ACI Team Italy – Giovinazzi triumphs in Baku. Minardi "F1 Boy"

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Along with Formula 1, also GP2 Series signed its debut in the new circuit, among the little roads of Baku. A weekend that will remain in the history of the second tier Championship, thanks to an Italian boy that managed to make playing the Mameli’s hymn twice. Thanks to an extraordinary weekend, Antonio Giovinazzi at his debut in GP2 dominated both the races, bringing the first successes to ACI Team Italia 2016. Six km track that showed the qualities of the boy from Martina Franca, 22 years old, also maker of the pole position and of the fastest lap in race. “I must absolutely congratulate Antonio Giovinazzi, he has been the uncontested protagonist in such a demanding and selective circuit like Baku. A 360° success with two wins, pole position and fastest lap. Fabulous what he showed us, expecially in race-2”, Gian Carlo Minardi observes.

At the end of the first lap of the race scheduled on Sunday, the standard-bearer of Prema slips at the bottom of the overall standing, but he recovers up to the top in the  last round also supported by safety-cars, with an overtaking at the expense of his team mate. “I have said that he is one of the best Italian drivers for years. He managed to fight with Max Verstappen on equal terms, bringing home two important wins. He is one of the boys that I suggested to FDA, but he wasn’t taken into consideration for different choices”, the manager from Faenza continues, also stressing the third place achieved by Raffaele Marciello in race-1. One swallow does not make a summer, and now he has to prove himself. Giovinazzi is a driver that can race for the title moreover is ready for 

Kart – Karol Basz on the podium even at Ampfing

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From the success in the inaugural event of the German DKM Championship in Wackersdorf up to the podium gained at the second round in Ampfing. Besides leading the overall standings of the European Championship, Karol Basz goes on in his row of positive results proving to be one of the great protagonists in the major category OK.

Certainly an important result for the standard-bearer of the Kosmic Racing. A result built meticulously during the whole weekend along with Olivier Marechal’s staff, in spite of an uncertain weather with an alternation of sun and rain. In the Final, Karol made himself protagonist of a good recovery, ending the race in third, after closing the Pre-Final just in seventh.

“I am glad for the podium, but in spite of a good speed, we made some mistakes. Anyway, I am in the second position, a step away from the first one and there are still three races. Anything can happen”, Karol Basz says.

“I am glad for the new positive result gained by Karol. After his win at the inaugural event, this podium is the demonstration of his tenacity. He has thought a lot from a championship point of view and carried out a good recovery in Final, that ended with a third place. A starting season very promising. Karol, beyond being fast and dedicated, is proving to be a very cold driver, a driver capable of keeping calm even in the most difficult situations”, manager Alberto Tonti observes.

Kart | Gian Carlo Minardi at 2016 Summer Kart

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Everything is ready for the 5th edition of the “Kart Summer Camp”, the summer camp aimed at little aspiring drivers. It is confirmed for July the traditional initiative promoted by ACI Sport (Italian Federation), organized by the Federal ACI Sport School, and dedicated to children aged 5 to 10 years.

From July 18 to 21, the very young drivers will turn on the engines on again in the International Circuit of Naples (Sarno – Sa) to have fun aboard the go-karts made available by the Parolin Racing, a brand that has become an historical partner of the Federal ACI Sport School in the Karting sector.

The children will attend a theoretical and practical program, under the watchful eye of the Federal Instructors, they will deal with the particular aspects of driving technique such as trajectories, braking, wet driving, and will engage in fair sessions of competition between skittles and simulated starts, qualifying, and races. All this without losing the recreational dimension that has to be, even for 2016, the key feature of this special summer camp.

There will certainly be the expert  eye of Gian Carlo Minardi, supervisor of the Federal School, who will monitor the children together with the usual working group composed of the psycho-pedagogue Glenda Cappello and the regulations expert Lucio Tonello.

The newness for 2016, instead, will concern the technical partnership with OMP, one of the leading companies in clothing for racing. It will provide free helmets, overalls, gloves and shoes for all the enrolled members and a media coverage of the entire campus thanks to some collaboration agreements with the photographer Marcello Angiolella, and with Pierre Productions for TV aspects. They will resume the highlights of the event as well as provide all participants a file with the complete clip of the show. There will be some occasions of relaxation and leisure time for the children in the evening, thanks to the presence of an animator that will entertain the kids with games and fun activities after dinner.

