Karol Basz conquers the WSK Final Cup and arranges the World Final in Bahrain

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An absolute success for Karol Basz in the European WSK Final Cup that follows the second place in the German championship and in the European CIK FIA. At the Adria circuit, the Polish driver from Kosmic Racing Team dominated the whole weekend proving his great supremacy in view of the world championship that will take place next November in Baharain.

Since Qualifying Heat, Karol has made clear his goal, and signed two wins and a third place that gives him the pole position in Pre-Final. Without any hesitations and with a perfect race, he crosses the finish line, leaving his opponents just the satisfaction of the most fast lap, putting the final seal in his showcase after few hours with the win in the Final where he almost touches the best lap of the race.

Such a strong and decisive success stresses the qualities of this driver who will arrive in Bahrain with the World Champion’s scepter.

“It was a weekend without any problems, and we brought home the maximum. Now we are going to prepare for the most important event in the year: the World Championship”, Karol Basz enthusiastically says.

“Karol continues to prove his resolution, determination, and engagement. All these qualities make him the most complete driver in international karting. Along with Kosmic, we will focus on the World Championship in Bahrain where Karol is determined to double his 2015 success” manager Alberto Tonti says.

Karol Basz conquers the second place in the German DKM Championship

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At the Kerpen circuit, the last event of the German DKM Championship, Karol Basz achieves a peremptory second place in a Final that is worth the honorable positioning in the championship.

Surely, some regret for what happened in Pre-Final remains with the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team as a victim of a contact caused by Tonteri that then was penalized. A contact that forces him to end the race in eleventh and to spring from the sixth row in Final.With a great determination, the driver guided by the Mianrdi Management ascends the standings up to the second place, less than two seconds away from the winner.

“The pace and the speed were really good and we had a great chance to play for the final win. Unfortunately, the contact in race-1 conditioned the weekend, even if I am happy for the second place in race-2 and in the championship. Now I am going to defend the World Champion title in Bahrein”, Karol Basz says.

“Once again, I must congratulate Karol Basz for what he did in the whole weekend. Unfortunately, the only chance to play for the title was taken away in race-1. Surely, this kind of event should not happen in the major Ok category. Surely, in the final result, Oschersleben’s withdrawal has a role. Along with the Kosmic Racing Team, we will work to defend the World Champion title”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

Kart | An engine problem stops Karol Basz at Oschersleben

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The second to last event of the German DKM Championship has a bitter taste for Karol Basz who was forced to retire in race-1 for an engine complication.

At the Oschersleben circuit, the fourth round of the  2016 Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft, the current World Champion, standard bearer of Kosmic Racing, had managed to be once again in good condition, had constantly held  the leading positions in free practice, signing the best time and the second place in qualifying of the Ok major category.

As it already happened in the conclusive race of the European championship in Genk, an engine problem prevented the Polish driver from fighting for the top positions, forcing him to retire in race-1 so to end the weekend with the eight position in race 2.

“These problems are a part of motorsport, unfortunately. The weekend has started very well for us, but an engine failure during the first race prevented us from fighting for the podium. Along with the whole Kosmic team, we are already focusing on the championship final in Kerpen”, Karol Basz says.

“The disappointment is strong, but there is the satisfaction for the work accomplished by Karol who once again proved to be in a great shape. In kerpen, we will try to play for the title”, Alberto Tonti from the Minardi Mangement says.

Karol Basz holds his second place in the championship with 146 points.  In 15 days (September 23th-25th), the final event in the circuit of Kerpen.

The winning young Italy

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In Monza, there was a lot of Italy, not only Formula 1. If Ferrari achieved the third place behind both the Mercedes drivers, in the GP2 Series Antonio Giovinazzi gave us another exciting success with the third place in second race.

By a jerk from the last place, the standard bearer at Prema Power team managed to achieve his third seasonal success after the double win in Baku, in the same category that launched both the champions at Mercedes who are playing now  for the World Champion title 2016.

With 35 points gained in Monza, Giovanazzi has risen in the standings, reaching the second place, only 10 points away from the leader. In race-1 on the podium there were two tricolor waving flags, thanks to the second place achieved by Raffaele Marciello that strengthens the third position in the championship. The unbelievable weekend of the Italian standard-bearers belonging to the ACI Team Italia is completed by the sixth place of Luca Ghiotto, another GP3 Series debutant.

