Team Italia Velocità is born: Marciello and Ghiotto team leaders

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The latest project of ACI Sport is ready to take off: Nazionale Azzurra Velocità has been officially presented in Verona, at the annual party for the “Italian Car Racing Champions” Awards.

Raffaele Marciello, brand-new test and reserve driver for Sauber team and Trident leader in GP2, and Luca Ghiotto, bearer of Maurizio Salvadori’s team in GP3 Series, are the team leaders of ACI Team Italia, the program that joins the Rally section. Together with Angelo Sticchi Damiani, who is ACI president and FIA vice-president, in the meeting room there was also Gian Carlo Minardi that commented this way the new program on www.minardi.it: “With Trident, Marciello and Ghiotto, Italia team is become reality. Waiting to turn on the spotlight on 2015, we are still in a transitional phase that celebrates the year just ended. Therefore, in Verona took place the traditional awards ceremony for those who have been able to hold high the name of Italy, awarding our champions”, the manager from Faenza says. “It has been a very interesting weekend, started with the wonderful celebration of Italian ACI 110 years in Palazzo Madama, in Turin, then in Verona”.

“Trident Team has an important card to play and I am sure it will play at its 101%. Mr. Salvadori himself said to have two excellent drivers, Marciello and Ghiotto”. Surprises, however, could not be finished. “We would expand the project to a third driver. We’ll see”.

The Adwards has been also the occasion to unveil the new logo of Automobile Club Italia, Sport section. “Extremely important point for the image strongly supported by President Angelo Sticchi Damiani”.

Karol Basz signs with Kosmic

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These are days full of news for Karol Basz. After signing with Minardi Management, the 22-year-old Polish driver from Krakow has changed team, but not kart’s components, saying good-bye to Tony Kart and preparing to embrace Kosmic Kart Racing.

Ending 2014 by winning the title in Coppa Campioni and in WSK Final Cup, with podium in Super Master Series, Karol will tread again the most prestigious stages of karting with the aim to enrich his palmares, taking advantage of the experience gained until today. New challenges will be named CIK FIA European and CIK FIA World Karting Championships, with rounds on the most prestigious circuits in Italy, Spain, England, Portugal, France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Macau and Japan.

“I am really happy to have ended negotiations, signing with Kosmic. It will be a year where we will have the chance to fight in all championships, but, above all, we will try to focus on the two championships for excellence: CIK FIA European and CIK FIA World. In these years, Karol has showed to have the right stuff to aim for victory“, the manager Giovanni Minardi says.

“The ultimate objective is certainly winning, trying to gain good pace since the first races. It will be a season full of commitments“, Karol comments.

Gian Carlo Minardi: "We expect a futuristic and amazing McLaren"

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All the eyes now are focused on teams’ headquarters, waiting for the launches that will reveal the new open-wheels, ready to liven up 2015 Formula 1 World Championship. Then, count-down is started. Immediately after launches (on January 21st, Force India; on January 29th, McLaren, on January 30th, Ferrari (online); on February 1st, Mercedes), cars will be awaited on track, for the first 4-days test session on the Spanish circuit of Jerez.

Rumours talk about McLaren ready for redemption, after 2014 closed on the fifth position, behind Ferrari, as Gian Carlo Minardi says to us. “There is a lot of excitement at McLaren and rumours talk about not only amazing but also futuristic car, with Honda engine, which is in great recovery on electrical side, weakest link of the Japanese Power Unit“, the manager from Faenza comments on www.minardi.it. Just in recent days, FIA accorded to the Japanese constructor the possibility of developing its unit with 32 evolution tokens, after certification on February 28th. “This news, that was in the air, has revived the atmosphere, giving a great impulse of confidence. It is talked about a McLaren with completely new chassis and a lot of innovation in many sectors“, Minardi analyses. Prodromou therapy seems to give wished fruits, and this just can please Fernando Also and Jenson Button. “Everything will certainly have been possible thanks also to a valid engine mechanical design“.

If also this year prospects will be respected, as per last season Mercedes will be the car to fight. However, we have to wait for an amazing championship. “In office World Champions start with Power Unit of last year, with the only change of injection (it is said that it is revolutionary) and they rely on using the 32 tokens at disposal during the season, if necessary. This prove that they are aware of their technical superiority“.

Cisitalia Group meets Gian Carlo Minardi

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Alberto Diaz Lima (President & Owner of Cisitalia Global Group, together with the engineer  Mr. Enrique Scalabroni, were guests of Gian Carlo Minardi in Faenza. Mr. Diaz Lima is the unique depository of the glorious brand Cisitalia that in the 50s realized futuristic cars and wrote the history for its innovations. Cisitalia Group’s symbol par excellence is without any doubt the 202, driven by Tazio Nuvolari, who took the car to gain many successes, and exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York for 40 years.

