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

Kart – Karol Basz and OKT still together to defend their title

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After bringing the World KF title to OTK group thanks to his peremptory victory on the international track of La Conca with a Kosmic Racing material, Karol Basz will show up at the starting line of the most important international championships as a reference driver and great protagonist of professional karting also in the upcoming season.

With the arrival of the new OK engines, experience, maturity, and talent of the Polish driver, already under the sphere of Minardi Management, will be an added value for the group from Brescia. The new engines look to be a great improvement in performance thanks to the lightening of the karts, that will make driving more pleasant.The speed increase to 1000 rev/min will enable the use of a shorter gear ratio, very profitable at the exit from the slow bends, that was “the critical point” of KF, as Ole Haugård states on the site CIKFIA.com. The experience and speed of Karol will be very useful in the development and finalizing of the new material for the upcoming sport season. Anyway, the doors of GT racing remain open: we have scheduled testing days and races to continue to taste the new challenge, in full respect of the karting program established with Roberto Robazzi’s OTK group.

“I am very happy to continue working with Kosmic Racing. With the arrival of the new engines, the next season will be different completely, and I will fight to defend the title. I want to thank all the OTK group, Roberto Robazzi and Kosmic Racing” Karol Basz declares.

“We were very pleased by the proposal coming from OTK about Karol for the season 2016 because they recognize him as a real professional driver on which to aim for the development of the new engine and the new chassis setup. Now we do not expect nothing but work to defend the title, always keeping an eye open to GT racing”Alberto Tonti states.

“I am happy and satisfied because the OTK group wanted to repay the wonderful season of Karol that ended with the world title. With the debut of the new OK material, we will have a lot of work to do and Karol’s experience will be an added value. It remains a bitter taste because I wanted to see the full time debut of Karol with GT cars, since I am sure that he would have immediately got good results. The few kilometers we have walked so far have yielded significant results. In agreement with Roberto Robazzi, however, we are organizing testing daysand racing in preparation of 2017” manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

Karol Basz awarded at the Fia Prize Giving

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Our Karol Basz could not miss the night of “World Motorport Stars” in Paris; he was awarded by  the FIA PRIZE-GIVING for winning the World Title of 2015 FK Kart.

At La Conca international circuit, the driver cured by Minardi Management imposed himself with a net and decisive domain during the most important international karting event under the wheel of a Kosmic Racing leaving only “crumbs” to his opponents.

In the famous Lido theater in Paris, close to the Arc de Triomphe, Karol shared the stage with his colleagues Jorrit Pex (KZ), Logan Sargeant (KF- Junior) and the world f1 championship Lewis Hamilton.

Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti, along with Gian Carlo Minardi and all his staff congratulate Karol for the incredible achievement in a season that, for the polish driver, has been full of satisfactions.

Joao Vieira on-the-job with JD Motordport in Barcelona

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Two days of hard work on Barcelona’s track for Joao Vieira, who almost two months later his debut in Jerez, was back under the wheel of a Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 belonging to JD Motor-sport team. 

At his first contact with the Spanish track, the Driver from Brazil curated by Minardi Management had kept working with the engineers of the team from Novara for next season; he achieved over 100 laps with interesting lap times and without any mistakes. After becoming familiar with 4655 mt of Catalan track, a lot of setup tests were made to study the performance of the single-seater.Returning from Formula 4 Tricolore, Joao and his entourage are assessing the best solution for 2016.

“These two days have been important, I had the opportunity to do a lot of work along with JD team and I a lot of kilometers under the wheel of the car without doing any mistakes, with good time lap times. Surely, I still have a good improvement margin, but I start from a good base. Unfortunately, these were the last two test days granted by regulation. Now I have to wait until February to get back in the car. I really like the car, and I get on with the team. So, i hope to be able to define as soon as possible my next schedule. Meantime I am going to keep studying English” Joao Vieira comments.

“These test sessions have been very important and positive to Joao it has been a very important and positive test session. He had the opportunity to make a lot of kilometers under the wheel of F.R. 2.0 without any mistakes. So he could work with continuity. After studying the track along with JD engineers, we made a lot of setup tests with the purpose of helping Joao’s perception with the new car. I must thanks all the team staff for their excellent work. I admit that we would like to race in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and we are working to find an agreement as soon as possible”, Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti comment. 