A podium for Antonio Fuoco in the GP3 Series event, with the third place, the standard-bearer at the Trident team consolidates the second place in the standings, 24 points away from the leader with two scheduled weekends.

The temple of Speed also hosted the event of Porsche Supercup with the home success of Matteo Cairoli who had conquered the pole position, and the unbelievable third place of Mattia Drudi.

“I must to congratulate all our guys. That in Monza was a sensational weekend among wins, podium and placings. As ACI Team Italy, we have three drivers fighting for the title in the GP2 and GP3 championships. A great result for the Italian colors that deserve more and more important stages“, Gian Carlo Minardi says.

ACI Team Italia | The challenge restarts at Spa-Francorchamps with Giovinazzo, Marciello, Ghiotto, and Fuoco

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In conjunction with the Belgian GP, thirteenth event in the World F1 Championship, also the ACI Team Italia is getting ready to turn on the engines with its four standard-bearers engaged in the ups and downs of the Spa-Franchorchamps in the preparatory GP2 and GP3 Series Championships.

Four events away from the checkered flag, both Raffaele Marciello and Antonio Giovinazzi, are struggling for the Champion GP2 title, respectively 11 and 13 points away from Russian leader Sirotkin. In the first seven events, the beginner at Prema managed to attract attention by achieving two wins on the demanding city circuit of Baku and a podium, bringing his booty to 100 points, two less than the most expert at Russian Time, maker of three podium places and constant positions. More detached is the second debutant, the Venecian at Trident, Luca Ghiotti 21 years old, maker of a precious second place in race-1 on the British Silverstone’s track. “The all of these three boys deserve the highest place in the standings. Unfortunately, fortune has not always backed them. We hope that holydays could be a break, for an important final”, Gian Carlo Minardi says.

The third place, just 11 points from the top belongs to Antonio Fuoco in the GP3 Series Championship. The driver at the trident team left for the holidays with two successes in his pocket, the last of which gained at the Hockenaim circuit two weeks ago, and four podium places. An important marching pace that push the twenty years old driver from Cariati among the candidates to the title and as a successor for Ocon, who won the title in 2015 and who will sign his debut in the World F1 Championship this weekend at the Manor wheel.

Kart | The engine betrays Katol Basz in Genk

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Karol Basz’ dream to win the European OK title in 2016 vanished two bends away from the finish line on the Belgian track in Genk at the last CIK FIA championship event.

The Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team, 2015 World Champion, was almost to celebrate an excellent third place that would have given him the chance to fight as a protagonist for the European title when the engine betrayed him two bends away from the chequered flag. This way, the dream of celebrating a second CIK FIA title in two years vanished, after being among the great protagonists of this edition of the European championship. Karol proved to be the driver to beat for the whole weekend.  After winning the second qualifying manche and after signing the fastest lap in the first lap, the driver handled by the Minardi Management had started the Prefinal.He kept himself away from any troubles and recovered up to the third place. He had decided not using the new tires with the aim of using them in the Final where he would have made the winning strike with his Kosmic.

“Such a regret. We had the win in our pocket. Losing at two bends away from the end in Prefinal hurts a lot. Anyway, we must congratulate with the whole Kosmic Racing team and with the OTK group because, once again, they put an excellent material at Karol’s disposal.  Unfortunately, the luck did not want to help us. This kind of drawbacks can happen, sport, especially the motorsport it is also made up of this. Now, we remain focused for two rounds in the German Championship, and waiting for the World Championship in Baharain”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

“Our pace had been really good for the whole weekend. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw at the last Pre-final lap when I was in third, going out of the game for the Final. In spite of everything, I ended the European championship in third. This is also part of motorsport. After the summer break, we will be back, stronger than ever. I want to thank, once again, the whole Kosmic Racing Team staff”, Karol Basz says regretfully.

Karol Basz greets the European Championship with the third absolute place.

 

kart | Riccardo Negro joins the Energy Corse factory

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Starting from the Swedish date of the KZ World Championship, Riccardo Negro will wear the official colors of the Energy Corse. After careful appraisals from Mick Panigada’s staff, Riccardo Negro becomes one of the official drivers, making available his know how and his experience to the factory from Seriate for the development of the frame and TM engine.

The first official race at the wheel of the Energy/TM will happen on the track of Kristianstand on next September, 4th. An event valid for the CIK-FIA International KZ2 Super Cup. An essential appointment for Riccardo, a driver with a great experience and a prize-list in which, among the others, it stands out the World Cup 2012 and the WSK Euro series victory in the following year.

