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.

F4 | Schumacher star performer at Misano. Minardi "A really appreciated Format”

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The Italian Formula 4 Championship has started its third season at the Misano World Circuit. In the weekend, we watched 20 team at the start, and 41 drivers coming from 21 different nations. At the starting lines, seven Italian drivers defended themselves against Mick Schumacher who dominated the stage with two successes and with the fourth place in the Final won by Siebert ahead Vips and Guzman.

The high number of subscriptions forced organizers to modify the Championship format, dividing competitors (by drawing lots) in two different qualifying tournaments. Then the drivers are divided in three groups (A, B, and C) based on the overall standings. Each of these Groups competes for two qualifying races (A vs B; B vs C; A vs C that gives points for Championship standings). Then, an overall standings with the sum of every driver’s points is filled out. The first 36 drivers classified enter into the Final.

“This karting format is very appreciated, especially by stranger teams and by drivers themselves. Everyone has at least the chance to run two races, given that 36 out of 41 drivers enter into the Final. In spite of a very changeable weather, all the drivers proved to live up to the race, with Schumacher as a star performer of the opening weekend, despite the heavy media pressure. He will have to confirm his talent as a sprinter in next events” Gian Carlo Minardi says. “We had three intense and fighting races, especially in Final with 36 single-seaters on the track. As Aci, we are very satisfied with this Championship debut”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

The schedule of the Circus will go on in Adria (May,8), Imola (May 29 and September 25) Mugello (July, 17) Vallelunga (September, 11), and Monza October, 30 with the great finale.
In overall standings Mick Schumacher (Prema) leads the group with 60 points, ahead of Guzman Marchina Raul (58) and Siebert Marcos (56).

F4 | First points for Joao Vieira at Misano

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Joao Vieira’s new sport season in the Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth started from the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli along with the Antonelli Motorsport team.A path seven events long that will take the Circus at the national circuit of Adria, Imola (double event in May and September), Mugello, Vallelunga, and Monza.

At the start, along with the Brazilian driver handled by the Minardi Management, there are twenty teams and forty-one single-seaters with drivers coming from 21 different nationalities. The high number of subscriptions forced organizers to modify the Championship format, dividing competitors (by drawing lots) in two different qualifying tournaments. Then the drivers are splitted in three groups (A, B, and C) based on the overall standings. Each of these Groups competes for two qualifying races (A vs B; B vs C; A vs C that gives points for Championship standings). Then, an overall standings with the sum of every driver’s points is filled out. The first 36 drivers classified enter into the Final.

During free practice, Joao becomes the protagonist bringing his Tatuus # 97 in the top positions and signs the fastest time in free practice 2. By merging the two qualifying groups, which raced in pouring rain, Vieira is ninth, a placing that he will keep on the grid for the first two qualifying heats for the Final.In Race 1 Joao recovers up to sixth place, while in the second race had to settle the twelfth position, for a mistake at the start. Thanks to the sum of the scores, he enters the Final, and finishes the first event in sixth with eighteen points.

“A start grid with 41 cars is really a nice show. The weekend had started in the right way, unfortunately in race 2 I made a mistake at the start, keeping the car in second gear…Anyway, I managed to enter the Final, and I closed the weekend in points zone. Unfortunately, we still have some engine complications. During Adria’s checks, we’ll do more tests”, Joao Vieira comments.

“On one hand I am very pleased with Joao and his driving, especially in the mixed section where he was one of the fastest. Unfortunately, in qualifying he was not perfect, and the final result was affected by his mistake in race-2. Since he had started the weekend with the fastest time in free practice two, we expected to pick up something more. Now, we just have to prepare us at best in view of Adria. We expect a season really fought and at the highest level. 41 cars on the track are a sight“, manager Giovanni Minardi says.

Next Wednesday, Joao will be back on the track in Adria to prepare himself for the second round scheduled next May 8.

WSK | Top-five for Karol Basz in Muro Leccese

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An Instant redemption for Karol Basz back at the top positions of the standings in Muro Leccese, stage of the third WSK Super Master Series event. During a weekend free from external factors, the Polish driver of the Kosmic Racing achieves two third places in Qualifying Heat that are worth the second row in Pre-final.An act of force for the standard-bearer of the Minardi Management, after two first rounds heavily affected by some contacts.

