F1 | A race calendar of 25 Grands Prix. MINARDI “A significant increase in costs”

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As we know, next March 15th the new Formula 1 season will start in Melbourne, the longest in history with 22 rounds (China GP allowing) on the calendar with the curtain falling on November 29th.

Liberty Media’s desire would be to further expand the race calendar up to 25 Grands Prix and. in a recent interview. FIA President Jean Todt said he was favoured this type of operation, highlighting that those who work in Formula 1 are privileged.

“This is a problem of the blanket that is too short,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi interviewed by www.minardi.it,

“In the light of the reduction of the costs with the inclusion of the budget cap it is insane to want to increase the numbers of GPs, but, on the other hand, the Circus no longer knows where it can find new money. Today the teams move from 70 to 80 people for each trip and, compared to next season with 21 rounds, there will be no reorganization which instead will be necessary for any passage to seasons with 25 GPs. In this case the teams will certainly be called to increase the personnel in order to ensure proper turnover,” commented the manager from Faenza who concluded,

“The personnel has the right to holidays and to rest days and this is not subject to be underestimated, as it would surely entail a increase in costs”

F1 | MINARDI “Hamilton? The best today”

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At Suzuka Mercedes put its hands on its sixth consecutive constructors’’ title, equalling Ferrari’s record, but in Mexico City Lewis Hamilton could once again wear the champion’s crown and so take another step towards Michael Schumacher’s record.

“The numbers talk for Lewis Hamilton. In Mexico he will be able to celebrate his sixth world title. This year too he left nothing to chance, even if he did make some mistakes, as did the team,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi on Pit Talk’s microphones.

“He certainly has the best car. In Suzuka he also proved his technical worth, as he showed with his times.”

“In the 46th lap he broke all the records with 1.30.9, while in the 49th lap, despite the new tyres, Leclerc did not go under 1.31.611. We’re talking of a difference of 6-7 tenths of a second.

“Today, Hamilton for me is the best of the lot. In the moments that count he always made the difference, just as Mercedes is the car to beat. They have been flying towards 2020 for some time and they know this well in Maranello. This year they equalled Ferrari’s record and the people in Brackley want to break it”

Gian Carlo Minardi highlighted how tight the duel between Mercedes and Ferrari is in this final part of the season. “They have to be absolutely perfect in order to beat them as happened in Spa, Monza and Singapore. In Japan we had a Ferrari with two faces. In qualifying it was perfect, putting together an unexpected 1-2 with perfect laps by Vettel and Leclerc. In the race on the other hand, it was all wiped out with a wrong start by Vettel and a mistake at the first bend of a 53 lap GP by Charles.

“In the race the German held off an unrestrained Hamilton. Could he have done more with a better start? We can’t know, even if it would have been difficult. Ferrari has made significant progress but there are still dark holes,” concluded the manager from Faenza.

13.10.2019- Podium, 2nd place Sebastian Vettel (GER) Scuderia Ferrari SF90

Antonelli Dominates Le Mans (OKJ) in the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship. Next Objective: World Championship in Finland.

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A new win this weekend for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the young kart driver from Bologna in the team Rosberg Racing Academy, with Kart Republic material supplied directly by Mercedes and with the supervision of Giovanni Minardi of Minardi Management.

On the Le Mans circuit named after four times world champion Alain Prost that was conditioned by the rain and bad weather, Antonelli dominated the fourth round of the European FIA Karting Championship by winning the OKJ Final after starting from second place on the grid and crossing the finish line with a lead of 317 thousandths of a second over Spina.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli confirmed that he is a protagonist on the international karting scene with his first win in the European OKJ and setting the best lap in Qualifying-Practice with a time of 52.930 (fourth best time in absolute 47 thousandths of a second from pole position).

Placed in Group D Antonelli finished on the podium in all the HEATS with a win, three second places and a third place that gave him second place overall behind Stenshome from Norway in a field made up of 79 drivers.(34 qualified for the Final).

