker of a forced break that kept them away from high level contests.

After a long “ride” and a grid with more than 100 drivers, final has opened up its door to Riccardo Negro thanks to the 23th absolute place gained in Pre-final (16th in group 1). In final he made a great recover proving to be
able to work for the top 10 having run with just a tenth of a second slower than the best performance in the race.
Unfortunately the sleeve of the boiling water broke forcing him to retreat. After taking part in WSK Super Master Series, Gianni Vigorito, pushed by TM and managed by Udine’s FG Racing, became protagonist along with OK1 of an important progression in KZ queen category . To defend himself against “the legends” of karting Gianni has quickly adapted also to Bridgestone tires and after having found a good setup, he closed his experience in the world championship with a 23th absolute place.

“Run in a KZ Championship is great and I can only be satisfied about this week-end. I have been working in a good way with my team and now we are on the right path. I was worried about Bridgeston tires, but I succeeded to adapt and after a couple of laps I found the right setup” Gianni Vigorito comments.
“First rounds have just been trial stage leaving aside the fine tuning. The very uncertain weather didn’t help me, but with the 16th place in Pre-Final I succeeded in gaining the Final. In the meanwhile the trail has dried and my pace was good in those conditions, unfortunately the breaking of the sleeve boiling water forced me to an untimely withdrawal” Riccardo Negro comments.

“I am really happy about Riccardo’s and Gianni’s behavior on the track. After several months of forced stop, they resumed to compete at a very very high level. Particularly, the doors of an official team have opened up to Negro after more than 9 months. He quickly found again the pace and the strength as his excellent chronometric times have demonstrated till the end, running just a tenth of a seconds slower than the best performance. Unlucky the breaking of the sleeve prevented him from a good final result. Also Vigorito has done very well in his first KZ experience, both on wet and dry conditions . He managed in a good way the demanding Japanese tires, after having run the entire season using LeCont. He found in a few laps a good setup” Alberto Tonti analyzed.

“We must be satisfied about what happened on the track. Find the pace after such a long stop period isn’t easy. Le Mans has been the first event of high level under our management and it will be just the start. Riccardo and Gianni have demonstrated to deserve important stages” manager from Faenza, Giovanni Minardi, analyzes.

F1 – Gian Carlo Minardi "Aci Team Italia has been a success. Now we need a satellite team"

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Aci Team Italia Velocità saw daylight in 2015 with Luca Ghiotto and Raffaele Marciello as color-bearers of Trident team, respectively in GP3 and GP2 Championship. This is only the last step of a long term program conceived by the Federation with the aim to help youngs along the Motorsport curvy path starting from karting.
In recent weeks, in an exclusive interview granted to www.minardi.it, Aci President Angelo Sticchi Damiani has taken stock of the situation: “The gained results clearly suggest that we are on the high road and we can say we achieved two important victory from now on. The first is against skepticism which has affected this project from the start. Always the same people, some on line magazines especially passed from an initial irony to a general no-comment. Even so, I don’t expect any support from them. The majority of media and “insiders” have soon understood that it was about the first steps of a serious project that will gain great results in the very near future. We achieved the second victory on the field making sure that the two guys at Trident could have a financial and communication support. So they could face at their best the season gaining good ,sometimes excellent, results”.After Monza, with three remaining scheduled week-ends, Luca Ghiotto leads the GP3 general standings, with Marciello at eight in GP2.

When you are talking about youngs you have to involve a talent-scout like the manger from Faenza, Gian Carlo Minardi, present at Monza during the F1 Italian Gp. “Team Italia has been rewarding the work of the Scuola Federale through Aci Sport selections aimed to go with and endorse guys in their advancement.We are talking about a sport which is extremely conditioned by raising finance and economy. Despite  difficult times, we have some young Italian and foreign guys, who “were borned”  in our minor formula and  have been putting themselves in the spotlight at international level”.
The work proceeds exactly from karting. “We look after the guys engaged in Kart and then in F4 Championship to find new Fuoco, Ghiotto, Marciello or Giovinazzi.
As a Federation, we have been absolutely the first to believe in this new formula, that will be able to give us great satisfactions”. An example of this is the the FDA Canadian, Lance Stroll, champion of the Italian F4 and now at the seventh place on the demanding European FIA Formula 3. At the second place we have, a handful of points away, our color-bearer Antonio Giovinazzi.
“We have to remind that Italy contributed to write very important pages in the History of Motorsport along with Ferrari, Maserati and Alfa Romeo. I saw an example first-hand at Monza when Luca Ghiotto’s car has been subjected to many controls to the limit of patience. This kind of controls haven’t involved his competitors who strangely enough run for Art Gran Prix.