After ending the Pre-final in sixth, Karol concludes the penultimate session of the series by gaining the top-five, thanks to the fifth place in Final achieved after a great recovering. The result relaunches him into the general standing and makes grow his booty to 44 points, even if it remains the regret for the points lost in Castelletto di Branduzzo and Sarno. The showdown will be in Adria next May 22, waiting for next international challenges.

“The final fifth place is quite good, but we could surely done better. We have recovered a good pace and this is useful after the complications we faced in the previous events. The weekend started uphill, but we managed to recover. Unluckily, it’s too late for a recovery in the standing, even if we there is the round at Adria. We’ll try to end with a good result”, Karol Basz comments.

“The vehemence of some drivers frustrates the efforts and the final results too many times, but I never had any doubts about the qualities of Karol and of the Kosmic team as sprinters. This weekend we were able to move up the ranks with great determination. A good test for the forthcoming events of CIK FIA and of the German Championship“, manager Alberto Tonti says.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

WSK, Sarno – Basz “After pole position, another weekend ruined by accidents"

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At the International circuit in Sarno, stage of the second event of the WSK Super Master Series, Karol Basz, at the wheel of his Kosmic Racing material, had started with a peremptory pole position in the OK category, going on with an excellent third place in Qualifying Heats.

These results, besides proving the great technical value of the Polish driver that is also a great sprinter, made us hope for an exciting weekend after the regret for the final at “7 laghi” fifteen days ago when he happened to be in the middle of a carom between Sergeant and Van Leeuwen. However, once again all the preparation work and the fine-tuning were frustrated by the impetuosity of young drivers.

In Sarno, Karol had the chance to work as a supervisor and coach for the very young Andrea Antonelli, protagonist of Mini.

“Another unlucky weekend, after an excellent qualifying with a pole position and the third place in Heats. Unfortunately, Pre-final and Final went bad, not as we expected. I can only wait the next event at La Conca”, Karol Basz regretfully comments.

“There is not much to say, unfortunately. On one hand, I am very glad to see how this guy is strong. He is always ahead, ready to fight for an important result. After pole position, he has also gained the third place in Qualifying Heats. Unluckily, the whole work made by Karol and by the Kosmic Racing was frustrated by a too impetuous young driver”, Alberto Tonti comments from the Minardi Management.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

Formula 2 comes back, Minardi "We would need more manufacturers"

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After the launch of Formula 4, in which Italy has had a pioneering role in bringing the first Championship into track in 2014, the International Automobile Federation has developed the last tile by replacing the present GP2 with Formula 2, the new anteroom to Formula 1. The connection between the two series will be the FIA European F3 Championship that in the last years has been able to capture the attention revealing important names as Max Verstappen, Stefano Ocon, as our standard-bearers Antonio Giovinazzi, Raffaele Marciello, Antonio Fuoco, and Alessio Lorandi.

The real revolution will take place in 2017 with new single-seaters with which drivers should engage further to enhance their technical qualities. In recent years, the GP2 Series hasn’t been longer able to bring his champions into the Circus, that was the starting goal. “The FIA is trying to take its historical brands back, to create a chain in which F4 is the first step to get to F2 through International F3 which is experiencing an important peak” says Gian Carlo Minardi, interviewed on the subject by Minardi.it.

The revolution could not stop. Given the great success of Formula 4 everywhere in Europe, the idea to create an intermediate step is under consideration. “A National Formula 3 to link F4 and International F3 is under study“.

Gian Carlo Minardi has built much of his know-how as a manufacturer participating in the Formula 2 Championship from 1974 to 1984, at first with the Scuderia Everest and later with his Minardi Team, coming from the Italian Formula and Formula 3. “In those years, Formula 2 was a championship at the highest level with 5-6 chassis manufacturers, 4-5 engines suppliers, and 2-3 tires suppliers. The races were made up of drivers engaged in the Formula 1 World Championship and by young people who would pawed the ground for show off. Those who did well in F2 then arrived in F1 as Martini, Nannini, Alboreto and many other” the manager from Faenza explains, stressing on the lack of manufacturers, except for Dallara. What is now lacking it is a competition between the various manufacturers. Unfortunately, new Formula 2 will only be a chassis, engine and tires single brand. This scenario is the result of past decisions made by the Federation. It has wanted to entrench behind reductions of costs that has not really happened. Doing so we lost all the major manufacturers who made this sport great as Lola, March and Ralt, just to name a few. Today, scene is dominated by Dallara, even when the regulations would allow more competition, like in F3“.