“It was a courtesy meeting and, personally, I was very pleased to share my own opinions both with President Diaz Lima and Eng. Scalabroni. In recent years, the Group has undertaken to design a modern version of the historic brand Cisitalia, as well as create a new edition of cars with construction systems of that era“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “The 202 was a futuristic car for those years and the most famous model, becoming an icon of Made in Italy Design“.

In 2012, the new challenge was called 202 E: redesigning the sport coupé car that became a milestone in automotive history. A proof of concept, based on the study of Cisitalia 202.

Just an illusory silence

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The countdown has begun. There are less than twenty days before the official event of 2015 Formula 1 World Championship with the four days of Jerez. Everything seems apparently calm and silent, but within the various Racing Departments a real race against time is taking place, to assemble all the components and pass the crash tests. The last team, in chronological order, that has announced the overcoming of the dreaded exam, has been Toro Rosso, which posted on his Twitter profile a small detail.

We heard Gian Carlo Minardi, who has experienced this wait with his Minardi Team for 21 years: “We are in a time of the season where everything seems still and calm, but actually teams are doing their best on all fronts. The part of design and construction is involved in testing and passing crash tests, that are needed to get on track, according to new regulations“, said the manager from Faenza on www.minardi.it. “In a little less than twenty days, the war will start. Days are really hectic. The “carrier pigeons” – or pickup trucks – are constantly on the road, to bring all new components into the department. All team departments work 24H and there is the feeling of not succeeding until the day before launch. Then, in the last hour, like a puzzle, the car takes shape. I experienced this feeling for 21 years, but when you see it complete and all coloured, satisfaction is great. It is something incredible. For me, it is like the birth of a child. Every year, it is your creature, the result of a job that starts in April / May and ends the next January. Everything starts from notes on sheets of paper, passing to the hectic work on computers, tests in the wind tunnel, simulator…. and, day after day, you see the car growing. You work in view of Melbourne and plan the job for the first evolutionary step in Europe and all subsequent ones“. Action is also taken on the entire organization, to refine production processes, in order to improve performance without incurring unexpected.

“Logistical outsourcing” is crucial. Arranging material’s transfer, assembling the hospitality, managing hundreds of guests and the overnight from 80 to 150 people per team are very complex things. “Organizing all transfers and overnight stays is up to logistical department“. The way to move materials has changed in recent years. “With the rise of air transport’s prices per kg, teams opted to ship containers by ship. Nowadays, every team has about five / six containers to move during the season and where the heavier materials are loaded, such as lifters, jacks, spanners trolleys and box“. Teams in first 10 positions are awarded a bonus for two cars and 10,000 kg of material. “All the extra is charged to the teams, which ship on average from 25,000 to 40,000 kg of material“.

For all fans, the first appointment is the launch. “With the arrival of Internet and social networks, we have passed from shows to virtual launches. It is definitely the best way to involve all fans, all over the world and real-time, while in the past it was almost an exclusive event for press and insiders“.

Gian Carlo Minardi: "What a surprise!"

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We have just welcomed the New Year, but the eyes of International Federation have already pointed to 2016. Among the most important news, new rules have been issued for Super license attribution, which is required to race in Formula 1.

It becomes mandatory coming of age and a driving license, together with having driven at least 300 km in a Grand Prix car and an award of at least 40 points in the last three seasons in preparation series. Laugh it off, drivers will be called to collect points in “Supermarket-style”. For each championship, Federation (which group has made these choices?) provided for a system of points. Plus the championship is considered prestigious and greater are the points to be won. So, it’s obvious that Formula 2 – that one which will have to be born? – (with its 60 points for winner) is considered better than GP2 (50 points) or Formula 3 European (40 points). We can notice there’s a desire to try to revive the championship, which over the historic years represented the only true prelude to the top series. “What a surprise“, Gian Carlo Minardi says speaking on www.minardi.it. “In the past, to get the Super license you had to gained some positive results, finishing among the top-five in the championships that formed the pyramid towards F.1, that’s to say F.2 and F.3, in addition to drive more than 300 km at the wheel of a Formula 1 “, the manager from Faenza continues. “It’s a return to the past with corrective actions, as the coming of age. Therefore we will not have a Verstappen-2 anymore. I agree on the fact that Super license has to be gained on track, thanks to positive results. With these scores, FIA wanted to give a guideline to drivers, mainly supporting Formulae under its control “.

Stefano Domenicali, who replaced Gerard Berger inside the International Automobile Federation, will then have the commitment to improve and grow the categories. “Over the coming weeks, as ACI, we will meet with Stefano Domenicali“, the former manufacturer from Faenza concludes, “to confront with him and draw up an agenda of work, to support existing championships, F.3 and F.4, and possibly start a study on the future F.2 that FIA would soon launch“.