 For detailed information, it is at your disposal the new website of the Federal School ACI Sport: www.scuolafederale.acisport.it where you will find photos and videos of the day, or you can see to the Facebook page of the School. For information about cost, you can write to kart@scuolafederale.acisport.it.

CIK FIA | Karol Basz proves to be a leader at Adria

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With the second place conquered in Pre-Final and the fourth one in Final, Karol Basz greets the second event in the European OK Championship at the Adria’s circuit, strengthening his position at the top of the overall standings. Definitely, a not easy weekend for the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team who proved his determination once again by becoming protagonist of important recovers. In Pre-Final, with a spring from the eleventh position, he manages to cross the finish line in second putting his name down for the win in Final.

In the middle of a downpour at first and then with a dry track, Karol is in second position when Sargeant hits his car. Thus, Karol ends his race out of the podium, in fourth position.

“Surely, it hasn’t been an easy weekend. The problems arose in qualifying have affected the race result. As usual, the team has made an excellent work. In Pre-Final, I did a good recover, but the regret remains for what happened in final. What a pity if you are hit two bends away from the end when you are struggling for the win and you have the second place in your hands. It is part of Motorsport. I want to see the glass half full because I greet Adria still leading the championship”, Karol Basz says.

“Without the final contact, we would have greeted Adria with a more substantial score. It has been a difficult weekend, but Karol has proved all his talent, becoming protagonist of a good recover in Pre-final and keeping himself away from risks. We will be ahead in the last two championship events, with an eight lengths gap from the first of the pursuers. This is the most important thing. Surely, I must congratulate and thank all the staff of the Kosmic Racing for their excellent work” manager Giovanni Minardi says.

F4 | Unlucky weekend for Joao Vieira at Imola

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Weekend to forget quickly for Joao Vieira who greets the third event of the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth with just a point.

With 31 cars at the start, we are back to the original format, with three races for week-end instead of the qualifying rounds for reaching the Final. In two qualifying rounds, the driver at Antonelli Motorsport didn’t manage to go beyond nineteenth and sixteenth positions. Therefore, the aim was to get back on the top during Saturday and Sunday, exploiting the long straights of Imola and the particular feeling connecting the Brazilian driver to the Santerno. Unfortunately, numerous red flags and safety-cars, called onto the track for some accidents and for the rain, have drastically reduced the time of the recover, limiting the struggle in a single handful of laps.

“There is really few to say and to add. In qualifying, I didn’t make any mistakes, but I found myself in the second half of the group. I paid too much on the straights in terms of power.  During the race, on a wet track, I raced fast, but due to safety-cars and red flags, I did not have the chance to complete my recover. A real pity. Now I am waiting for Mugello where it would be great coming back to the format with rounds,” a disappointed Joao Vieira explains.

“It was definitively an unlucky weekend. We came here with important projects and we leave the circuit with none point. Surely, qualifying have been disappointing, but we would had the chance recover during the race. This has been impossible because in all three races, we raced less than 10 true laps of race. The red flags and the safety-cars have limited the action on track. We should come back to the first seasonal format with qualifying rounds to limit the impetuosity of young drivers, beyond to reprimand them. Otherwise, even in the next appointments we will live a similar scenario“,  Giovanni Minardi explains.

F4 | At Imola Joao Vieira plays for the win

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Strengthened by the podium and by the many points gained at Adria, Joao Vieira is about to live the third round in the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth at the “home” circuit of Imola.

The demanding “Enzo and Dino Ferrari” circuit, that will host again Formula 1 during the Historic Minardi Day on June 25, will be a great testbed for the Brazilian standard-bearer under the Antonelli Motorsport who is intent on getting the high step of the podium missed in the first two weekend because of some engine complications.

With five events still scheduled, Joao is in the fifth position of the general standings, 23 points away from top three.

“Beyond being the “home” race, it is also my favorite circuit on calendar. Thus, I’d like to get a good result. It is a very fast and technical track where the engine is an important component. During the first two events, in this respect, we had some problems.At Adria, thanks to its layout, I managed to limit damages getting a good second place and 42 points. At Imola, instead, the engine will have more importance both in the long straights and in the output in the variants. During the first free practice session, next Friday morning, we will have the first response“, said Joao Vieira.