With his win in the Final Andrea Kimi Antonelli ended his first European championship in OKJ in second place and with the title of vice champion with a total of 63 points and the best placed of the Italian drivers.

“I’m very happy with this win. I waited for it and it finally came. It was an excellent weekend in which I enjoyed myself. The Final was not easy. In the first laps Stenshome defended very well and after I managed to overtake him I dictated the rhythm despite a very slippery track. Second place in the championship is a very important result even if there is still the regret for the points lost in the beginning. We are now thinking about the world championship in Finland,” commented a satisfied Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

“I am very happy that the first win in the CIK FIA European Championship finally came. This was a deserved win, even if it does not wipe out the regret of a difficult start. This title was also easily within his reach. We will now start working for the next objective, the world championship in Finland,” commented manager Giovanni Minardi.

After the summer break Andrea Kimi Antonelli will fly to Finland and the Alahärmä track for the FIA Karting World Championship scheduled for September 6-8.

Foto: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East | Positive debut for Karol Basz in Abu Dhabi

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Karol Basz won his personal challenge on the Abu Dhabi circuit. After having been called by the FFF Racing Team a few days before the second round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East together with Andrea Amici, the Polish driver put himself on show at the wheel of the Lambo Huracan ST Evo by marking his debut on the demanding Yas Marina circuit without making any mistakes and inaugurating the season with a podium finish.

In the three races Karol Basz took a third and two second places after having finished qualifying with the second fastest time.

“It was a great experience on a circuit I did not know and with a new team mate. Our speed was good, even though we had some problems but it was a positive weekend in the light of the new season,” commented Karol Basz.

“As always Karol behaved very well for all the weekend, considering that it was his first appearance in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately we had some technical problem with the car and we could not do more than this. Now we will continue working on defining the 2019 programme,” said Giovanni Minardi, Karol’s Manager, as well as Sporting Director and Team Manager of the FFF Racing Team.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East | Karol Basz in Abu Dhabi with the FFF Racing Team

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Karol Basz’s new season begins this weekend in Abu Dhabi. The Polish driver arrived at the spectacular Yas Marina circuit where he will find a Lamborghini Huracán ST Evo of the FFF Racing Team and team mate Andrea Amici for his debut in the Trofeo Middle East that for the third season opens the single make championship of the cars from Sant’Agata Bolognese that has reached its eleventh edition.

The weekend will be structured on a programme of three races and it will be Karol’s first experience on the track designed by the architect Hermann Tilke that since 2009 has been part of the Formula 1 calendar.

After his positive results last season in the Super Trofeo Europa and the Italian GT Championship aboard the Lamborghini GT3 Karol is getting ready to confront a new year with the house from Sant’Agata Bolognese.

“I am very happy to have Karol here with me. It is an important opportunity to get to know a new international circuit like Yas Marina in an important setting such as the Middle East as we wait to define the 2019 that will certainly see him at the wheel of a Lambo. After the excellent debut in two rounds of GT3 at Monza and Mugello last season I am working with Karol in this direction,” commented manager and Sporting Director and Manager of FFF Racing Giovanni Minardi.

Karol Basz at Vallelunga between Super Trofeo Europa and World Final

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The Vallelunga circuit named after Piero Taruffi will be the setting for both the sixth and final round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa and the sixth edition of the World Final dedicated to the cars of the maker from Sant’Agata Bolognese involving all the protagonists of the three series Europe, Asia and North America.

After the positive experience in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship aboard the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management will return to the wheel of the blue Imperiale Racing “Lambo” number 44 together with Vito Postiglione to defend the leadership and to play for the title strengthened by the ten point lead over their direct rivals.

The spotlights will turn onto the final round on Thursday with free practice and qualifying, while on Friday there will be two races at 11.40am and 3.40pm.

On Saturday the curtain will rise on the World Final’s intensive programme with the warm-up, official trials and race-1. Race-2 is scheduled for Sunday at 2.25pm. There will be direct streaming on the Lamborghini Squadra Corse Facebook page.