At this point a question is instinctive: what our drivers ad Italy lack to reach the top and F1? “We need a series B team, or as I call it, a “Mattress Team” to make grow these guys and put them to the test. A solution that Ferrari misses to complete the FDA projet which has been very criticized in recent days”, Gian Carlo Minardi continues. “Other groups can rely on a young team to appraise the breeding grounds, sometimes gaining important results. Sebastian Vettel, himself, setted aside by Red Bull, passed at BMW arising thanks to the free practice of Friday morning that are open to youngs. Got back by “the Soft-drinker” and parked in Toro Rosso, he had the chance to grow up winning his first race at Monza. Then he passed to Red Bull Racing and became four-time World Champion. This should be a cause of reflection. In Italy we have only Ferrari. We urgently need a secondary team”.

Kart – Matteo Nannini "My week-end ruined by contacts"

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The troubled relationship between Matteo Nannini and Adria Karting Raceway, stage of the Italian national Rok final, goes on.  At the  Rovigo’s circuit the young kart driver from Forlì, color-bearer of RB Racing in the Junior Rok, attempted to achieve the Italian title standing out since the free practice. He reached his group’s top positions stopping the chronometer a few tenths of a seconds from the pole position.

What ruined and affected his result  was a  contact that leads him to finish  the Pre-final in the 16th place. Then he suffered a 10″ penalization inflicted by commisioners and he fell to the 26th place. In the final, Matteo attempted a  prompt payback, but after recovering some positions a new contact led him to complete  the race out of the to 20.

“Surely it isn’t the week-end I wished for. I like this track a lot, but once again the result has been affected by a contact. The kart has been working in a good way and this is the important thing in view of upcoming races.Now I want to leave this final behind and look to the future” Matteo Nannini comments.

Vieira's champion comeback at Adria, despite the usual engine complications

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It was a bittersweet week-end for Joao Vieira. Once again he missed out a sure podium due to an engine complication of his Tatuus #50. Since the opening race the Antonelli Motorsport Brazilian driver has been slowing down by motor unit problems that affected heavily and negatively his path along the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth.

After signing the seventh place in qualifying, he started the fifth week-end gaining the second row in qualifying 2, thanks to the fourth Cronus just 2 dec from the pole position.
Unlucky the opening race lasts just a few hours forcing him to start from the 25th position in the 18’+ 1 round sprint race. Despite the entrance of two safety-cars, in a trail of just 2,702 km, Joao makes a wonder putting together 17 good over-takings in less than 10 laps with the green flag. With great determination, he was able to perform an outstanding comeback reaching the eight final place.
Straightened by this result he presented himself at the starting line of race 3 with the desire to go up the podium.
Meanwhile he was occupying the third place, the engine shattered any dream.“It has been a really discouraging week-end. Once again I narrowly failed the podium and once again it was because of the engine. Anyway I am very happy about the beautiful comeback in race 2. Making all that over-takings in a so few laps has been exciting”, Joao Vieira comments.

“There ‘s not much to say about it except that Joao’s potential and technical value has been showed during the race. Move from 25th place to 8th , despite two safety car, in 19’ of race is amazing. Surely with a podium in race 3 the week-end would have gained meaning. Unfortunately once again we have been stopped by an engine complication. It’s frustrating. In any case, we don’t capitulate, we wait Imola with anxiety and desire of payback” manager from Faenza, Giovanni Minardi, analyzes

F4 – Joao Vieira's season restarts from Adria

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On the modern sports facility of Adria, the Brasilian driver Joao Vieira is ready to come back on track for the fifth round of Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth. This  technical  trail and its bends with different characteristics would highlight the technical qualities of the standard-bearer of Antonelli Motorsport who is determined to turn around a season affected by a lot of engine complications.