“We are at the third round and at the first true circuit on calendar. On this track, Joao has always raced fast, backed by a good car made by the staff of Marco Antonelli. I wish for a weekend free from engine complications so to have the chance to play for winning. I hope to greet Imola with a smile and, hopefully, with the cup of the winner” manager Giovanni Minardi says.

WSK | Karol Basz , king of Andria

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Toughened up after the success in the German championship at Wackersdorf and in the inaugural event of the European CIK-FIA at Zuera, Karol Basz has played the three of a kind and dominated the scene at the circuit of Adria that hosted the last event of the WSK Super Master Series.

The Minardi Management’s coached Polish driver has gifted the color of the Kosmic Racing a clear success gaining not only the Final but also the first position in Pre-Final, after ending three rounds of Heat qualifying with a second place and two wins.It is an important accomplishment for the World Champion in view of the next European Ok event that will take place exactly at the Adria International Raceway.

“An extraordinary result and three wins in a month. It was a great weekend. We kept an excellent pace ending an important work and our program in view of the next European event here at Adria”, Karol Basz says enthusiastically.

“A clear success that started in the first rounds and ended with two victories in Pre-Final and Final. A great way to end the WSK Super Master Series in view of continuing, in two weeks, our path in the European Championship in which we’ll be at the top of the overall standings. Last weekend, Karol had the chance to make some tests, and I saw a very focused and determined driver. Congratulation to Oliver Marechal and all the Kosmic Kart for their great job”, manager Alberto Tonti comments on.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

CIK FIA | Karol Basz dominates the European OK at Zuera

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Great victory for Karol Basz in the first European CIK-FIA event at the Zuera circuit. A success built with great determination and intellect by the World Campion of Kosmic Racing who after achieving the second position in Pre-Final, signs the victory in Final at the end of an amazing struggle.

A crescendo weekend for the driver handled by the Minardi Management who proves to be a term of comparison for International karting. After ending the Heats in fifth, thanks to a tenth and third place (he signed the fastest lap), he managed to move up the standings without any mistakes, driving in a precise and accurate way and beating off a stiff competition. In Pre-Final, he achieves he second position and ends a tenth from the winner, before gaining the success in the first of the four scheduled events.

“It was a difficult race, but at the end we won. I am glad we won, this victory is very important. We did an excellent job and now we are optimist for the upcoming event. I must congratulate the whole team and my team mate Patrik Hajek on his first seasonal victory”, Karol Basz says enthusiastically.

“I must congratulate Karol. I saw a determined and very focused driver. In Final, he did a masterpiece. He struggled and gained the victory in the field as just the true champions can do. This is the best way to start this European Championship. After last season world victory, the CIK-FIA is surely one of ours goals. I can not deny this”, manager Alberto Tonti says.

Aci Team Italia plays its trump card. The start at Montmelò

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This weekend, from the Barcelona’s circuit, the new season of the ACI Team Italia starts with its rapresentatives, Raffaele Marciello, Luca Ghiotto, Antonio Govinazzi, and Antonio Fuoco.  After last season’s positive beginning with Marciello and Ghiotto engaged respectively in GP2 and GP3 with the Trident team, this year the program made by the Federation doubled the efforts so to call in its ranks also Fuoco and Giovinazzi.

Antonio Fuoco, class of 1996, will be protagonist of GP3 Series with the colors of the Trident team with the aim of achieving the title after signing his debut in the last season with the second place in Austria.

Regarding GP2 Series, the prelude of Formula 1, next year will have an important technical revolution, three rookies will represent Italy: Luca Ghiotto (Trident), class of 1995 and GP3 vice-champion, Antonio Giovinazzi (Prema), class of 1993 winner of Master F3 in Zandvoort and GP3 vice-champion, and Raffaele Marciello (Russian Time) at his third season.

“A new ACI Team adventure is starting with a group of boys that has been able to emerge in the most important championships. It is the result of an intense program strongly wanted by the Federation that has handled these boys since karting, before their passage to the single-seaters with the ACI-CSAI Formula Abarth, Formula 3 Italia, and Formula 4” Gian Carlo Minardi says. “We have great expectations for Marciello, Ghiotto, Fuoco and Giovinazzi and hope to show that Italy is second to none in drivers’ quality. In Barcelona we will have the first act of a long season, and I wish all these guys a great luck”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

F4 – Second place and points at Adria for Joao Vieira

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Returning from the points achieved in the opening race of the Italian Formula 4 Championship powered by Abarth in Misano, at Adria he gained the second place in the first Qualifying Heats after having signing the third place in qualifying just 76 thousandths away from pole position.