Would not it be better to open the challenge to more manufactures of frames? In 2012, the latest Formula 3 Italia edition saw the challenge on track between two manufacturers, Dallara and My GAL with the French one victorious thanks to JD Motorsport and Riccardo Agostini.

WSK – A gritty but unlucky weekend for karol Basz

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The international circuit 7 Laghi inaugurated Karol Basz ‘ new season in the SWK Super Master Series that will continue with the events in Sarno (March 20), La Conca (April 3), and Adria (May 22). Strong of his two consecutives podia in the WSL Champions Cup and Winter Cup, the Kosmic Racing World Champion had a unexpected weekend, innocent victim of a collision at the first lap of the Final that put him out of game. A strange situation to the strong Minardi Management driver, who is accustomed to see the checkered flag. We have to come back to last May to register a withdrawal.

The weekend starts uphill since the first steps when Karol signs only the sixteenth position in qualifying due to some misjudgments. Saturday, during Qualifying Heat, he is determined to get back on top of the standings, but the bad weather makes a mess of his plans, forcing organizers to nullify all the sessions (due to snow and bitter cold) and modify the race schedule. The qualifying results remain valid for the Pre-final. With the determination and speed that distinguish him in all the races, Karol becomes protagonist of a great recover, despite a problem at the drain valve that the Polish driver promptly solves on track during the race. At the end of sixteen laps, Basz is in eighth. He is ready to complete the recovery in the final, but his race finishes at the first lap when he finds himself in a carom between Sergeant and Van Leeuwen.

“It was a difficult weekend. The bad weather and the cancellation of Saturday’s free practice penalized us. In Pre-final, I started from sixteenth position and I was able to recover up to the eight position. In Final, they pushed me out and I received serious damages to the kart chassis. In Sarno I want to be ahead again” Karol Basz says.

“It was definitely an unfortunate and negative weekend, especially if we look at the final result. The bad weather and the modification in the schedule deprived us of the chance to recover. Anyway, in Pre-final Karol did well, resolving also a problem in the drain valve and recovering eight positions. The collision in the Final frustrated his effort. In the next days, we’ll come back on track to prepare our visit in Sarno at our best” manager Alberto Tonti observes.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

Kart- A podium for Karol Basz at the Winter Cup

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Another trophy to Karol Basz who at the South Garda circuit achieves the third place in the Winter Cup in Lonato, proving to be a leading driver in the new Ok category after his winning and the second place in the first WSK Championship Cup event achieved just two weeks ago. 

At the wheel of the Kosmic Racing material, the Polish driver has become the protagonist of substantial recoveries and many set-up tests in view of the upcoming international events, gaining the third place in a battery composed of 32 drivers.

“It hasn’t been an easy weekend, but we managed to get on the podium anyway thanks to a good recovery. We are exploring the new Ok engine, and every race is a new challenge. These first results prove that we are doing what it takes”, Karol Basz says.

“I can just be glad about the new trophy and podium achieved by Karol, once again he has proved to be a mature, determined, and fast driver. This  weekend has been devoted to recovery in which we have made some tests of material and set-up that will be useful in the season, in view of the next international events. Karol has ended hi recovery with a good podium” manager Alberto Tonti analyzes.

F4 Joao Vieira stands out in Misano's tests

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Called by his team principal Marco Antonelli to continue with the Tatuus Formula 4 in view of next season in the Tricolor series that starts next April 10 at the Misano World Circuit, Joao Vieira has made himself available for the stable from Bologna, taking part to two days of collective tests.

The Brazilian driver, who well knows the organization of the Antonelli Motorsport and its single-seater having attended two Italian F4 Championship editions, has run almost 130 laps along the 4,226 meters of the circuit named in memory of Marco Simoncelli, and he scored the fastest lap without committing any error. The first day characterized by heavy rain and temperatures below 10°C helped the driver, already in the sphere of the Minardi Management, to find the pace again after four months spent away from the track. We have had much better weather conditions in the concluding session where Joao’s work focused on testing of set-up and ended with the best lap time 1.35.564.