After three test days at Imola and Misano, Joao wants to restart from the important second place conquered on the selective latches of Mugello and aim to the first seasonal victory.
“It’s time to turn around the championship working for an aggressive victory. This break period gave me the opportunity to “recharge my batteries”coming back home in Brazil for some days and now I can’t wait to race again. During the three test days we had excellent results, even if once again we were slowed down by engine complications” the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira says.

“After the three test day at Imola and Misano, I am sure that finally the dreamed victory will come. I saw a reinvigorated Joao after the summer break and now he is more sure of his means. We’ll give a hard time and finally we’ll try to gain at least the third final place” Giovanni Minardi, the manager from Faenza analyzes.

Kart – Negro and Vigorito at Le Mans with Ok1

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Drivers Riccardo Negro and Gianni Vigorito spent two testing days at the Lonato Internation circuit with the aim of getting ready for Le Mans.

Riccardo and Gianni are going to defend IP Kating group’s colors in France, respectively in the International KZ2 Super Cup and in the World KZ Champs, with OK1 material managed by Lorenzo Foschiani. Therefore, after a forced break, Riccardo will reappear in an official group also thanks to the participation of Iame which is going to provide authorized motors. Whereas the “beating heart”of the vehicle used by the driver from Sturno will be TM motor managed by FR Racing from Udine. These two testing days allowed the two drivers to acquaint themselves with the kart and the new material in time for the momentous race of Le Mans.

“Looking ahead to Le Mans World Championship, test sessions in Lonato were excellent. I experienced many advantageous innovations and I am very satisfied. Bridgeston tires require a more meticulous drive compared with LeCont tyre compound” Gianni Vigorito comments.

“I was very satisfied with the material and the exclusive presence of Iame. After a long break I could put together few consecutive laps, but I gained interesting chronometric lap times. In these weeks before Le Mans I am going to work hard on the track to get ready” Riccardo Nigro comments.

“These were two really hard-working and profitable days because we had immediately important results. It was the first time Riccardo drove our material and he was particularly impressed by the brake system. Instead Bridgestone tires were the major unknown faced by Vigorito. Few laps were enough for him to cancel the lack of experience adapting quickly to the set-up. We ‘ll have the first official results during collective tests at Le Mans, but I am sure that bot Gianni and Riccardo will be able to drive very fast” OK1 Team Manager, Lorenzo Foschiani, comments.

“I am very happy about this new challenge with OK1. At last Riccardo returns to an official and such an important entity like IP Karting, thanks also to the support of Iame which are going to provide him the motor to attack KZ2. Instead Gianni will have a TM motor for the KZ1 race. After a forced break, Riccardo will have to return quickly to his rhythm while Gianni will have to get used to Bridgestone tires which requires a very clean drive” Alberto Tonti precisely analyzes.

“I am satisfied for both our bearers who will be able to be protagonist at the Le Mans World Championship with the support of such an official group. I am sure that they will both be able to attract attention” the manager from Faenza Giovanni Minardi comments.

Kart – Matteo Nannini at Adria looking ahead to the Italian Final and World Championship

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For the twelve years old Matteo Nannini the last was an apprenticeship week-end. At Adria, scene of the last appointment of the Rok Nord Championship, he signed his debut with the RB Racing colors. The demanding weather conditions which affected the area of the Rodigino circuit, let the driver from Forlì take the appropriate measures of the new Exprite material looking ahead to the Italian final, scheduled for early September exactly at the Adria International Raceway, and to the World Championship in Lonato.

Matteo had the opportunity to experience a wet track, a road condition for which he had a poor experience especially after his in-season transition to KFJ category . In that circumstance he had the support of such a specialist like Karol Basz returning from the Swedish appointment of the European Championship. Basz helped Matteo to become familiar with the OTK material.

“It was a useful week-end. I had the opportunity to drive for many kilometres with the new material looking ahead to appointments in September. I feel good both with the team and the kart. It was the first time I have drove a 125 under the rain so i had the opportunity to gain this experience, supported by Karol. My goal is the Italian Final” Matteo Nannini comments.