Started from the second row, the driver of the Antonelli Motorsport puts Cunati under pressure overtaking him at the 15th lap and ends the race second, gaining the first seasonal podium. Thanks to the fourth place conquered in the second round, Joao entered into the Final and greeted the second event with the fourth place, after fighting a lot of time for the second position. Thanks to his 42 points, Joao gets to the fifth place in the overall  standings.

“It was certainly a positive weekend with the second place in race-1. We still have engine problems, so we lost a lot, despite the short straights. I will have to count on qualifying with the aim to start my race as forward as possible. So I will try to defend myself in the race, even if it will be more difficult in the fast circuits”, explains Joao Vieira who is going to come back on the track for a testing day in Imola in view of the upcoming event at the end of this month.

“The glass is half full because we come back with a podium  and 42 points. The potential of Joao and of the team is surely higher, but once again the engine didn’t support us. In the short straights at Adria Joao couldn’t close his attacks”, manager Giovanni Minardi explains. 

Kart – American away game for Riccardo Negro

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Riccardo Negro flied overseas at the court of Enzo Mandarino’s VemmeKart team, and attended the SKUSA Spring Nationals event. A completely new challenge for Riccardo who signed his debut in the S1 category with a group and a material to be uncovered.

After finding the right feeling, he had important time results, keeping the pace of the best drivers and ending qualifying in ninth position, 4 tenths of seconds away from pole position. In final, stated from the seventh place, he get slower due to an accident at the first bend that involves six drivers, loses some time and ended just out of top ten.

“I must thank all the team VemmeKart and Vincenzo Mandarion for having thought to me. It has been an amazing experience. Although everything was new to me, circuit, kart, category 1, I managed to race with the best drivers’ times. In final, unfortunately, I dirtied the tires and lost a lot of time to avoid the accident. It took three laps to reach again the right pace and I closed the weekend with the eleventh place”, Riccardo Negro explains back in Italy.

“First of all, I want to thank VemmeKart and his team principal Enzo Mandarino for this occasion of cooperation with our Riccardo. Apart from the race, that was useful to Riccardo, he removed some rust, the feeling with the material and the staff is excellent and auspicious for the future. Along with the team we are considering new opportunities in Europe…we will see”, manager Alberto Tonti explains.

F4 | Joao Vieria at Adria “Important qualifying"

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From the Adria circuit, Joao Vieira starts his way into the Italian Formula 3 championship powered by Abarth. The Brazilian standard-bearer at Antonelli Motorsport is starting the second round after gaining the first points in the inaugural event of Misano, despite of some engine problems.

Along the curvy track, Joao will try to threaten the standings lead, on a grid that once again will be rich. The opening race saw more than 40 drivers challenging on the track and forced the promoters to modify the weekend format with three qualifying rounds, before the access into the Final.

“The testing day at the Adria circuit has been very positive. This make us hope for the weekend. I managed to cut some tenths of seconds compared with the last year, and I am now just one tenth from pole. Qualifyings will surely have an important role because the trail is like a karting circuit where an overtaking isn’t very easy especially with so many cars on the track. We can’t rule out the possibility of a safety car”, Joao Vieira explains.

“It will be a very difficult weekend, and qualifying will play a great role because of the track features and of the numerous cars on the grid. Last year, anyway, Joao was maker of an incredible recover, showing all his technical qualities. Unfortunately, in Misano we still had some engine problems. I hope that everything will be ok in Andria, for both Joao and the team”, manager Giovanni Minardi says.

Kart | Karol Basz wins in Germany

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The new season of the German DKM Championship started from the circuit of Wackersdorf, and Karol Basz was ready. The standard bearer of the Kosmic Racing team won the first round in the OK category with with great determination in a Final fought on the edge of tenths.

In this weekend, he raced only at the top of the standings, signing the second place in race-1, before conquering the top step of the podium in race-2.
A result that proves the qualities as a sprinter of the World Champion, also in view of the CIK FIA events.

“I am very satisfied and glad of Karol’s victory that strenghtens the qualities of one of the best and most reliable professional drivers at OTK. Also, in Germany where we have one of our main sponsor, Europart GmbH” manager Alberto Tonti observes.

“I am really glad to be back at the top and to have gained this important win, also in view of next events of the European Championship where I’ll try to double this win” Karol Basz says.