“I am happy with Joao’s work in these two test days. Despite a four months stop, he has quickly found the pace proving to be also ready from an athletic point of view. Despite the first day’s difficult weather conditions, he hasn’t made any mistakes, ending the two days session with the best lap-time. We are working to define Joao’s programme, and I am sure that he will be able to be the protagonist, whatever the championship” manager Giovanni Minardi explains.

“I am really happy I had the opportunity to race these two days. It has been a good chance to prepare the new season. We have worked a lot on the set-up of the car , also thanks to the changing weather conditions. Being familiar with all the guys of the team has made everything easier” Joao Vieira says.

 

Kart – An opening podium for Karol Basz in OK

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Karol Basz has just started his second season with the Kosmic Racing material at Adria in the new OK category. On the Rovigo’s circuit, scene of the WSK Championship Cup, the Polish driver handled by Minardi Management conquered the pre-final victory with almost five seconds lead on the first of his chasers, and he ended the first weekend with the absolute second place in Final.

Once again, Karol showed all his skill on a wet track, signed the fastest lap in the pre-final B and the second best chrono of the Final, where he was protagonist of an  enjoyable recovery.

“It’s nice to start the season with a second place. This year we have a fully new engine, so we start again from zero. It will be a hard season and we’ll have a lot of work to do and a lot to learn. Everything functioned perfectly in the first round. This will be a funny season to us”,  Karol Basz says.

“Even if we missed the top step of the podium, I am glad for this result and for Karol’s beginning. A Pre-final victory and a Final second place after being in fourth. Once again he proved very fast under the rain” Alberto Tonti of the Minardi Management observes.

This year Karol will also be ambassador of the “Young Athletes Foundation” based in Cracow. “I am honored to join and to represent this foundation. We will also be able to introduce the children to our sport, encouraging them to make the best choice. This foundation gathers many disciplines. Being part of it makes me proud. I have been fascinated by competition since I was a child, and I fell in love with motoring at my first turn with a go-kart” Karol observes, highlighting how much a team sports like motorsport is challenging. “A driver is nobody without a good team, and a team will never achieve good results without a good driver. In our sport, victory is played on fractions of seconds. Details make the difference for a victory or a defeat“.

 Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox

Mark Webber, a dream called Le Mans

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Newly crowned World Endurance champion at the wheel of his Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1, Mark Webber in an interview released to www.minardi.it, anticipated us his goals for 2016 with the company from Stuttgart putting the victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that he missed last year into the foreground.

“Le Mans is such a special event. It’s a very long, intense week and the race is incredibly hard to put together.There’s a very special atmosphere at that race and to stand up on the podium in front of tens of thousands of fans is an unreal experience. It would be great to win Le Mans, it’s such a huge challenge and would be a great feather in my cap, but at the same time I’m not getting any younger and won’t be chasing after it for the next ten years” the Australian driver told us. Mark started his career in 2002 at the wheel of the Minardi Team. He succeeded to put himself in the spotlight from his first race in Melbourne in front of his home crowd bringing his PS02 in the fifth place and giving the stable from Faenza two points. “The Minardi Team was a very special moment in my career. We got good results and I enjoyed racing hard against teams we really shouldn’t have been. Gian Carlo has always given me good advice”.

His path in Formula 1 continued without interruption till 2013 passing through Jaguar, Williams and Red Bull with a total amount of 217 grand prix and 9 victories, 42 podia, 13 pole positions and 19 fastest laps in race. “Compared to Formula 1, there is a very friendly atmosphere in the WEC paddock. Within the team both sides of the garage work towards the same goal and there is a busy exchange between engineers and drivers. The inter-team rivalry known in F1 is almost non-existent” Mark highlights referring especially to the fight with his teammate Vettel during 2013 season. Then, he describes the differences between the two cars. “The transition from F1 to WEC was a big adaptation process for me in the first few months(..) The cars are heavier than an F1 car, but faster. With three drivers in the car you have to compromise on certain things inside the cockpit such as seat and pedal positioning, and in particular some aspects of the set-up related to individual driving styles, which is something you need to get used to”.