“I am very glad for this agreement because it allows Riccardo to race for an official team. We hope it is the beginning of long-lasting cooperation with Energy Corse. Riccardo has all the qualities for be again a winning driver and along with this team, he will have a lot of satisfactions. Moreover, he can put his knowledges at their disposal for developing all the material, including the TM engine, at the best. I must congratulate my associate, Alberto Tonti, for reaching this important goal. It wasn’t an easy negotiation, they rewarded Riccardo’s qualities“, manager Giovanni Minardi says.

“We are very pleased to announce the beginning of the cooperation between Riccardo Negro and energy Corse. It is the result of careful assessments. In the testing days, he demonstrated professionalism and impressed the patron, Mick Panigada, his technical collaborators, and Piero Rizzi. The first step will be the World Championship in Sveglia. For Riccardo it is going to open an interesting project alongside one of the most renowned manufacturers”, manager Alberto Tonti explains.

“I am glad to take part in a competitive factory like Energy Corse and I must to thank Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi. The aim is to collect, all together, the best possible result from the first race”, Riccardo Negro says.

DKM | Second place in a European perspective for Karol Basz in Genk

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With the second place gained in Genk valid for the third event of the German Kart Championship, Karol Basz proves to be a great protagonist in the “OK” category, remaining in the fight for the final title. With two more scheduled events, on the track of Oschersleben and Kerplen, the standard-bearer of the Kosmic Racing is just 21 points away from the top of the standings.

A testbed very useful for the next event in the European championship scheduled on the Belgian track at the end of the month during which Karol made different tests with the frame, ending race-1 with a fifth place and the Final in second behind of the current leader.

“It has been an important weekend that ended with the second place that left me in fight for the final win. Once again, I have to pay a compliment to all the Kosmic Racing Team. We made many different tests for the next European appointment. In free practice, I was very fast, instead I had some problems in setting during qualifying that I solved in time for the Final that ended with the second place”, Karol Basz says.

“After the test with the Lamborghini in Mugello, I wanted to see a Karol Basz focused on the kart and so he was. Once again, he did not save himself. He had also to defend his second place in the DKM Championship and had to prepare at his best the decisive appointment in the European CIK-FIA that takes place in Genk. He did his best exploiting the struggle between two drivers, inserting himself in the second place in race-2. Now, we’ll have a relaxing weekend in Poland during the 2nd Driver Summer Camp with Karol as an instructor and Giovanni Minardi and me as supervisors”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

 

F4 | Big scare for Joao Vieira in Mugello

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He managed to get by with a burn of first level on his leg, but the consequences of the accident could have been more serious for Joao Vieira protagonist of the fourth round in the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth on the Mugello circuit.

At the start of the second race, the Tatuus of the Brazilian driver remains on the starting grid due to a clutch problem and a competitor hits it in the rear. The carom involves two other single-seaters. In the terrible impact, the rear tire almost touches the driver’s head, and a break in the radiator lets the 80°C water to flow out. Joao taken to the hospital manages to get by with a fright and a burn of first level on his leg.

“Luckyly everything went fine, and I got by with only a burn on my leg. These cars are very safe, even if we have still to work to protect the head better. In the impact, the rear tire almost touched my head. The important thing is that I am fine. For sure I’ll be on track in Vallelunga”, Joao Vieira says.

Joao greets the fourth event of the Tricolore series with the fifth place gained in race-1.

F4 | Joao Vieira towards the Mugello

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More than a months later Imola, and after he recharged his batteries in his green and gold land, Joao Vieira, Brazilian driver at Antonelli Motorsport, is ready to be back on track for the fourth round in the Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth at the Mugello Circuit.

On the demanding Tuscan circuit, characterized with many rises and falls, he will chase that win that he failed because of some engine complications coming from his Tatuus F4. In addition to the various pitfalls of the track, the heat will be a rival to keep in mind for all the drivers.

“I expect a good weekend because I really like this track and I have always done well. There are many pitfalls and, as usual in this part of the Tuscany, it will be very hot. It is a track where the engine has a prime role. In the first events, the engine was our Achilles heel. With the first round of free practice, we’ll have the first results”, an enthusiastic Joao Vieira explains.

During the collective test, Joao Vieira and the Antonelli Motorsport team had their first good outcomes, moreover they made some set-up tests to find the best balance for qualifying and three races.“It was a positive day and this make us think positively for the weekend that starts tomorrow. In the first morning round, I signed the fourth best time laps, less of 3 tenths of seconds away from the first one, while in the afternoon we entered the track almost at the end of the session. During my fastest lap with new tires, they exhibited the red flag, so I went back to the pit, but up to that moment our results were good”, the driver from the Minardi Management concludes.

GP3 | Antonio Fuoco prevails at Silverstone

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After Antonio Giovinazzi signed two wins valid for the GP2 Series event at the Baku city circuit, in Silverstone it was Antonio Fuoco’s turn. At the wheel of the Dallara GP3 of the Trident Team, the driver from the Ferrari Driver Academy and ACI Team Italia achieved his first seasonal win. In spite of a slippery asphalt due to the rain fallen few minutes before the start, all the drivers chose slick tires, offering spectators an amazing race. Fuoco dominates ahead of Alex Palou and Charles Leclerc, in second and third position at the finish line respectively, with minimal gaps between 4 and 5 tenths of seconds.

“I did not do a good start, and given the circuit conditions, I decided to handle my position in the early laps. When I started to push, my pace was very good, and I managed to recover up to the first place.My team was saying to me to keep calm through the radio. It has been a very important weekend to us, and we made a great job. In qualifying, we were in sixth and we managed to end the weekend with a third place and a win”, Antonio Fuoco says.

Thanks to his success, Antonio strengthened his position in the overall standings, reducing his gap from the top to 14 points. In fifteen days, the next event will be in Hungary.

Frits Van Eerd dominates in Monza with the  Minardi PS04/B

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Great protagonist on the Historic Minardi Day in Imola and uncontested queen in Monza. We are talking about the Minardi PS04 of Frits Van Eerd that has dominated in the Temple of Speed of Monza, achieving the win in race-2 and the second place in race 1 valid for the third BOSS GP event.

Frits Van Eerd, along with the Minardi PS04 designed by engineer Gabriele Tredozi for 2005 F1 World Championship, demolished his competitors in a race that at the start saw 29 single-seaters with the Toro Rosso STR1, the Juaguar R5, the Benetton B197, and the Super Auguri SA06.

With three remaining scheduled events, on the circuits of Assen, Brno and Imola for the final, Frits Van Eerd holds the fourth place in the overall standings with 83 points, in the same position of his fellow Dutch countryman Klaas Zwart with the Juaguar F1.

Gian Carlo Minardi congratulates Frits Van Eerd and all his staff warmly for their amazing win. “In September, we will be at the circuit of Imola to support Frits”.

Karol Basz in Mugello with the Lamborghini Huracan

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Strengthened by his incredible recovery in the Final of the third event in the European karting championship disputed at the circuit of Portimao, Karol Basz has signed his debut at the demanding Mugello Circuit, at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan of the Antonelli Motorsport.

Thanks to the fourth place gained in pre-final, the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing keeps his high position in the championship standings, at just five lengths from the top. Unfortunately, in the Final he was victim of a collision that forced him to move back up to the 28th position. With a great determination, he managed to recover up to the eleventh position, also signing the fastest lap of the race. After the pause at the circuit of Vallelunga earlier this year, waiting for the final event on the Belgian circuit in Genk scheduled for the end of the month, Karol is back at the wheel of the powerful supercar of Sant’Agata Bolognese. He is improving his feeling with the car, protagonist of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, and is becoming familiar with the Tuscan circuit and its 5.245 meters.

“We are really satisfied about the first real testing day with the Lamborghini Huracan. We went into the circuit of Mugello with just 20 laps-experience that we did seven months ago in Vallelunga. In spite of his inexperience, Karol has emerged with an advantage of ’51”7 with used tires. We knew he would have done well, but he surprised us anyway. Now we must work to give him the opportunity to present himself on the grid of the 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Championship.Obviously, a special thank goes to the Antonelli team and to its team principal, Marco, who gave us this opportunity. Tomorrow we will focus again on the seasonal events. The last engagements in the German and European championships are awaiting us” manager Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti say enthusiastically.

“It has been an amazing day to me. Another important experience with this marvelous Lamborghini Huracan in a very nice circuit. I must to thank both Minardi and Europart for this amazing experience. Now I am going to dedicate myself to the last karting events to complete the season at the best”, Karol Basz says.