GT Italy | Karol Basz at Imola “The holidays are finally over”

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This weekend Karol Basz will be back on track for the Italian Gran Turismo championship after the double podium finish on Mugello’s picky track. Fresh from his podium finish in the European karting round, the young Polish driver will return to Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit for the fifth round of the Italian championship to continue the series of positive results at the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Team’s “black and orange” Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup.

It was on the track next to the Santerno River that Karol made his debut in GT competition with the car from the factory at Sant’Agata Bolognese by taking pole position and the podium in round-2 and five months later he is determined to better these results.

“The holidays are finally over after a very long break from the Lamborghini. We hope to repeat the results we achieved at Imola the last time by showing great speed. It would be wonderful to go even better. It’s a track that I like a lot,” commented Karol Basz.

“Karol is in a period of great form as he showed with his latest results in both the Lamborghini and kart with the podium finishes at Mugello and Sweden. We come back to Imola to better the results of the start of the season. Imola is a very tricky track and it will be vital that he concentrates on not making mistakes,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The motors will light up on Friday 8th with the free practice sessions of 45’ each in preparation for the two qualifying sessions (at 8.50am and 9.10am) scheduled for Saturday morning which will set up the starting grid for race-1 (at 2.35pm) and race-2 at 3.50pm Sunday.

CIK FIA | A difficult weekend in Finlandia for Karol Basz

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It was definitely a weekend to forget for Karol Basz who was involved on Finland’s Alaharma track in the fourth and penultimate round of the CIK FIA European Kart Championship, The weekend was strongly conditioned by contacts that nullified the final result, irreparably compromising his position in the ladder.

The Kosmic Racing Team’s Polish driver had put himself on show from the very beginning of the qualifying heats, just missing out on success in the first round with a second place and fourth place in the third round which was the result of an imposing come back after a lightning start from sixteenth place following a time penalty due to the damaged nosecone in the previous round.

However, his excellent pace was completely nullified at the first curve of the final session when Karol was forced to start from the back of the grid after a contact. In any case, he set the second fastest time for the race but had to be satisfied with 22nd place.

With an excellent start from twentieth position after having scored in the warm-up, Minardi Management’s Krakow born flag bearer managed to reach up to fifteenth place before being hit with another time penalty for the fall of the nosecone and thus closing the weekend outside the points.

“It was surely not our weekend. Qualifying did not go as I would have wanted and so I was forced to start the Final well back in the grid. Making up on this track is really difficult despite our good race rhythm and after having made the fastest lap in the final. I will try to make up for it quickly in Sweden next week,” commented Karol Basz.

“There must be more control by the race director during the races because ever more often the work of an entire weekend is thrown away by too much impetuousness of many younger drivers which is then left unpunished. This behaviour is carried on even when they reach Formula 4 where these same drivers cause dangerous accidents.

“We came to Finland with the objective of making up important points to fight for the title in Sweden. Instead, we are forced to leave the track without points despite that fact that Karol was amongst the fastest drivers. A real pity,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The closing chapter of this European championship will take place next week in Kristiansad (Sweden) where Karol will try to reach the podium at the last gasp and which today is fifteen points away.

Photos by Alex Vernardis & Loredana LRN / The RaceBox

GT Italy | A podium double for Karol Basz at Mugello

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On Mugello’s choosey track which was the venue for the fourth appointment of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship Karol Basz once more put himself on display, just missing out on victory and putting himself on the podium both times thanks to his second and third places respectively in race-1 and race-2, putting together a haul of twenty seven points.

Together with Japanese driver Takashi Kasai, Antonelli Motorsport’s Polish driver conquered the front row of the grid in qualifying just missing out on the pole with his black and red Lamborghini Huracan numbered 102 in second place just 2 tenths of a second behind the best time. It was an important result which confirms Karol as one of the best debutants in the category and racking up the season’s best weekend.