Gian Carlo Minardi: "ACI Team Italia is promoted"

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The curtain dropped on the World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit which was also the scene of the last event of GP2, GP3. ACI team Italia Velocità at its first season participated with its two standard bearers Raffaello Marciello and Luca Ghiotto at the wheel of Trident cars.

Raffaele Marciello had a seesaw season and closed the championship preparatory to F1 with a solid second place in Race 1 and a total haul of 110 points, which earned him seventh place in overall standings. Luca Ghiotto saw Gp3 title slip from his hands in the last race after leading overall standings for most of the season with his 5 victories.At his first entire season, the nineteen from Arzignano has been able to put himself in the spotlight fighting with Ocon and attracting the interest of the Principal Teams of the Circus.

“As ACI Team Italia we had a really positive year with drivers coming from the branch of the Federal School in partnership with FDA. Both Marciello and Ghiotto have been able to put themselves in the spotlight in their respective championships. If Raffaele closed a difficult season with his second place in race-1, Luca was frustrated by the final loss of the title. Two/three mistakes at the start were fatal and compromised a season that was really favorable to him” Gian Carlo Minardi comments.“In terms of victories (five) he has been greater than Ocon who, however, has more constancy” the mangager from Faenza continues. “I want remember Antono Giovinazzi’s secod place in the European FIA F3 and the season of Antonio Fuoco who is already in Ferrari scope with FDA. Now we will start to work for 2016 with the purpose of valuing young drivers coming from kart, we will support those who wants to raise the bar toward professionalism”.

Joao Vieira in Brazil between Kart and F1

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Some days before Brazilian GP, Joao Vieira was invited by Petrobras to take part in its traditional kart race along with professional drivers and Brazilian Olympic athletes.

It was an opportunity of recreation for the green-gold driver from Gurupi, who is now focused on the groundwork for the next championship. It was, anyway, a demanding challenge, and the young driver closed in seventh. Coming from Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth, now Vieira assesses a jump in class.

Just last October, in Spain at the circuit of Jerez, Joao got behind the wheel of an Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with the purpose of make some test for 2016; other testing day with different single-seater will follow.

“I was glad for the invitation. Driving a kart, is always a good experience, also in a competitive situation where you have to measure with GP2, F3000 and Stock Car drivers. We had fun, and I must thanks all the organizers and Petrobras” Joao, who experienced Brazilian GP from the pits, comments.

“F1 is amazing. It puts onto you an indescribable adrenaline. Experiencing the race from the pits and see up close Ferrari and Toro Rosso was wonderful. When I am in Italy, I live in Forlì, a few steps away from Faenza. Now I am already oriented toward 2016 and in the upcoming weeks I ‘ll be back on car for some test days” the driver of Minardi management concludes.

ACI Team Italia ready to grow

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The Adria International Raceway has been the scene of the 12th edition of Aci Sport Federal Super-course, Speed section, the annual advanced course that rewarded, as usual, some young drivers coming from the Italian Championship powered by Abarth and from Kart.

The drivers selected at the end of 2015 season and invited to face the Super-course are Diego Bertonelli and Riccardo Ponzio coming from F4; Lorenzo Colombo, Aldo Festante, Davide Lombardo, and Leonardo Lorandi from Karting. After a careful consideration at the end of four long days of intense learning both in class and on track, Lorenzo Colombo, 15 years old from Legnano, has resulted the best karting driver while Diego Bertonelli, 17 years old from Forte dei Marmi, has been the best one among F4 drivers. 

Gian Carlo Minardi could not missed the event as Supervisor of this Federal Super-course who comments as follows: “I have to congratulate all the selected boys. It has been really hard to choose a winner at the end of these four days, especially among the four kart drivers. All their scores were close, and this proves that they have assimilated very well their tutor’s and instructor’s suggestions and teachings.Also Beronelli and Ponzio, who already knew the circuit and the car, have been able to improve considerably in comparison to their race performances just over a month ago.Both of them have had an excellent apprenticeship opportunity that could bring them substantial results next year.We have learned with pleasure that other Federations are exporting our project and our know-how with young drivers”.

Within the end of the year, some scholarship could be delivered, so to broaden the project of ACI Team Italia that has Ghiotto and Marciello among its current representatives.“ ACI Sport general manager, Marco Ferrari, has declared he wants to make available some scholarhips to the winners of the Super-course  to make easier their passage from Kart to Formula 4 Italia”, the manager from Faenza concludes.