The new season starts on April 17 with the 6 Hours of Silverstone, the first of nine FIA WEC events, and it continues at Spa-Francorchamps, Le Mans, Nurburgring, Mexico City, Austin, Fiji, Shanghai, and Bahrain.“Last year, after our first win in Germany I knew that we could go all the way if we kept our heads down and continued to work hard. We will start testing the new car in February. This year’s car will pretty much be an evolution of last year’s car and we’re starting with a very good technical basis which allows us to focus our efforts on improving other areas such as the aerodynamic efficiency, weight, suspensions”, the Australian driver closes. “Having been part of Porsche’s LMP1 program has been very rewarding. It would be awesome to have Ferrari and BMW both in the championship and good to compete against them”.

WEC – Mark Webber calls Ferrari and BMW in LPM1. Exclusive interview

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New winner of the World Endurance Championship title at the wheel of his Porsche 919 Hybrid, Mark webber started his career in Faenza. It was 2002 when the Australian driver debuted in the Circus at the wheel of his PS02 with an exciting fifth place. In an exclusive interview on www.minardi.it, Mark told us about his season with the Minardi Team, last year’s victory and goals for 2016.

Congratulations for the World Champion Endurance title with Porsche. An extraordinary return. At what point of the season did you realize to have the chance to win the championship?
 We had some very encouraging results towards the end of 2014 and the writing was on the wall that we could get some momentum however it didn’t quite fall into place at the first race of the season in Silverstone. We worked hard in all areas and Le Mans showed that we had a very reliable, resilient package. After our first win in Germany I knew that we could go all the way if we kept our heads down and continued to work hard.

Let’s step back. In 2002 you made your debut in Formula 1 World Championship with a fantastic 5th place. Would you tell us something about that weekend and the satisfaction for the first points in your first race?
It was a very special moment in my career to drive my first F1 race in my home country with all the support from the local crowd. I remember Stoddy told me on the grid ‘Look mate, if you can get this car home that would be an absolute dream for me’. After the race start, there was a massive accident at the first corner and even though I managed to get out of it the car took quite a battering and for some time it looked like it was terminal. However we got through the whole race distance and crossed the line in fifth place which was unbelievable. The reaction from the crowd was unique and it was incredibly special to start my career in F1 in that way.

When did you meet Minardi f1 Team the first time?

It was late January in the build-up to the 2002 F1 season as my deal was done very late. It was the first time I’d ever been to an Italian racing team. It was a very modest set-up but of course I was very excited that I was now a race driver for a F1 team.

After Minardi, you moved to Jaguar, Williams, and Red Bull. What the experience in Faenza taught you?
I loved how tenacious the team was; it was obvious their budget was small but the principles inside the team was still all about hard work and preparing the cars the best they could. Many times that year we got good results purely because the underdog spirit was always strong and I enjoyed racing hard against teams we really shouldn’t have been.

Do you have a special memory of Gian Carlo Minardi?
Gian Carlo was always very warm and passionate – the values instilled in the team came from him. It was obvious he was hungry for the team to do well with the resources the team had and the drivers were a big part of that and had an important role to play. Although his English wasn’t very good and my Italian any better, it was still very easy for me to tell when he was happy or sad about how I drove! I always enjoyed a good relationship with him.

Let’s go back to the WEC. Have you had to change your driving style and attitude toward the race to conform it to porsche 919 LMP1?

The transition from F1 to WEC was a big adaptation process form me in the first few months to be honest and a completely new experience. It was definitely a new challenge having to work around the needs of two other drivers. With three drivers in the car you have to compromise on certain things inside the cockpit such as seat and pedal positioning, and in particular some aspects of the set-up related to individual driving styles, which is something you need to get used to. I loved my time in F1 as an ‘individual’, but at this stage in my career I really enjoy being totally open with my fellow team mates and engineers to get the most from our collective knowledge. The cars are heavier than an F1 car and also the seating position is different which is something to get used to. However these cars are very rewarding to drive, the speeds are high and consistency is key. As a driver in this category you have to be extremely versatile and adapt to the circumstances, whether that’s driving the car at three in the morning or when plans change and you’re putting in a triple stint.