“From the beginning of the weekend we did excellent work and reached the podium in both races with a second and a third place which was certainly a great result. Unfortunately in race-1 we lost some time as we started in fifth position, anyway we managed to make a comeback and reaching second place. I am truly happy and now I anxiously await the next appointment at Imola,” commented Karol Basz.

“We finally crystallized what Karol had showed he deserved. Twice on the podium in the same weekend and in the end also an excellent come back in race-1 after having taken back the car from Kasai. He gave us two breathtaking overtaking manoeuvres. We are now lacking the last piece to complete the puzzle, a win,” were the comments from managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

As we await the fifth round of the championship at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit on the weekend of September 10th Karol Basz will return behind the wheel of his kart in the final two rounds of the CIK FIA European championship in Finland and Sweden.

GT Italy | Karol Basz ready for Mugello “It will be a hot weekend”

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On the occasion of the fourth double round of the Italian Gran Turismo championship at Mugello this weekend (July 14th – 6th) Karol Basz will be back behind the wheel of the “black and orange” Antonelli Motorsport team’s Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup after the positive weekend at Le Mans in the European CIK FIA karting championship.

After having gathered many positive plaudits from insiders since his debut in the championship, on the demanding Tuscan circuit the Minardi Management’s Polish driver will try for a quick come back after the difficult appointment at Monza which was conditioned by the left rear wheel problem due to an explosion of a screw nut at 230km/h, in any case he managed to control the car before parking it at the side of the track.

“It will surely be a very hot weekend, but I am ready to get back to the wheel of the Lambo and to gain another important result on the most demanding track. It has been an intense period between the Kart and GT appointments,” commented Karol Basz.

“Karol is showing once more that he is a great professional with a great spirit for adapting skilfully between the kart to the GT races. External events conditioned the Monza weekend, yet he again confirmed that he is one of the fastest drovers on the track. At Mugello it will be a very hot weekend that will subject the physique of the drivers to a hard test. Another challenge,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The intense programme for the weekend will begin at 9.00am Friday with a single free practice session of 45 minutes before the two 15’ qualifying rounds (at 5.00pm and 5.25pm) which will assign the starting grid for the two races of 28’ + 1 lap scheduled for Saturday at 4.00pm and Sunday at 1.15pm.

CIK FIA | Important points for Karol Basz at Le Mans

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It was weekend with positive implications for Karol Basz, protagonist on the Le Mans track of the third appointment of the CIK-FIA European championship.
Kosmic Racing’s Polish driver managed to win important points in terms of the championship despite sixth place which was the result of a contact at the second passage of the final round of the qualifying heats with Collet (who would then be penalized 10 seconds), thus nullifying the two wins and fourth place achieved in the previous rounds.

“Our rhythm was always very good during the weekend, even if a small problem in the end and the contact in the final round of qualifying conditioned the final result. Despite all this, I managed to make up a number of points in the table in view of the last two rounds in Finland (July 23rd) and Sweden (30 July), “commented Karol Basz.
“In the first three qualifying rounds Karol showed that he was on pace with this track with two wins and a fourth place. Unfortunately Collet’s action nullified the work done up till that moment and forced Karol to start the Final in ninth place where he also had a problem with water temperature. In spite of all this he managed to pick up points over his direct opposition. Now we are preparing for the last two races,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

In two weeks (from July 14th to 16th) Karol Basz will return to the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Team’s Lamborghini Huracan for the fourth double round of the Italian Gran Turismo championship on the Mugello track where he has already made his mark amongst the best debutants.

GT Italia | Karol Basz at Monza on the hunt for his first success

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Two weeks after his near win at Misano Karol Basz is ready to make his debut at the temple of speed that is Monza in the third appointment of the Italian GT championship.

The multi winning kart driver from Krakow who has just come from the European Clk-FIA championship round will return to the wheel of the black and orange Antonelli Motorsport Team Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup on the hunt for the season’s first success after having obtained pole position and a podium finish in the first round at Imola and having led the race in his stint on the track thanks to a lightning start.

It has been an exciting beginning to the season for the driver assisted by Minardi Management in which he has had the chance to test the ultrafast straights, together with his team mate, during the day of testing.

“I truly like this circuit very much and I can’t wait to take to the track in my Lambo. It is very fast and I hope to have a perfect weekend. But this will also need a touch of luck,” commented Karol Basz.

“Karol’s start in the championship has been more than positive considering that he began totally hungry even though, for the moment, he has missed out on a win. We will certainly try here at Monza. At Misano he went very close, making himself the protagonist with a perfect stint. Kasai’s penalty was a pity. He has adapted quickly to the Lamborghini and the team taking his place solidly in the top positions. Now we have to carry on with our job,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The two practice sessions of an hour each will start on Friday from 10.30am and 2.40pm in preparation for the official sessions programmed for Saturday 17th beginning at 9.30am. The first of the two races of the Super GT Cup will start at 5.00pm Saturday. Race-2 will begin at 5.30pm with direct streaming on www.acisportitalia.it.

CIK FIA | Karol Basz limits the damage in Alonso’s “home”

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It was a troubled weekend for Karol Basz on the Spanish track owned by F1 world champion Fernando Alonso, the setting for the second round of the European kart championship.

The multi winning Polish driver limited the damage in the final by making himself the protagonist of an important fight back and of a solid race by crossing the finishing line in twelfth place after starting the race in thirty third spot.

On a track that proved that it was not up to the standard of an important appointment such as the European championship Karol fought against a number of problems that conditioned the result from the first sessions despite a good rhythm and managed to obtain a purse of four points.

“It was a very unlucky weekend, but once more the race rhythm was very good. During the qualifying sessions I threw myself into the fray wheel to wheel but unfortunately it cost me a penalty, even though I did not agree with some of the judges’ decisions regarding cutting the track. These episodes form part of motorsport and now I will concentrate on the next appointment with the Lamborghini at Monza in preparation for Le Mans,” was the comment from a bitter Karol Basz.

“Despite a weekend that was anything but easy Karol showed that he is a true professional making himself a protagonist of a solid Final which ended with a concrete result after climbing up the ranking in view of the championship. The track did not live up to expectations where the performances were distorted by inadequate kerbs and some cutting of corners was not punished which did not give the drivers the chance to express their true worth,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti

As we await the their round on French soil the next weekend Karol will return to the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Team Lamborghini Huracan in the Italian GT championship appointment at the temple of speed that is Monza.

GT Italy | Karol Basz just misses out on the coup at Misano

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At the Misano circuit, the stage for the second round of the Italian GT championship, Karol Basz once more put himself under the spotlight at the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup, even though the final result did not do him justice.

At his second excursion in the Italian championship and debut at the circuit named in honour of Marco Simoncelli the many times karting champion who next week will be one of the protagonists of the second round of the CIK-FIA European championship at the Spanish track owned by Fernando Alonso with the Kosmic Racing Team won a place on the front row of the grid with the second best time and just missed out on winning race-2 after having made the fastest race lap time.

At the start of the second race the Polish driver took a leading role with a perfect start which put him immediately at the head of the race where he dictated the rhythm until the pit stop. Karol handed over the wheel of the black and orange Lamborghini with the number 102 to his teammate Takashi Kasai who incurred a 25” penalty due to an error of judgment at the re-entry of the safety car and thus lost the race lead in the final laps, finishing the race in sixth place.

“I was very happy with my work in both qualifying and the race. The car was perfect and our rhythm was excellent. The penalty at the end was a pity. I was hoping for the first win. We will surely try once more at Monza, but first must come Spain for the European kart championship,” commented Karol Basz.
“Karol showed all his worth both on the track and by setting up his car. After the contact which involved Kasai during the first part of race-1 the Antonelli Team was very good at repairing the car, also following Karol’s indications for modifying the setup in light of the second race where he was perfect at the start, He would have deserved success. In his turn he did not commit the slightest error. It was a pity for the penalty,” was the analysis of managers Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi.