 

Kart – Another podium for Karol Basz

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Karol Basz, new KF World Champion, closes his season with a third place in the WSK Final Cup. Having constantly fought with best drivers for top positions and always done his maximum, the Polish driver for Kosmic Racing said goodbye to 2015 from a new podium at the Adria Kartin Raceway circuit.After having signed the third place in Qualifying and in Pre-final, he just missed to win.

“It is pleasant to finish the season with a podium. It has been an amazing year along which Kosmic team and I have proved to be able to reach any results. We have succeeded in winning and conquering the podium of the most important competitions gaining the world title. I hope to be able to announce my plans for next season very soon” Karol Basz, Minardi Management driver, comments.

“Despite Friday’s pole that had suggested us a new success, we are satisfied about this podium. Karl has proceeded on his positive path. This victory wasn’t our main goal of the season, so we have also tested different materials, and we are glad of the result. Now we start working for 2016” Alberto Tonti, Karting manager of Minardi Management, comments.

“I am really satisfied about Karol’s season along which he achieved the goal of the season, the world title, with honors. At Adria, once again, he showed all his talent; he never back down conquering the maximum. Now we will work to raise the bar for the next season” Giovanni Minardi comments.

 
Photo: Alexandros Vernardis/The Racebox
 

Joao Vieira in action with JD FR 2.0

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At the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, Joao Vieira has taken his first steps driving an Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0. Among the 28 drivers who have taken part of the first day of collective tests, the Brazilian driver has got behind the wheel of JD Motorsport team’s car for a first contact with this single-seater car, after having filed away his Tricolor Formula 4 season. 

For Joao it has been the first contact with the Spanish circuit and the single-seater which animates the trans-alpine brand, with the purpose of first evaluations in view of 2016.This first contact has been characterized by uncertain weather with a wet track in the morning and a dry one in the afternoon that have not anyway let Joao to make mistakes.“It was a really useful day to me because I had the opportunity to test a totally new car. Renault is more aerodynamic than Taurus F4. You can feel it especially in bend. Also the engine is more powerful. We are working for 2016 and in the next few weeks we are going to test another car to evaluate the best choice”,  Minardi Management driver Joao Vieira comments.

“We can only be glad about Joao’s work. Despite the changing conditions of the track have made his first contact more difficult,he has done well anyway not making any mistakes. Everything was new to him, from the track to the car.  We have to thank Renault for its invite and JD team for its work. We are looking around in view of 2016 and in the next few weeks we are going to test another car” manager Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti comment. 

Lamborghini test for Karol Basz

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In the circuit of Vallelunga, close to Rome, new KF World Champion Karol Basz has measured himself with a Super Trofeo Lamborghini.

For the talented driver from Cracow, who already belongs to Minardi Management world, it has been the first contact with both “Piero Taruffi” circuit and the powerful super-car from Sant’Agata Bolognese.”It has been a very important day for Karol, he had the opportunity to measure himself with a very selective and demanding car as Lamborgini is, in a technical circuit like that in Vallelunga. I have to thank Antonelli Motorsport team represented by Marco Antonelli and Lamborghini for this valued opportunity. It is the first test in view of 2016 and many others will come after in order to define next Championship” manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.

“I am very happy about this day because I immediately felt at ease with the car. Everything was new to me, starting from the car till the circuit.Lamborghini is really an extraordinary car. Its power and braking system really impressed me. In addition to the last seasonal kart events, we will plan other test-days” an enthusiastic Karol Basz comments.

F4 – A penalty prevented Joao Vieira from winning

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The Brazilian flag flies high thanks to Joao Vieira that won race-2 at the Misano World Circuit where the Italian F4 Championship powered by Abarth took place. A good result especially after the terrible crash occurred two weeks ago in Imola.

Unfortunately, after so many problems related particularly to the engine, the celebration and happiness for having won the first victory of the season, lasts little. The wet blanket of penalization (for not respecting the track limits beyond which warming up the tires during the sighting lap isn’t allowed ) falls upon our Joao and other four drivers.

An uphill week-end for the yellow-gold driver. After conquering the sixth place in both qualifying sessions, the commissioners canceled the chrono to the three cars of Antonelli Motorsport. Spriting from the last row in race-1, Joao becomes protagonist of the umpteenth comeback and closes in tenth which gives him the pole in race-2 where he gains a clear victory on track, that unluckily was annulled at the end of the race. As a precaution, also due to the after-effects of the accident in Imola, Joao doesn’t compete in race-3. “In a way I am happy because despite all the difficulties I succeeded in making a good comeback, winning then the sprint race. What a pity the penalization. It changes nothing in the standings, but it is a question of personal satisfaction. In race-3 I didn’t compete following the suggestion of my manager because I had suffered some pain during the previous races. Before thinking about 2016, I’ll continue the medical checks and exams” Joao Vieira comments.

“Joao closes a bitter season due to a lot of engine complications. This penalization have been the icing on the cake. I am very satisfied about his reaction on track. He didn’t discourage, proving all his worth in race. In race-1 he made a wonderful and incredible comeback that took him in pole for race-2. Now we’ll continue physical checks before starting our plans for 2016” manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

Kart – Karol Basz KF World Champion

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Sensational week-end for Karol Basz crowned KF World Champion at the International circuit La Conca. For the Kosmic Racing Polish driver led by Giovanni Minardi’s Management and Alberto Tonti it has been a clear and peremptory victory. He dominated all the sessions of the most important event in the international karting review leaving his opponents only “crumbs”.

Karol put his signature on three of the four Qualifying Practice, he “had to satisfy”with a third place only in the second one. An unbelievable “march roll” that gives him the pre-final pole-position where he gained a new impressive success crossing the finish line with a lead of 2,5”. His consecration arrives in final where once again he was first at the finish line. Proving his talent and the excellent feeling reached with tracks and Kosmic racing material, the driver from Cracow also signs the fastest time of the race 45”843, putting a cool 3,1” between himself and the second in overall standings. “All the week-end has been wonderful. The final wasn’t as easy as it could seem looking simply to general standings. I lost some time at the start but I succeeded in recovering quickly and then I was able to dictate my pace till the end. The whole team has worked impeccably since the test day” an enthusiastic Karol Basz comments before thanking. “I want to thank Kosmic, Mr. Robazzi and the whole group OTK, Mr. Oliver Marechal, my family who always supports me, Aga my girlfriend, my sponsors ilMio.Pl, R8, Europart and in addition to my athletic trainer Olsh Coaching, the Minardi Management personified by Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tondi”.

“What can I say? It has been a sensational week-end. Karol imposed his pace in all the sessions. It was a peremptory supremacy. At worst he arrived third. We are talking about the most important event of the World Championship.This make us understand the technical value and the talent for racing of this guy. I am very happy for Karol. As Minardi Management, we hadn’t put our seal on a Championship for long time. So I want to thank him because our first trophy is a karting world Championship. Nothing is better than this” manager Giovanni Minardi comments.

“All was perfect. We couldn’t close better than this. This is the conclusion of a work that lasted an entire season. Kosmic Racing team has been perfect leaving nothing to chance. The driver has alaways worked professionally, staying focused and determined and fullfilling overtakings that allowed him to impose his supremacy on really experienced drivers. Adding the KF World Championship, the most important title, to my karting palmares is a satisfaction for me. We’ll immediately start to work on upcoming events with the other drivers, expecially the youngers, for 2016 season. Maybe we’ll aim at the KZ World Championship” Alberto Tonti comments.

F4 – Crash at 200km/h for Vieira at Imola. "Luckily I feel good"

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The sixth and penultimate event of Joao Vieira’s Italian Formula 4 Championship at Imola was affected by a bad accident at over 200 kmh in the vicinity of the Tamburello bend.
The Brazilian Antonelli standard-bearer was quickly carried to Hospital and underwent medical examinations to evaluate possible injures to the back.

Luckily, Vieira didn’t receive serious damage except for a strong backache. Now, he wants rapidly forget this week-end. “The shock is over.  Luckily I feel good even if I still have a strong backache” it’s the comment of Joao Vieira who will continue the medical checks in the next few days. “There is not much to add. I am happy because all things considered, especially how the car is destroyed, I got lucky. I really hope to get again in the car for the last event at Misano”.

“For Joao it has been a catastrophic week-end. He has been involved in accidents in both races and the consequences could have been much worse than they are. Luckily while the rest of the car shattered, the body resisted very well. In the next days Joao’s checks will go on. We wants to come back at Minoan circuit. It could have been a positive week-end to us but it eneded with nothing. Moreover Commissioners have been too prudent with who caused the accident” manager Giovanni Minardi analyzes.