“It’s time for the culmination of year-round struggles. We are leading in the standings, so the situation is very good for us, but we must remember that our rivals will definitely not go easy on us. Two-day tests before the finals mean that not only we know the track very well, but the other teams also. For this reason, I expect a hard fight from the first outing on the track. Together with Vito, we will definitely give our best and I hope that it will be enough to stay on top. Keep fingers crossed” commented Karol

“As always we will go to the track with our minds on the aim of winning the Super Trofeo Europa and to then have a say in the World Final, an appointment that embraces the best teams from the three series and to finish as well as possible a season that has been positive up till now,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

GT Italia | Karol Basz on the podium at Mugello as well with Imperiale Racing

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It was another podium for Karol Basz who, together with Vito Postiglione, on the track at Mugello put his mark on his second race at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 in the final round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship.

On the demanding Tuscan track the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management took third place in race-2 under the driving rain that conditioned the entire race that began behind the safety car since during all the weekend the drivers never had the chance to race in these difficult conditions.

It was an important result for the Imperiale Racing standard bearer who, starting as leader, on next November 17-18 at the Vallelunga track will take part in the key round of the Super Trofeo Lamborghini season with the sixth and final round of the European season.

In qualifying Karol took the front row authoritatively thanks to the second best time and he finished the day with fifth place in race-1. At the start Vito Postiglione quickly climbed up two positions confirming second place up to the pit stop but the time penalty took the Lambo number 16 back to seventh place. Karol was very skilled and fast to take back the positions lost, climbing up to fifth place and finishing amongst the Imperiale Team’s best drivers.

“We are very happy with the work carried out by Karol all weekend. It was only his second experience in GT3 and he gave the answers we expected, he just missed out on pole position and once again reached the podium. Compared to Monza the weekend was even more important which gives us good hopes for 2019- Now we will get to work ahead of Vallelunga,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

“The race was very hard since visibility very poor at the start but with every lap the feeling improved. At one point of the race we were even the fastest on the track. I am very happy with the podium and our rhythm. It was another great result in the light of next season,” commented a satisfied Karol Basz.

GT Italia | Karol Basz at Mugello with the Imperiale Racing GT3

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This weekend Karol Basz, leader of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa together with Vito Postiglione, will return to the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 for the final round of the Italian Gran Turisimo Championship.

After his excellent debut at Monza the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management will once again team with Vito Postiglione on the demanding Tuscan track at the wheel of the Imperiale Racing number 16 supercar from the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory to run up more kilometres and gain experience with the powerful GT3 car ahead of next season.

“We are very happy to race once more with the Lamborghini GT3 as this will be our next challenge in 2019 and for this reason we thank all the Imperiale team and Ivano for this new opportunity after the excellent weekend at Monza and to show once again how fast Karol is”, commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti

“I am very happy with the new invitation from Imperiale Racing. This is a confirmation of the good work carried out up till now. At Monza we climbed up on the podium twice and I hope to be able to fight it out for top position at Mugello as well. It will surely not be an easy weekend due to the penalty we will have to pay in the pit stop. I know the track very well and I will concentrate on the car right from the start” commented a satisfied Karol.

The first of the two races that will close the season will start on Saturday afternoon at 2.05pm, whereas on Sunday race-2 will begin at 2.00pm. It will be broadcast direct on Rai Sport and in streaming on acisport.it.

Kart | Andrea Kimi Antonelli in OKJ with Rosberg Racing

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At the South Garda international track Andrea Kimi Antonelli left Mini 60 after having won the Rok Cup International Final that this year celebrated its sixteenth edition.

Placed in the L-Series 2 group, Energy Racing’s very young driver from Bologna followed by Mercedes-AMG in collaboration with Minardi Management was the absolute protagonist with three wins and a fourth place in the three rounds of the Heats that put him in the front row of the Qualifying Heats and he finished the weekend with first place in the Mini Rok Final that earned him the title.