You have almost won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What has been the most beautiful moment in the season? 
Le Mans is such a special event. It’s a very long, intense week and the race is incredibly hard to put together. The team put in a phenomenal effort, the no 18 car had a few issues but the 17 and 19 cars ran seamlessly, and the cars finished very healthily. There’s a very special atmosphere at that race and to stand up on the podium in front of tens of thousands of fans is an unreal experience. 
Winning the World Championship at the last race in Bahrain is definitely my highlight of last year. It’s an incredible achievement of Porsche to have won both the drivers and manufacturers’ title in what was only our second year back in the sport and I’m very proud to be part of this and be a World Championship winning driver with one of the most prestigious sportscar brands in the world.
How is the atmosphere in the FIA WEC world championship respect to Formula 1?

There is a very friendly atmosphere in the paddock and the manufacturers have a huge level of respect for each other as they know just how much work goes into it this project. Within the team both sides of the garage work towards the same goal, which is getting both cars as high up as possible so this is obviously completely different to an F1 team. The communication across both cars is very open and there is a busy exchange between engineers and drivers. The inter-team rivalry known in F1 is almost non-existent because encouraging that sort of competition doesn’t help the manufacturer’s aim of getting both cars up the front.

On April 17 the WEC starts at Silverstone. Have you already seen and tried the new Porsche? What are you working to improve a machine that has proven to be very fast and reliable?
I’ve not yet seen the 2016 car, we will start testing in February. This year’s car will pretty much be an evolution of last year’s car and we’re starting with a very good technical basis which allows us to focus our efforts on improving other areas such as the aerodynamic efficiency, weight, suspension etc.

What other manufacturers  would  you like to see racing in LMP1?
Ferrari and BMW – they have great racing pedigree, especially Ferrari in sportscars, while the category is a perfect platform for BMW to showcase their future technologies. It would be awesome to have them both in the championship and good to compete against them.

After successfully racing  in Formula 1 and winning   the World Endurance Championship, what are your next goals?
It would be great to win Le Mans, it’s such a huge challenge and would be a great feather in my cap, but at the same time I’m not getting any younger and won’t be chasing after it for the next ten years. I still enjoy the racing and having been part of Porsche’s LMP1 program has been very rewarding.

Kart-Riccardo Negro "Kz my goal for 2016"

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After ending 2015 season with the world event at Le Mans, valid for the International KZ2 Super Cup, where he defended the OK1 official colors, Riccardo Negro cannot wait to race again regularly. After his success in the WSK Euro Series and two seasons where he seldom raced, Minardi.it caught up with Riccardo to talk about his present, past, and future.

In your palmarés you have a success in the WSK Euro Series and a third place in the World Championship CIK-FIA 2003, a 2014 far from races and a “fluctuating” 2015. Why weren’t you able to race regularly despite your good results?
It is difficult to answer. Surely, I had good results in 2013, but the following year I had few opportunities to race, maybe because of wrong decisions.

In 2015 you raced again. How do you judge your season?
Once again, it was a fluctuating season where I had not the possibility to get me noticed with regular racing. I was back on track after six month and this has affected my results. At Le Mans we could collect an important result, but we had to retreat for a failure.

Let’s go further into details. You started the year at Adria in the WSK Super Master Series with CRG.
I raced again after a six months break. Surely, it is not easy to be back in a high level competition after a so long period because you have to find your rhythm and oxygen again. It helped me to remove some rust.

…and to prepare the European FIA-CIK KZ2 Championship with the team Renda Motorsport.
We had some difficulties during the first event in Sarno, while we failed the final due to a disqualification in Spain. At that point we took a difficult decision: to skip the final in Belgium because we were offside with no chances to win the European podium.

…And ending the year at Le Mans as an OK1 official driver with a Iame engine.
I was very happy to receive a convocation from OK1 for Le Mans. Before leaving, I had the opportunity to have two testing days to learn about the new material and reach a good feeling with the team and its engineers. When we reached the circuit we spent a lot of time to improve all the material, but I was able to gain the Final, our minimum goal. After a good recover, racing with good chronometric times, the water sleeve broke forcing me to retire.

What are your goals and plans for 2016?
2016 is a great unknown in this moment. Surely, my goal is to race again at the top levels regularly. I confess my goal is KZ. Along with Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti of the Minardi Management, I am working to find the best solution.

How much is it important to race regularly for a kart driver?
Driving regularly is fundamental when you race with your kart at high levels because you have to keep your rhythm and physical shape. Even during a forced stop, between a race and another, it is important to have the opportunity to take to the track for some training sessions. In karting, the only rule to be trained is “consuming the asphalt”.

Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox