Kart Karol Basz just missed the podim on the 22nd Winter Cup

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It was a bitter sweet weekend for Karol Basz on the track at Lonato, the setting for the 22nd Winter Cup where he just missed out on a place on the podium with his fourth place.

The Kosmic Racing Team’s flag bearer had begun the event by easily a winning a place amongst the top starters thanks to the second and third places in the Qualifying Heats on Friday and closing with a sixth place on the following day.

In the second Super Heat the Polish driver assisted by Minardi Management obtained third spot at a few seconds from victory, and closed the weekend with fifth place in the Final Heats and fourth place in the Final.

“The weekend began well, but in the Final we lacked a little speed. We must work only on the small details because we have begun to show that we can always fight for the top positions and for victory.” Karol Basz

“We have completed a weekend of hard work in which we concentrated on development, even though we lacked that little something to return to domination. Karol showed once more all his professionalism that places him amongst the best drivers at the moment, even from the point of view of preparation of the vehicle. I am sure that together with Kosmic we will be able to return on the highest place of the podium beginning at the next appointments,” was the analysis of his manager Alberto Tonti.

Foto: Alex Vernardis & Loredana LRN / The RaceBox

Kart | Karol Basz amongst the points in Adria in the first round of the WSK Super Master Series

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In the first weekend of the WSK Super Master Series on the track in Andria in a race strongly affected by the weather Karol Basz looked for the best results and finished on the podium, only to be penalized 10” by the stewards for a contact with Novalak ftom Great Britain and finished in sixth place overall.

For Kosmic Racing’s driver from Krakow it was the occasion to gain confidence in the new wets supplied by Bridgestone in anticipation of the next rounds.

As we await the next round of the WSK Super Master Series scheduled for Castelletto di Branduzzo on March 2nd, Karol will return to the track at Lonato for the 22nd edition of the Winter Cup on February 17th and 18th.

 “It was not an easy end of the week beginning under heavy rain and trying to find the best set up for the cart, but it ended on the podium. Unfortunately the stewards then decided to penalize me for a contact during the race. I am happy with the speeds obtained and now I will concentrate on the Winter Cup,” said Karol Basz, the Minardi Management driver.

 “The final penalty concluded a difficult weekend in which Karol was not as fast as usual. He had to fight to find the right set up and the best tyre pressure for the new mixes supplied by Bridgestone,” was the analysis by his Manager Alberto Toni.

Kart | Andrea Antonelli Kimi at the start of the Super WSK Master Series under the Tony Kart colors

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Andrea Antonelli’s 2017 season goes live this weekend. The young driver from Bologna, at his first year with the Tony Kart official colors is ready to face the inaugural event of the WSK Super Master Series scheduled at the Adria International Raceway on 2 to 5 February.

After a 2016 apprenticeship, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will go on track in 60 Mini category whose enrolled are 89. For the driver from Emilia, who put himself already in the spotlight at the same circuit last weekend bringing home a useful sixth placement in the WSK Champions Cup, after achieving two seconds and three thirds placements, it starts a new challenge.

There are four events in the championship, it successively will arrive in Castelletto di Branduzzo (2/5 March), Muro Leccese (16/19 March) and Sarno (6/9 April).

Engines turned on next weekend, starting from Thursday with the first free practice. On Friday, the timed sessions will take place along with the qualifying-heats that will end on Sunday when are also scheduled two pre-finals and the final, with the green light at 15.35 and the “live streaming” in the official website wsk.it.

Karting, WSK Champions Cup | Only a contact stops Karol Basz at Adria

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At his first seasonal event valid for the WSK Champions Cup in the Adria circuit, Karol Basz has immediately found the champion’s pace, achieving the first place at the end of the qualify-heats, thanks to three absolute successes.

His hard job has been frustrated by a contact in Pre-Final and another in Final that forced the standardbearer of the Kosmic Racing to leave the circuit in tenth place. A prompt revenge can already arrive this weekend at the same Adria International Raceway in the first of four events of the WSK Super Master Series.

“We are really sorry for how Karol’s weekend ended at Adria. His excellent work, transformed into the Pre-final first raw, thanks to three successes, has been frustrated by some contacts. Once again, Karol has proven to be a great expert and to be able to find again the competition pace very quickly. Next weekend, we will already have the chance for a prompt payback”, Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti say. 

Minardi "A season rich in successes for ACI Team Italia"

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It has been a 2006 rich in success for the ACI Team Italia – a project strongly wanted by the Italian Automobile Club –, along with its four standard bearers, Antonio Giovinazzi, Raffaele Marciello, Luca Ghiotto, and Antonio Fuoco, it has raised our tricolor up in two of the most important international championships, GP3 and GP2 Series.

Their numbers

–  25 podia achieved within the season, among which 17 ones achieved in GP2 by its three “musketeers” Giovinazzi-Marciello-Ghiotto, and 8 ones signed in GP3 by Antonio Fuoco;

–  8 wins (6 in GP2 by its two rookies Giovinazzi-Ghiotto, and 2 in GP3);

–  5 successes by Antonio Giovinazzi (on the circuit of Baku, Spa-Francorchamps, Monza, and Malaysia);

–  2 successes by Antonio Giovinazzi in the same weekend (Baku). The standard bearer of the Prema Team has been the only one to sign a double-win.