“The team we met was very helpful to Matteo. Despite a week-end with adverse results Matteo had the opportunity to start working in a real team. I liked seeing him following carefully the advises of a wet expert like Karol Basz” Alberto Tonti analyzes. “Joining KFJ in late season we hadn’t any goal in this Championship. The Adria race has been very hepful to us. We could test the new material both on dry and wet track. A really important test looking ahead to the Italian Final which will be run exactly at Adria” Manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

DZ Engineering safety for the KL City Grand Prix

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In the spectacular and evocative skyline of Kuala Lumpur, capital city of Malaysia with 1,6 millions inhabitants, the V8 Supercars champions, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, Formula Masters China Series e KL City GT Cup, are living up the first KL City Gran Prix this week-end.

The center of Kuala Lumpur will become a temporary narrow and gritty 3,2 km circuit where the drivers will have to get organized along 16 curves – 10 on the left, 6 on the right- and considerable slopes in Jalan Sultan Ismail, with many overtaking opportunities at the bottom of Jalan Ampang, reaching a speed of 200 km/h.
The KL City Gran Prix will be supervised by the extraordinary know-how of DZ Engineering, company of Dino Zoli group from Forlì, also responsible for lighting, for PA system and radio communication of the city circuit of Singapore during Formula 1 and for the installation and test of the HD security camera system and its operations center at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.They were also involved in managing Formula E Grand Prix at Putrajaya.”We are the only ones with a such experience in city circuits and this event in Kuala Lumpur is probably just the first of a series which will be planned in the heart of several Asian cities with the purpose of enhancing their culture around motor racing” Grilli declares. Technologies displayed by Dino Zoli’s staff will be the eyes and the guardian angels for drivers and for all authorized personnel, in this spectacular theater the range of their activity consists of installation and test of TVCC system and its operations center, radio communications and track PA system.

“In the last years technology has made great strikes. HD system implementation has increased safety. An important step toward driver and authorized personnel’s protection“, Scaioli analyzed last March. “We are proud to have first provived Sepang circuit with a so innovative system and to have extended our know-how also to the KL City Gran Prix“. A positive signal for the ”Made in Italy” abroad.

F.4 – Podium and comeback for Joao Vieira at Imola

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On the international circuit of Imola, scene of the third round of the Italian F.4 Championship Powered by Abarth, Joao Vieira has once again proved to be stronger than the bad luck and all external events which have influenced his result, right from the beginning. The Brazilian driver of Antonelli Motorsport welcomes the appointment at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit with positive third place and recovery in race-1, closing in the top-10.

During the first round of Qualifying, Joao was forced to stop at the pit for almost the entire session, because of a problem with the valve of the left rear tyre, put on incorrectly right by the tyres’ supplier, moving back to the 23rd position out of 27 drivers on the starting grid. In the second round, the Brazilian recovered the gap, signing the fourth fastest time in just 309 thousandths from pole position, despite a greater fuel load. Mindful of the great comeback in Monza, Joao did not give up and along the 4,909 m of the track, he signed another sensational comeback, finishing in ninth position in the overall standing, more 14 overtakes in just 17 laps. The podium came at the end of the weekend, in race-3, after the entry of two safety cars. “As happened in Vallelunga and Monza, even here in Imola we collected what we deserved. The weekend started with difficulties, Joao was forced to miss Qualifying-1 for a problem with the valve of a tyre, due to Pirelli’s staff. In Qualifying-2, Joao did a good job, because, despite 10 kg more fuel and a small imperfection at the Rivazza bend, he finished in the fourth position. In race-1, he completed another amazing comeback, demonstrating potential and greeting the weekend with a podium. In race-2, he tried to win the victory, but because of a mistake caused by rush, he had an accident. Unfortunately, the weekend in Imola put us out of competition for the championship, but I’m sure we will fight tooth and nail till the end, starting right from the next race, at Mugello circuit“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

“It was a weekend conditioned by external factors, but also my mistakes, such as in race-2. These are errors that are paid and that you should not do, but that’s racing. I am very happy with the Qualifying-2, where I almost get the pole, despite a higher load of gasoline, and the recovery in race-1. Unfortunately, in race-3 I could not do more. The first two drivers were just too fast for us. I do not give up and I think about the next challenge at Mugello”, the driver of Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, says.

F.4 – Federico Iribarne and Mugello circuit: first contact

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Official testing days of the Italian Championship F.4 powered by Abarth and organized at Mugello circuit was an opportunity for Federico Iribarne to get acquainted with the international Tuscan track, continuing the work begun at Imola last week.

