F1 | Gp Canada, Minardi “Mercedes is the faourite, but Ferrari is going strong”

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Formula 1 has come to Gilles Villeneuve’s home. Montreal is a circuit which I consider a watershed due to its characteristics If Ferrari manages to come out of the Montreal round undamaged it can begin thinking big.

It as a Ferrari that in the first two appointments showed that it knows how to adapt to changing conditions, even though Mercedes starts with an advantage, We are talking about a track with fast straights and important braking points and where fuel consumption plays an important role. Hamilton and Bottas will be able to count on their two magic buttons. Unlike what happened in Monte Carlo the long legs will not be a problem.

The race will be run on a track that suffers sudden weather changes in which the safety-car has a high level of intervention. The barriers are close and any error can be paid with a heavy price. Last season’s record will be easily broken. In qualifying the drivers could go below the 1’10” barrier. On the tyre front the two top teams have made slightly different choices with 9 ultrasoft sets for Vettel and Raikonnen against the 8 of Hamilton and Bottas.

After a positive weekend in the Principality which finished with Ricciardo on the podium, Red Bull could return just behind Ferrari and Mercedes. The improvement of the chassis is not supported by Renault’s motor (I sometimes have the impression that the French constructor does not supply the same engine to Renault and Red Bull), even though on some circuits they will be the gauge for this year’s championship.

We expect a weekend and grand prix with very different characteristics from those that we have seen up till now.

A good grand prix to all.

Gian Carlo Minardi

GT Italy | Karol Basz just misses out on the coup at Misano

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At the Misano circuit, the stage for the second round of the Italian GT championship, Karol Basz once more put himself under the spotlight at the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup, even though the final result did not do him justice.

At his second excursion in the Italian championship and debut at the circuit named in honour of Marco Simoncelli the many times karting champion who next week will be one of the protagonists of the second round of the CIK-FIA European championship at the Spanish track owned by Fernando Alonso with the Kosmic Racing Team won a place on the front row of the grid with the second best time and just missed out on winning race-2 after having made the fastest race lap time.

At the start of the second race the Polish driver took a leading role with a perfect start which put him immediately at the head of the race where he dictated the rhythm until the pit stop. Karol handed over the wheel of the black and orange Lamborghini with the number 102 to his teammate Takashi Kasai who incurred a 25” penalty due to an error of judgment at the re-entry of the safety car and thus lost the race lead in the final laps, finishing the race in sixth place.

“I was very happy with my work in both qualifying and the race. The car was perfect and our rhythm was excellent. The penalty at the end was a pity. I was hoping for the first win. We will surely try once more at Monza, but first must come Spain for the European kart championship,” commented Karol Basz.
“Karol showed all his worth both on the track and by setting up his car. After the contact which involved Kasai during the first part of race-1 the Antonelli Team was very good at repairing the car, also following Karol’s indications for modifying the setup in light of the second race where he was perfect at the start, He would have deserved success. In his turn he did not commit the slightest error. It was a pity for the penalty,” was the analysis of managers Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi.

As we await the round at Monza in programme for two weeks time, Basz will fly to Spain for the second round of the European karting championship.

Karol Basz at Misano to continue the path of the Italian GT championship

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A little more than a month after his debut in the Italian GT Championship on the Imola track Karol Basz is ready to go back to the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport team’s Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup to front up to the second of the seven double appointments at the Misano circuit.

After the exciting baptism with pole position and the podium finish in race-2 the Polish driver is determined to continue along the road of his apprenticeship together with Japanese driver Takashi Kasai.

In the course of these weeks Karol climbed into the cockpit of the supercar from the company from Sant’Agata Bolognese for one of the two days of testing at the Misano World Circuit and the very fast track at Monza, the stage for the third round.

“They were two very important days for me as they gave me the chance to get to know circuits and to increase the feeling with the car and team in light of this weekend. Beginning the season with the pole and the podium was really fantastic and I can’t wait to go back on track to try and improve myself. I have much to learn and each round is a vital piece of the puzzle,” commented Karol Basz.

“After the first discrete weekend at Imola we can’t wait to see Karol in action once more in the Lamborghini Huracan. With started on the right foot, but unfortunately we made some mistakes that compromised the win in race-1 at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit. Therefore at Misano we must try and grow in terms of results. The chances are good and thanks to Team Antonelli and team-mate Kasai we were able to take to the track at both Misano and Monza. In this way we will be able to push right from the start,” was the analysis of managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

The curtain will rise on Friday in the first trials in preparation for the two qualifying rounds planned for Saturday at 11.25am and 11.50am. The two races of 48’ + 1 lap each will start on Saturday at 7.25pm and Sunday at 1.50pm. Both will be broadcast on direct streaming on the websites of www.acisport.it and AutomotoTV.

F1 | Gp Monte Carlo, Minardi “Excellent Vettel. Decisive strategies”

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It was a Monte Carlo Grand Prix under the sign of Ferrari. After having won the front row in qualifying they also brought home a fantastic, and just as important, double with a view to the world championship. The result will surely build morale, taking them to the top of the two ladders. It was also a weekend where all the records were broken. It was incredible seeing these young men hurtling around the streets of the principality brushing the guardrails

Vettel was fantastic in all the stages of the race and he deserved full marks. In the first sprint he stayed in his team mate’s slipstream, saving his tyres as much as possible, which then made the difference in the crucial moments with masterful laps before his first pit stop and the restart after the safety car following the accident between Button and Wherlein.

It was a grand prix with few overtaking manoeuvres, as per tradition, in which the strategies had an important role. With Max Verstappen’s pit stop Red Bull committed its umpteenth mistake in strategy which also made Mercedes fall into temptation with Bottas who finished the race off the podium and behind Daniel Ricciardo. By staying on the track as long as possible Vettel and Ricciardo had better luck than their respective team mates.

In light of the world championship it was important for Sebastian to win, not only considering Lewis Hamilton’s seventh place but also due to the possible penalties that could come following the substitution of components of the power-unit between now and the end of the season.

Carlos Sainz was very good with his sixth place for Toro Rosso. The Spaniard confirmed that he is just behind the big drivers, lapping with regular times for the entire race. Perez’s impetuousness was a pity because it spoiled Kyvat’s race. As happened in Spain it was interesting following the race on the timing monitors which were marked with many fastest laps.

In two week we will be in Canada, a track which will be a hard test for the braking systems.

Gian Carlo Minardi

F1 | Gp Monaco, Minardi “Ferrari is favoured due to its shorter legs but Mercedes has two aces up its sleeve.”

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This weekend Formula 1 will wear its best clothes to take part in the most glamorous appointment of the reason. Despite its peculiarity Monaco is an important appointment in the light of the world championship above all due to the great equilibrium between Ferrari and Mercedes that has emerged in the first part of the season.

The barriers and the guardrails are lurking and it will need only the slightest error to ruin a whole weekend. Qualifying has always played a dominating role in the final result of the race proper and this year will be no different. Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton will line up on the grid after two wins with the Ferrari driver leading the drivers’ ladder with 104 points, 6 more than the British driver, but with Mercedes ahead in the constructors’ ladder.

Ferrari could have a slight advantage thanks to its slightly slower pace compared to its direct rival Mercedes, even though indiscretions from overseas (from Germany) after the Spanish Grand Prix speak of a WO8 equipped with two overboosters, as well as the button that guarantees extra power for a lap. Hamilton or Bottas could also have an extra 15” to use in specific occasions, such as the start or during an overtaking manoeuvre (see the overtaking manoeuvre that Vettel suffered at Montmelò).

We must not forget Red Bull. In the first grands prix Verstappen and Ricciardo suffered important gaps (at Barcelona the Australian driver finished in third place more than 75” behind the winner) although in qualifying they manage to defend themselves. In addition, last year Ricciardo managed to place his RB in the front row ahead of Rosberg. Therefore keep an eye on them!

Strategy will play a key role and Pirelli will bring Ultrasoft, Supersoft and Soft mixes. In the Ferrari pits Vettel and Raikonnen opted for 10 “violet” sets (one more than Mercedes), 2 “red” (one less than Mercedes) and one “yellow”. In anticipation of Monte Carlo the sole supplier for the Circus decided to review the pressure of the tyres downwards. The front tyres will go from 19 PSI to 17 PSI while the rear tyres will go from 18 PSI to 16.5 PSI. This is another important aspect for Ferrari which up to now has shown that it knows how to manage the tyres very well with the SF70H.

Gian Carlo Minardi

Indy500 | A phenomenal Fernando Alonso is already a legend.

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A fifth place in qualifying for Fernando Alonso is not a result of note, but if it comes in his debut in the category at the Indianapolis 500 it certainly has the flavour of a feat, In the five laps of qualifying Nando was able to improve with each lap managing to equal the feat on another legend.

“In the 106 year history of the Indy 500 no Formula One driver managed to do better than Fernando Alonso in qualifying. He managed to equal the result of Jim Clark in 1963. It is the confirmation of what I have been saying for years, independently of his results of the last few seasons. Fernando remains one of the best drivers on the grid,” commented Gian Carlo Minardi who brought the Spaniard to his debut in Formula 1 in 2001, “His arrival is of great benefit to the category. A positive result in the race as well will place him definitively in the category of motor sport legend, as if he still needed to do so, had earned the right to this title with this result. I wish him the greatest luck and Sunday I will barrack for him,” concluded the manager from Faenza.

The path at the wheel of the Dallara-Honda entitled McLaren of Andretti Sport with the number 29 began by brilliantly overtaking the rookie Orientation and then he presented himself in the bowl of Indianapolis together with all the other drivers to best prepare the four laps available for qualifying, becoming one of the most active on the track. In 19 days he wrote an indelible page in the history of motor sport. Sunday 28th he will try to complete the task. In any case Nando has already won his challenge with the Indy 500.

We await a sensational weekend. The Monte Carlo Formula One Grand Prix and the 500 miles of Indiapolis.

F1 | Gp Spain, Minardi “Ferrari and Mercedes devastating. Finally true overtaking and close duels”

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The Spanish Grand Prix, the fifth round of the F1 world championship, gave us another exciting race on the edge of hundredths of seconds between Ferrari and Mercedes. Strategies and team tactics played an important role in the final result, just as the overtaking manoeuvres and the close duels did, luckily unpunished by the marshals. The battle at the start was very good, as were Sebastian Vettel’s duels with Bottas first and then with Hamilton. The English champion then took the lead with a great display of force as he also took the fastest lap of the race two laps from the finish and thus claimed the pole, race and fastest lap triple.

Barcelona gave us a very reactive Ferrari that knew how to reply very well to the many changes introduced by Mercedes, managing to reduce the gap even more. The car from Maranello is a strong machine and put together very well that reacts to the developments.

The force of these two teams in regards to the other teams is devastating. Third placed Daniel Ricciardo finished 70 seconds behind and all the others were more than a lap from the winners.

It was a pity that the accident immediately knocked out Kimi Raikonnen, thus forcing his Ferrari team mate to fight alone against the two Mercedes that were able to take advantage of team tactics. Ferrari and Mercedes will go to Monte Carlo close on the two ladders where Fernando Alonso will be missing for his home race after having given a show of his enormous talent taking the McLaren-Honda to seventh spot (a near miracle) and improving his performance in the course of the race up to the final lap. I wish him the best of luck for his adventure in the Indianapolis 500, even though I do not agree with it as the race requires specific preparation.

This weekend we saw important signs of change on the part of Liberty Media. The interviews with the drivers in direct contact with the fans were excellent, as well as the quick reaction to the tears of the very young Kimi Raikonnen fan after the driver’s exit when he was brought to meet his idol in the pits. In forty years of activity I had never seen anything like it.

It was a grand prix that gave us important surprises in the back markers such as the precious points brought home by Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso.

We anxiously await the next chapter.

Gian Carlo Minardi

GT | A very stylish debut by Karol Basz at Imola

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At the Imola circuit Karol Basz made his debut in the Italian GT Championship. At the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport team’s Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup the Polish driver quickly put himself on show with a very stylish debut claiming the pole position with authority and finishing Race-2 in third place after a major comeback together with Japanese co-driver Takashi Kasai and without making any mistakes.

For Karol it was the first outing at the wheel of the powerful supercar from the constructor from Sant’Agata Bolognese and already shows his excellent feeling for the car and with the team from Bologna in view of the next appointments on the calendar.

The final result was compromised in Saturday’s race by a drive through after a jumped start by the driver from Krakow who was in pole, finishing the race in sixth place. A mistake which he quickly redeemed with the podium finish in the second race.

“Pole position and the podium in the first contest with Lamborghini. I am very happy. Without the penalty in race-1 I could even have won the race. Our rhythm for the whole weekend was excellent and this is important. I wish to thank Giovanni Minardi, Alberto Tonti and all the Team Antonelli,” commented an enthusiastic Karol Basz.

“A debut that reflects all Karol’s potential. Pole position and the podium was a great result for the first weekend. It was certainly not unexpected since from the first kilometres he showed an excellent understanding for the Lamborghini and the team. The mistake at the start was a pity, due more than anything else to inexperienced in these races. As he showed in kart, he is not easily beaten,” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

GT | Antonio D’Amico asserts himself at Imola and flies to the head of the table

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At the Imola circuit Antonio D’Amico was one of the major protagonists of the first weekend of the Italian GT Championship. At the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup number 116 of the Vincenzo Sospiri team, the driver from Fiano Romano, together with Riccardo Cazzaniga asserted himself with authority in Race-1 after having set the fourth best qualifying time, just missing out on the podium and the win in the second race.

Taking off from the second row of the grid D’Amico climbed the ladder with a clean race finally reaching the top place before handing over the wheel to his team-mate who held the place until the red flag which signalled the early end of the race due to the accident by Deodati.

In Race-2 Antonio D’Amico confirmed he was the fastest on the track by setting the fastest lap after having taken over the wheel from his team-mate and suffering a 15” pit stop penalty according to the regulations as a consequence of the victory and crossing the finishing line at the end of the 48 minutes + 1 lap of the race, finishing in fourth place with for him meant top place in the championship.

“Driving the Lamborghini was really enjoyable. The weekend was more than positive and gives us the right charge to confront the season in the best way. We are only at the first round and the championship is long but it was great beginning the season with a win and as leader,” commented an excited Antonio D’Amico.

“Antonio was one of Imola’s major protagonists with a clear win in Race-1 and an exceptional performance in Race-2 making his mark with the fastest lap. Without the drive through during Cazzaniga’s stint we could have had a fantastic double. We say goodbye to Imola and prepare for Misano at the top of the table,” was the comment by manager Giovanni Minardi.

Karol Basz is ready for his debut in the Italian GT Championship with Antonelli Motorsport

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This weekend the curtain will rise for Karol Basz in the Italian GT Championship for Marco Antonelli’s team. The highly successful karting champion (2015 World Champion and 2016 Vice Champion) will make his debut on Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit at the wheel of the Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup on the first of seven double appointments in the season calendar.

Having just come from his excellent performance in the first round of the European CIK FIA Championship on the Sarno circuit the driver from Krakow has been called to make a difficult and total debut in which he will have only ninety minutes (two trial sessions of 45’ each) to find a feeling for the car and the track in preparation for the qualifying sessions which will determine the starting grid for the two races of 48’ + 1 lap scheduled for Saturday 29th (12.40pm) and Sunday 30th (3.55pm). In this new challenge Karol will share the wheel of the super car from Sant’Agata Bolognese with the Japanese driver Kasai.

“I don’t know what to expect because it will be a weekend of discovery for me. The Lamborghini Huracan is a fantastic car and I can’t wait to take to the track at its wheel. It will be like the first day at school for me. I will have much to learn and little time available. I want to give special thanks to all those who are helping me,” commented Karol.

“Karol is beginning a new challenge and a new programme that will run parallel to the karting championships. It is an important jump forward for the sporting and professional career of a driver who has already shown all his worth in kart racing where he achieved incredible results. We expect a lot of work but during the days of testing ha has already shown that he has a good feeling for the car and the Antonelli Racing Team,“ said Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Fans will be able to follow the two races in live streaming on ACI Sport’s website (https://www.acisport.it/it/acisport-service/live-streaming) and on RAI.

CIK FIA | Karol Basz just missed out on the podium in the first European race at Sarno

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After the en-plein garnered in the last appointment of the WSK Super Master Series (6 wins in one weekend) Karol Basz returned to the Sarno track for the first round of the European CIK-FIA.

Kosmic Racing’s Polish driver established himself as a great protagonist for the whole weekend solidly winning top positions in the “OK” from the first rounds, closing qualifying with third place overall and reinforced by the four podium finishes in the five rounds raced. As part of group A Karol put together a win, two second places and a third place.