As we await the round at Monza in programme for two weeks time, Basz will fly to Spain for the second round of the European karting championship.

Karol Basz at Misano to continue the path of the Italian GT championship

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A little more than a month after his debut in the Italian GT Championship on the Imola track Karol Basz is ready to go back to the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport team’s Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup to front up to the second of the seven double appointments at the Misano circuit.

After the exciting baptism with pole position and the podium finish in race-2 the Polish driver is determined to continue along the road of his apprenticeship together with Japanese driver Takashi Kasai.

In the course of these weeks Karol climbed into the cockpit of the supercar from the company from Sant’Agata Bolognese for one of the two days of testing at the Misano World Circuit and the very fast track at Monza, the stage for the third round.

“They were two very important days for me as they gave me the chance to get to know circuits and to increase the feeling with the car and team in light of this weekend. Beginning the season with the pole and the podium was really fantastic and I can’t wait to go back on track to try and improve myself. I have much to learn and each round is a vital piece of the puzzle,” commented Karol Basz.

“After the first discrete weekend at Imola we can’t wait to see Karol in action once more in the Lamborghini Huracan. With started on the right foot, but unfortunately we made some mistakes that compromised the win in race-1 at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit. Therefore at Misano we must try and grow in terms of results. The chances are good and thanks to Team Antonelli and team-mate Kasai we were able to take to the track at both Misano and Monza. In this way we will be able to push right from the start,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The curtain will rise on Friday in the first trials in preparation for the two qualifying rounds planned for Saturday at 11.25am and 11.50am. The two races of 48’ + 1 lap each will start on Saturday at 7.25pm and Sunday at 1.50pm. Both will be broadcast on direct streaming on the websites of www.acisport.it and AutomotoTV.

Indy500 | A phenomenal Fernando Alonso is already a legend.

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A fifth place in qualifying for Fernando Alonso is not a result of note, but if it comes in his debut in the category at the Indianapolis 500 it certainly has the flavour of a feat, In the five laps of qualifying Nando was able to improve with each lap managing to equal the feat on another legend.

“In the 106 year history of the Indy 500 no Formula One driver managed to do better than Fernando Alonso in qualifying. He managed to equal the result of Jim Clark in 1963. It is the confirmation of what I have been saying for years, independently of his results of the last few seasons. Fernando remains one of the best drivers on the grid,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi who brought the Spaniard to his debut in Formula 1 in 2001, “His arrival is of great benefit to the category. A positive result in the race as well will place him definitively in the category of motor sport legend, as if he still needed to do so, had earned the right to this title with this result. I wish him the greatest luck and Sunday I will barrack for him,” concluded the manager from Faenza.

The path at the wheel of the Dallara-Honda entitled McLaren of Andretti Sport with the number 29 began by brilliantly overtaking the rookie Orientation and then he presented himself in the bowl of Indianapolis together with all the other drivers to best prepare the four laps available for qualifying, becoming one of the most active on the track. In 19 days he wrote an indelible page in the history of motor sport. Sunday 28th he will try to complete the task. In any case Nando has already won his challenge with the Indy 500.

We await a sensational weekend. The Monte Carlo Formula One Grand Prix and the 500 miles of Indiapolis.

GT | A very stylish debut by Karol Basz at Imola

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At the Imola circuit Karol Basz made his debut in the Italian GT Championship. At the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport team’s Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup the Polish driver quickly put himself on show with a very stylish debut claiming the pole position with authority and finishing Race-2 in third place after a major comeback together with Japanese co-driver Takashi Kasai and without making any mistakes.

For Karol it was the first outing at the wheel of the powerful supercar from the constructor from Sant’Agata Bolognese and already shows his excellent feeling for the car and with the team from Bologna in view of the next appointments on the calendar.