– 1 victory for Luca Ghiotto with the Trident team on the circuit of Sepang in Malaysia, and three podia;

– 5 podia for Raffaele Marciello;

– 2 victories for Antonio Fuoco in GP3 (Silverstone and Hockenheim);

– 2 second places and 4 third places for Antonio Fuoco.

 The results

Such important numbers have consigned to Antonio Giovinazzi not just the title of GP2 vice-champion, but the promotion as a third driver at the Ferrari Stable. An important goal representing the beginning of a new path for a driver who has already proved to have the appropriate mental and technical features to emerge.

It has been an important year for other drivers as well. At his debut, Luca Ghiotto conquered a victory in Malaysia and his season ended in the top-10 thanks to his eight place. For Raffaele Marciello, instead, the door for GT competitions could open up soon.

At the starting grid of GP2 2017, we will also see Antonio Fuoco, promoted after a positive GP3 season that he ended in the third absolute place, in the row of the champion team Prema, beside Leclerc.

One more time, these results highlight how much talent is within our national borders. Our drivers have nothing to envy their colleagues. We know that reaching Formula 1 is not easy because there are just 22 cars, but in all these years the federation has played a crucial role in the growth these boys following them actively since karting.

The announcement about Antonio Giovinazzi’s promotion as a third driver in the Ferrari Stable is the summit of the Aci training that is meant to identify and promote the most promising stars of the Italian motor sports.

We are  working on a 2017 even more rich in successes. Happy New Year everyone.

ACI Sport | Gian Carlo Minardi, a prestigious sport director

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Gian Carlo Minardi has lived this 2016 as an illustrious sport director.The Italian motor sport can count on the expertise and professionalism of this F1 constructor, an appreciated Team Manager in the major leagues who has a particular penchant for discovering new talent. He is currently in charge of the Youth Project of the Italian Automobile Club devoted to our home drivers most talented.

In the just ended season, Minardi has had a key role in the success of some leading events that had the chance to count on his professional direction: the 100th Targa Florio Historic Speed, the Motor Show, and the Minardi Day.

For the 100th Targa Florio, in the 100th edition of the oldest car race in the world, he coordinated the Targa Florio Historic Speed by handling the relationships with all the big names in motor sport history, all the names that brought back onto the Mythical streets the rumble of the legendary cars that have been able to reawaken all the never extinguished emotions in what was the diamond point of the event organized by AC Palermo and ACI Sport. His contribution to the Motor Show has been critical. Minardi worked in first person for the return of the historical F1 cars among which a Minardi F1 as well. At the Area 48 Motul Arena, in the year of the 40th anniversary of the Bologna’s kermesse, worldwide famous, its 8 and 12 cylinders have roared again.

The Historic Minardi day, that took place at the Circuit of Imola in June, was exciting as well with its sequence of big emotions along with the great names of the drivers and of the cars coming from the history of F1, F2, and F3. An appointment not to be missed for thousands of fans.

Fundamental his contribution in the circuit during the races of the ACI Sport Italian Championship. He has always a good intuition for the most promising young drivers. He follows the talented drivers of the Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth closely along with the staff of the Aci Sport Federal School, with which he also followed the Federal Supercourse 2016 Speed Section, giving advices to 4 very young drivers and following their growth in the Vallelunga circuit, step by step.

Source: ACISportItalia.it

World Championship | Karol Basz vice-champion

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For the second year in a row, Karol Basz conquers the World Championship podium thanks to an authoritative weekend in Bahrain. After winning the world title in 2015, the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing Team followed by the Minardi Management, signs the absolute second place in the OK category authoritatively , proving to be a great professional. A result that put Karol among the best world karting drivers, letting him end a season rich in success.

The second world title in a row was missed just few meters away from the Final checkered flag, after signing a victory in the first two qualifying rounds Heat 1-2 and the third place in the third round that gave him the pole position in Pre-Final that was closed by him in the second place with the fastest lap of the race after a recovery. In final, Karol is among the protagonists of a great fight with his direct rivals and finally conquers the leadership that went then into the hands of the winner, Hiltbrand, a few meters away from the finish line.

“This weekend was raced constantly at the maximum, since the first rounds. We had an excellent speed and it was a fundamental experience for me. For the second year in a row, I am on the World Championship podium. We played for the victory fighting lap by lap, even if I am sorry for the way it finished. For me, anyway, it has been extremely important to finish the race”, Karol Basz comments.

“For the second year in a row, we went onto the world podium with Karol. Once again, he has been a true professional and has fulfilled a great work on the most important stage of karting. I must compliment the whole Kosmic Racing Team, the OKT group that put the best material at Karol’s disposal and the new world champion Pedro Hiltbrand for his win as well. From now on, we will start preparations for the next season”, Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi say.

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.