“We thank Mick Panigada and all the staff of Energy Corse for the dedication they put in place all season that helped Andrea to grow. Now another chapter begins,” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

For Andrea Kimi Antonelli it is already time to think about next season that will see him make a leap of category to the OKJ that will already begin on the same track at Lonato for the first three rounds of the WSK Final Cup. After the round at South Garda the karting international will move to circuit 7 Laghi of Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia) for the round on November 11th which will then be followed the final weekend at the Adria Karting Raceway planned for November 21st.

In the new challenge of OKJ Andrea Kimi Antonelli will wear the colours of the Rosberg Racing Team, the team created by the fusion between the 2016 World F2 Champion Nico Rosberg and Dino Chiesa that, five months after its formation, already celebrated the FIA Karting World Championship at Kristianstad.

“We are excited about starting this new adventure beside Rosberg Racing in OKJ, the newly crowned OK World Champion. This contract strengthens the collaboration with Mercedes-AMG and we will continue to follow Andrea’s growth, giving him the proper support race by race,” continued managers Minardi and Tonti.

GT Italia | Basz the great protagonist at Monza in GT3

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On Monza’s very fast track Karol Basz was the great protagonist of the penultimate round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship at the wheel of the Imperiale Racing Huracan GT3, together with team mate Vito Postiglione. The Italian and Polish drivers, who were already the lead players in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa, showed excellent teamwork that was transformed into two podiums on the strength of the second and third places achieved in race-1 and race-2 respectively.

For the driver from Krakow followed by Minardi Management this was his absolute debut at the wheel of a GT3 car and confirmed the excellent speed qualities that made him the current leader of the Super Trofeo that will hold its final round at the Vallelunga circuit on November 15th and 16th.

Right from qualifying Karol found an excellent feeling for the car and constantly took the car into the front positions, taking second place on the grid in his turn at qualifying.

“It was a very positive weekend. Climbing into the podium twice on my debut in GT3 is very positive, even in view of the future and I must thank all the Imperiale Racing team and Vito Postiglione. Closing race-1 in front of a great driver such as Giancarlo Fisichella was very satisfying, despite of the difficult weather conditions”.

“We are very happy with Karol’s work here at Monza. Despite being on his debut in an GT3 car he showed right from the start that he could play for pole position, closing the weekend with second place in qualifying and two podiums in the two races. It was an excellent debut. We thank everyone in the Imperiale Racing team and especially Ivano Pignatti who gave us this important chance,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Karol Basz at Monza with the Imperiale Racing Lamborghini GT3

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An extra appointment on the calendar for Karol Basz who this weekend will be one of the protagonists at Monza in the penultimate round of the Italian Gran Turismo Championship on his debut in GT3.

The driver from Krakow followed by Minardi Management will defend the colours of Imperiale Racing at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 paired with Vito Postiglione on his return after six months to the temple of speed where he triumphed in the opening round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa with a win in race-1 and the second fastest time in qualifying (the fastest in the PRO class).

“I am honoured that Imperiale Racing once more repeated its faith in me for the Monza appointment of the Italian Championship at the wheel of the powerful Huracan GT3. I am very happy to come back to Monza again beside Vito with whom we already gained a great victory together. Naturally I will do my best to come back home with a new trophy,” commented Karol Basz.

“We are very happy with the call from Ivano Pignatto that gives for Karol the chance to come back to racing in a selective reality that he knows well such as the Italian GT Championship. It is the demonstration of having made the right choice at the beginning of the year in choosing the Imperiale Racing structure and the confirmation that Karol is doing very well in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa. Monza is a track that is very suitable for his speed qualities and already at the beginning of the year he gave a great show with the win. For this we are certain that he will be competitive right from the start despite his debut at the wheel of a GT3. It will be a very important experience for him and we will do everything to achieve the best result, together with all the team, seeing the excellent feeling with Vito,” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Super Trofeo | Pole position and win at Nurburgring for Karol Basz who increased his championship lead

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In the fifth round of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa at Nurburgring Karol Basz, together with Vito Postiglione, in the Imperiale Racing Huracan number 44 drove the (nearly) perfect weekend with pole position, a win in race-1 and second place in race-2 and setting the fastest lap.