The final result was compromised in Saturday’s race by a drive through after a jumped start by the driver from Krakow who was in pole, finishing the race in sixth place. A mistake which he quickly redeemed with the podium finish in the second race.

“Pole position and the podium in the first contest with Lamborghini. I am very happy. Without the penalty in race-1 I could even have won the race. Our rhythm for the whole weekend was excellent and this is important. I wish to thank Giovanni Minardi, Alberto Tonti and all the Team Antonelli,” commented an enthusiastic Karol Basz.

“A debut that reflects all Karol’s potential. Pole position and the podium was a great result for the first weekend. It was certainly not unexpected since from the first kilometres he showed an excellent understanding for the Lamborghini and the team. The mistake at the start was a pity, due more than anything else to inexperienced in these races. As he showed in kart, he is not easily beaten,” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

GT | Antonio D’Amico asserts himself at Imola and flies to the head of the table

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At the Imola circuit Antonio D’Amico was one of the major protagonists of the first weekend of the Italian GT Championship. At the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup number 116 of the Vincenzo Sospiri team, the driver from Fiano Romano, together with Riccardo Cazzaniga asserted himself with authority in Race-1 after having set the fourth best qualifying time, just missing out on the podium and the win in the second race.

Taking off from the second row of the grid D’Amico climbed the ladder with a clean race finally reaching the top place before handing over the wheel to his team-mate who held the place until the red flag which signalled the early end of the race due to the accident by Deodati.

In Race-2 Antonio D’Amico confirmed he was the fastest on the track by setting the fastest lap after having taken over the wheel from his team-mate and suffering a 15” pit stop penalty according to the regulations as a consequence of the victory and crossing the finishing line at the end of the 48 minutes + 1 lap of the race, finishing in fourth place with for him meant top place in the championship.

“Driving the Lamborghini was really enjoyable. The weekend was more than positive and gives us the right charge to confront the season in the best way. We are only at the first round and the championship is long but it was great beginning the season with a win and as leader,” commented an excited Antonio D’Amico.

“Antonio was one of Imola’s major protagonists with a clear win in Race-1 and an exceptional performance in Race-2 making his mark with the fastest lap. Without the drive through during Cazzaniga’s stint we could have had a fantastic double. We say goodbye to Imola and prepare for Misano at the top of the table,” was the comment by manager Giovanni Minardi.

Karol Basz is ready for his debut in the Italian GT Championship with Antonelli Motorsport

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This weekend the curtain will rise for Karol Basz in the Italian GT Championship for Marco Antonelli’s team. The highly successful karting champion (2015 World Champion and 2016 Vice Champion) will make his debut on Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup on the first of seven double appointments in the season calendar.

Having just come from his excellent performance in the first round of the European CIK FIA Championship on the Sarno circuit the driver from Krakow has been called to make a difficult and total debut in which he will have only ninety minutes (two trial sessions of 45’ each) to find a feeling for the car and the track in preparation for the qualifying sessions which will determine the starting grid for the two races of 48’ + 1 lap scheduled for Saturday 29th (12.40pm) and Sunday 30th (3.55pm). In this new challenge Karol will share the wheel of the super car from Sant’Agata Bolognese with the Japanese driver Kasai.

“I don’t know what to expect because it will be a weekend of discovery for me. The Lamborghini Huracan is a fantastic car and I can’t wait to take to the track at its wheel. It will be like the first day at school for me. I will have much to learn and little time available. I want to give special thanks to all those who are helping me,” commented Karol.

“Karol is beginning a new challenge and a new programme that will run parallel to the karting championships. It is an important jump forward for the sporting and professional career of a driver who has already shown all his worth in kart racing where he achieved incredible results. We expect a lot of work but during the days of testing ha has already shown that he has a good feeling for the car and the Antonelli Racing Team,“ said Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Fans will be able to follow the two races in live streaming on ACI Sport’s website (http://www.acisport.it/it/acisport-service/live-streaming) and on RAI.