He only missed out on the podium in the final, finishing in fourth place after fines come back and two external overtaking manoeuvres,

“It was a really difficult weekend. Our rhythm was very good but in the Final I Iost time in the first two laps sliding down to sixth place. We’re only in the first round and the championship is still long. We must concentrate on the next appointment,” commented Karol Basz

“In the Final he did very well to make up the lost positions with two excellent external overtaking manoeuvres. The podium was within reach but overall the weekend was very positive. Karol fought all the way for the podium and we will fight for the championship until the end. Now we will concentrate on Imola,” commented managers Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti.

Next weekend Karol Basz will make his debut in the Italian GT Championship at the wheel of the Team Antonelli Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit. The two races will consist of 48’ + 1 lap scheduled for 12.40pm on Saturday April 29th and 3.55pm on Sunday April 30th and will be streamed live on the website of ACI Sport (https://www.acisport.it/it/acisport-service/live-streaming)

Photos by Alex Vernardis & Loredana LRN / The RaceBox

Karol Basz doubles up. He starts the Italian GT Championship with Antonelli Motorsport

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It is a season rich with commitments for Karol Basz who came out of a fantastic weekend at the Sarno circuit in the last round of the WSK Super Master Series and he has already doubled up his on track commitments. On April 30th at Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit the Polish driver who is guided by Minardi Management and already a protagonist of the karting world with the Kosmic Racing Team (2015 world champion and 2016 vice champion) will make his debut in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship at the wheel of the Antonelli Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan Super GT Cup

For Karol it will be a complete debut as he will have to familiarize himself with both the supercar from Sant’Agata Bolognese and the six circuits on the calendar. After the first race at Imola the season will proceed to Misano (June 2-4), Monza (June 16-18), Mugello (July 14-16), Imola (8-10 September) and Mugello (October 6-8). Due to a clash of dates with the Ok world championship in England Karol will miss the second last race at the Vallelunga track.

It was at the Imola track that the driver from Krakow took part in two days of testing at the wheel of the “Lambo” showing constant progress and he already has an excellent feeling for the vehicle and track confirming his place in the highest positions of the table and sharing the driving with the more experienced Kasai.

“I can only say I am satisfied with having reached this agreement with the Antonelli Motorsport team. It will be a completely new experience for me and I have a lot to learn in a very short time. At Imola i managed to run many kilometres always lowering my times, especially on the final day and I must thank all the members of the team. The Lamborghini is a surprising car,” commented an enthusiastic Karol Basz.

“We are truly happy at having reached this objective and to be present for the Italian GT Championship with Karol who naturally will continue the entire programme in the karting world with the Kosmic Racing. It will be a completely new experience for him coming for the kart and having to get to know the team, the car and the circuits. In the two days of testing however he showed his talent and above all his versatility. He only needed a few kilometres to adapt to the driving style needed for the Lamborghini giving excellent results in his times,” was the analysis of managers Alberto Tonti and Giovanni Minardi.

WSK Super Master Series | Karol Basz’s extraordinary weekend at Sarno

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In the Sarno international circuit, the setting for the last appointment of the WSK Super Master Series, Karol Basz made for himself the perfect weekend. There is no other adjective to describe the achievement the Kosmic Racing Team’s Polish driver in the “OK”. Six wins in as many stages, starting with 4 coups in the respective qualifying Heats (with as many fastest laps in the races) that gave him pole in the pre final.

Inserted into Group A the Minardi Management standard bearer carried on his roll, showing cool headedness and determination and a special feeling for the track booking the overall victory by making his also mark in the pre final.

Starting from second place Karol slipped to fourth place but like a power hammer he quickly won back the leadership, leaving to his rivals only the satisfaction of the fastest lap. Thanks to this latest win Karol climbed the final championship ladder finishing the season in second place overall.

This was an excellent calling card in view of the first round of the European CKIK-FIA scheduled for two weeks time on the very same Neapolitan track.

”I dominated the whole weekend with four wins in the Heats and wins in the pre final and the final. We did a good job and we are ready for the first European race,” said a satisfied Karol.

“I am excited by what Karol did today. He is a true kart-hammer. I always said that he was the most complete driver in the karting world and today we had the latest proof. Clear headed and precise in every occasion. He was the protagonist of an exceptional weekend. Everything went perfectly. Well done Karol and well done to everyone in the Kosmic Racing Team. It’s no secret that our objective is both European and world wide,” commented Alberto Tonti.

“Once more he showed he is the driver to beat. I am happy for the weekend, above all in light of the first European race which will be run here at Sarno. It’s no secret that we’re aiming for the European-World double,” commented Giovanni Minardi.