At the wheel of the Tatuus of Antonelli Motorsport team, the Argentine driver from Lanus, currently busy in the Metropolitan Formula Championship – accompained by former driver Miguel Angel Guerra and closely followed by the manager Giovanni Minardi, under the watchful eye of Gian Carlo Minardi – has confronted with the tricky circuit that will host the cars on July 12nd to mark the fourth round of the Tricolored F.4. For Federico, this was his second contact with the car and with the staff of Marco Antonelli. “It has been definately a positive test. He did not make mistakes, despite a tricky circuit, racing with interesting lap times and used tyres. Given the lack of experience, he failed to make the most of the new compound, but I am optimistic in view of the upcoming tests”, the manager from Faenza, Giovanni Minardi, says.

“I adapted easily to the track, managing to race on good time results, entering the top-10. Unfortunately, when I put on the new tyres, I could not make the most of the car, but it was only my second test ever. I had the chance to try two very different tracks (Mugello and Imola) and this was very important. Along with Miguel Anguel Guerra and Castor Gonzale, we will try to program the 2016”, Federico Iribarne says.

F.4 – Joao Vieira is resolute for the “home” race at Imola

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This weekend at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit in Imola the spotlights will once again switch on on the Italian F.4 Championship powered by Abarth, for the third event on the calendar, after the appointments at Piero Taruffi circuit in Vallelunga and at Monza circuit, in the temple of speed.

For Joao Vieira, bearer of Antonelli Motorsport team, this will be his home race, whereas he lives half an hour from the race track this time of year. The beginning of the season has been characterized by some technical problems that have denied the green-gold driver to collect what he well deserved, despite the undeniable quality of sprinter, as demonstrated by the more than forty positions reassembled in the two race at Monza circuit and the podium. Right in March, during the test-day, Joao raced under the pole of last season. “I want to start from this result in order to begin the weekend as best as possible. In the first two appointments, the results were below our expectations, especially due to some technical problem, which also affected the last test at Imola “the driver of the Minardi Management, Joao Vieira, says. On Tuesday Joao was back at the wheel of the #50 Tatuus on Mugello international circuit for the collective test session that involved 21 drivers on track. “In the morning it went very well. I drove on good time results. In the afternoon session, unfortunately, I made a mistake. Crashing, I also did badly in the leg. I was then back on track, but the car was not performing as before and so was not able to improve. Now look with enthusiasm the first tests at Imola“, Joao concludes.

“We have an outstanding account with the luck and at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit we will try to recover the revenge. We have proved that we have nothing to envy to others, either for speed features and car set up. Unfortunately, we were not lucky with the engines. We’ll try to go on the hunt for the result that we are still missing, the victory, aiming to close the gap from the top positions. Outdistance is important, but the championship is still long. We left behind only two appointments“, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

Kart – Matteo Nannini: "I’m already thinking about next challenge in Lonato"

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On Friuli international circuit, scene of the seventh round of the North Rok Championship, the driver from Forlì, Matteo Nannini, lived a troubled weekend, fighting with an imperfect set-up of his kart, which kept him away from the podium.

After his podium finishes in two appointments at 7 Laghi International circuit in Castelletto di Branduzzo and the incredible comeback of Adria (from the 33th to the 13th position), Matteo greeted his fourth race in the KFJ category with a fifth and sixth place in races, results that certainly does not reflect its potential after getting acclimated quickly to pass with 125 cc. Despite the difficulties, however, the eleven-year-old driver from Forlì did not give up, getting on track with determination, showing session after session his toughness and technical capacity, recovering various positions. “It was a not happy weekend and I want to leave it behind as quickly as possible. I cannot wait to come back to race for redemption, right from next race”, Matteo Nannini says disappointed.

“We leave the Friuli with a fifth and sixth place that do not represent the real potential of Matteo, as demonstrated by the results gathered so far in KFJ. We are already thinking of the next challenge on the South Garda Karting track, scheduled for July 5th. I was pleased to see, however, a driver who continued to fight after every session”, the manager Giovanni Minardi analyses.

Despite having missed the first three seasonal appointments, Matteo confirms his kart in the eighth position in the overall standings, with 110 points.