Gian Carlo Minardi “Congratulations to Ferrari, Sauber and Marciello”

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Raffaele Marciello is the new test and reserve driver of Sauber. 2015 promises to be a year full of events for the driver of Ferrari Driver Academy, who will continue his adventure in GP2 Series, in addition to the commitment to Formula 1 with the colors of the Swiss team.

It consolidates the axis between Maranello and Hinwil that next year can rely on Ferrari’s Power-Unit. “I am really happy for this announcements and I do my most sincere congratulations to Ferrari and Sauber for having reached this important collaboration through Marciello“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “This announcement is the confirmation that the FDA program continues“. Just in the past weeks and following the announcement of Gutierrez, the manager from Faenza said on www.minardi.it that the next Ferrari driver would come from the ranks of Ferrari Driver Academy, stating: “…I would be easy to issue judgments against Ferrari Driver Academy. At this moment, FDA project will go on with Raffaele Marciello, Antonio Fuoco, Lance Stroll and Guan Yu Zhou. Esteban arrival doesn’t affect FDA work“.

“As ACI, I got to follow Raffaele since its first steps in this sport. After karts, he stood out in 2010, making his debut in Formula ACI-CSAI Abarth and then racing in Formula 3 Italia“. 2012 is the year of the debut in the Formula 3 European, then won in 2013.

“I’m really happy to be part of the Sauber F1 team, a team that from the beginning of its history has been able to grow talented drivers“, Marciello said after the announcement. “I think this is the best choice for my future. I am also very happy to play another season in GP2 Series, confident that this, together with my new role in Formula 1, will make my 2015 particularly challenging. I thank Ferrari Driver Academy for giving me this great opportunity; I can hardly wait to get to work and do my best“.

Raffaele Marciello had also taken part in the tests in Abu Dhabi at the wheel of the F14-T.

Minardi Team and the Paris-Dakar

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When you read the name “Minardi” or you see the historical colors yellow/blue, mind turns quickly to Formula 1 and the historical Italian team founded by Gian Carlo Minardi in 1979, that for over twenty years has attended F1Grand Prix. And rightly so. But not everyone knows that the brand of the team from Faenza is also linked to the world’s most famous race in rally field: the Paris-Dakar.

The project was born in 1985, in conjunction with the debut of Minardi Team in Formula 1 World Championship, materializing in 1986 with the participation in the eighth edition of the competition conceived by Frenchman Thierry Sabine.

Gian Carlo Minardi provided all its structure and experience in races to transform a CVS truck for special freight and Iveco-motorized, to participate in the tough competition in the desert. “During an intense season and not without problems, since the debut in F.1, the Paris-Dakar project started. We transferred our experience in F1 on the vehicle, which proved to be extremely balanced with a 40% load on the front and the remaining 60% on the rear, managing to jump over the dunes at high speed“, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “Unfortunately, the crew, formed by Gaudenzio Mantova experienced driver in F.2 and F.3), Denis Biffi (co-driver) and Adriano Antolini (navigator and father of the adventure, as strongly desired), was forced to retirement, while it was firmly in second position. The vehicle“, continues the manager from Faenza, “burned into flames in the middle of the desert. In all likelihood, we create an electrical system too small in the design phase. The mistake“, concludes Minardi, “based on the inexperience in this type of competition, was fatal“.

Never two without three. Unfortunately.

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Not only Manor (Marussia) and Caterham are uncertain for next season. Unfortunately, there is a third team that, to date, is registered for Formula 1 World Championship with reservation. This is Lotus, a team that in 2012 and 2013 ended the season as the fourth power of the world championship, with the seals of Kimi Raikkonen in Abu Dhabi (2012) and then in the opening appointment in Melbourne.

For Circus, 2014 has been a season full of changes and innovations that have considerably increased the costs of management, especially with the introduction of the brand new Power-Unit, causing great difficulty for many teams, just like the team of Enstone and Sauber. The structure of Gerald Lopez has lived a troubled season, also under the sports results failing to go beyond an eighth place among manufacturers, suffering the problems of the French engine. Trying to get back on top, for 2015 he has focused on the Mercedes world champion’s power-unit, renewing confidence on its bearers, Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. “Surprises continue not to miss, even at the end of the year. even if it’s registered in the 2015 Championship, Lotus has an asterisk, which equates to a sword of Damocles not just. It means that from the administrative side is not all right”, Gian Carlo Minardi says. “This occurs when the entry fee is not paid within the prescribed time and an extension is granted. For the F1 this would be a heavy loss. In addition to bringing a prestigious name, the team of Enstone has in its organic structures and men of universal value, whose roots are well entrenched in the history of this sport, despite having changed several names and properties”.

The possible out of Lotus, together that of the two Cinderellas, would lead to having a grid formed by only 16 cars and eight teams (Mercedes, Red Bull, Williams, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India, Toro Rosso and Sauber). Let us hope that this does not happen.