Only the win in race-2 was lacking but on his debut on the German track Basz confirmed that he is the top driver in the single make category by closing the weekend run constantly on the charge, without making the slightest error and achieving the objective of increasing the lead in the championship. The Italian-Polish pair drew up to the starting line with a lead of four points over its direct rivals and will go to the Vallelunga track on November 15 an 18 with a ten point lead.

During his qualifying round the Polish driver followed by Minardi Management set an important pole position confirming that he had reached an excellent feeling for the track. In race-1 Basz took part in the second part of the race and completed the comeback that his team mate had already begun by crossing the finish line with a lead of nearly 12 seconds over their direct rival and so scoring the fourth win of the season.

Karol made the perfect start to race-2, keeping pole position and dictating a rhythm that started a great tussle with Zampieri run on the edge of tenths of seconds and he returned to the pits as race leader.

“I am very happy because we managed to increase our lead in the championship by taking pole position, the won and second place. I liked Nurburgring from the first lap and this is seen in the results on the track. I am very happy with how I drove in all the sessions and I really look forward to the final round at Vallelunga to be able to race for the title,” commented Karol Basz.

“We say goodbye to Nurburgring with another win and pole position and a lead in the championship that grew to ten points. Karol was very fast during all the weekend and practically perfect in every situation. In qualifying he just missed out on the perfect lap but took pole position anyway. In the two races he was one of the fastest and even set the fastest time in race-2 with an impressive stint. Now we will prepare for the final round at Vallelunga where we will go onto the track with the aim of winning both the European and World titles,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Karol will fly to Kristianstad in Sweden to take part in the Karting World Championship to defend the Kosmic Racing colours to try and repeat the 2015 title won on the Muro Leccese track.

Super Trofeo | Karol Basz and Vito Postiglione at Nurburgring to consolidate the leadership

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With the end of the summer break the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europa will this weekend switch on the motors once more for the fifth round and Karol Basz, together with team mate Vito Postiglione, will step up to the starting line at Nurburgring at the top of the ladder, a place earned on Spa-Francorchamps’ selective circuit.

The Polish driver followed by Minardi Management will take to the wheel of the Imperiale Racing “Lambo” Huracan number 44 to go on the prowl for this season’s fourth win on a very technical track on which qualifying will have a very important role since overtaking will not be so easy due to the many curves at low and medium speed and the lack of significant straights.

“Nurbugring will be another new track for me, but I hope that after intensive preparation on the simulator I will be able to find it quickly. We are at the forefront of the table, despite the fact that a lot has happened during the previous races, so I hope that in Germany we will strengthen our lead” commented Karol Basz

“After the summer break Karol will go back on to the trail of the Super Trofeo in the lead together with Vito. At Nurburgring we will again try to achieve the best results in order to confirm our place at the top and we also hope for a touch of luck that has certainly been missing in the previous rounds. In the week of the break Karol continued his athletic training and studied the circuit on the simulator with his usual doggedness. We want to thank the Imperiale Racing team that continues to support us by giving us the chance to fight it out for the title,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

This weekend will begin with the two free practice sessions programmed for Friday 14th at 11.30am and 4.20pm in preparation for the qualifying rounds on Saturday at 10.35am that will decide the starting grid for Race-1 (Saturday at 3.40pm) and Race-2 (Sunday at 1.00pm). Both the rounds will be streamed live the Official Facebook Lamborghini Squadra Corse Page https://www.facebook.com/LamborghiniSquadraCorse/

After Germany Karol will fly to Sweden, destination Kristianstad, to participate at the Karting World Championship to defend the colours of Kosmic Racing to try and repeat his 2015 success on the Muro Leccese circuit.