Vroom international november 2017 avxhm se

TR ACK TEST CRG/BRIGGS & STR AT TON

N. 197 NOVEMBER 2017 € 5.00 (ITALY ONLY)

INTERNATIONAL

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

KARTING

WICKED

WHAT A SUCCESS! MORE THAN 400 DRIVERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR THE ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL

Ikart RUBENS BARRICHELLO EMERSON FITTIPALDI RICCARDO & LORENZO PATRESE

SPECIAL LOOKING TO THE FUTURE #2

X-RAY

We tested the last evolution of the 125 TM shifter engine, the KZ10c, on the track

ROTAX FR 125 MAX EVO

X-RAY

TM KZ10C

After the duration test, we took it a part to check if there was any wear inside

Rotax MAX Festival Japan Tickets awarded

CLOSE UP GEORGE RUSSEL XVI EASYKART & KGP INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS A CASTELLETTO

2017

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CRG ROAD REBEL 2017 KZ WORLD CHAMPION WITH PAOLO DE CONTO

14/09/17 16:00

TRACK TEST THE RETURN OF A 100cc

N. 193 JULY 2017 € 5.00

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

GENERATION 2.0

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

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TELEMETRY MAKES PHYSICS MORE INTERESTING, EVEN FOR YOUNG DRIVERS

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ROAD TO NORTH

ENFANT TERRIBLE

CUNAPHOTO.IT

THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRIVERS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT.

AND GET ONE ISSUE FREE!

€ 62 € 93 € 104

TALKING TO KAROL BASZ HELMADE THE NEW VROOM’S HELMET DESIGN PARTNER

EUROPE

Paolo De Conto (CRG-TM) dribbles over curbs and controversies and takes home his third consecutive win that is worth the European title, his third, eighth KZ for CRG and 15th for TM. Pedro Hiltbrand (Tony Kart-Vortex) wins OK again, while Mattia Michelotto (Zanardi-Parilla) wins a hard fought Junior final.

SPECIAL FOOD AND KARTING CIK-FIA KZ, OK, OKJ EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FFSA KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP ROTAX NORDIC CHALLENGE ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE MIZUNAMI SERIES US OPEN / ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE US

RACES

ABOVE ALL DE CONTO

VINTAGE THE BIG ONE 2016 / TERRY FULLERTON CLOSE UP TONY KART & FERRARI DRIVER ACADEMY

N. 185

N. 188 FEBRUARY 2017 € 5.00

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INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

USA AND CANADA

REST OF THE WORLD

NOVEMBER 2016 € 5.00

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KARTING

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20th ANNIVERSARY FOR XERAMIC KART LUBRICANTS

KART SHOW

TALKING TO

BRP-ROTAX MANAGEMENT THOMAS UHR, PETER OELSINGER AND MR. HELMUT VOGLSAM

CLOSE UP MODENA ENGINES BY DANILO ROSSI

The IKA Offenbach Kart Show at its 25th edition is a great success for karting fans and all those involved in karting throughout the world. Once again it satisfied the public even more than satisfying the manufacturers’ needs.

ELECTRIC KARTING NEITHER CYLINDERS NOR PISTONS

X-RAY TM ENGINES "SERIE 10" SPECIAL RACING IN NORTH AMERICA / TONY KART NEWCOMERS

ZOOM PFI INTERNATIONAL KARTING AUSTRALIA RACE FLORIDA WINTER TOUR DUBAI O PLATE ROTAX ASIA INVITATIONAL RACE

ZOOM DIRECT DRIVE E NG INE E VOLUTION/PART II PHOTO MEDIA4U

SPECIAL MAX VERSTAPPEN THE YOUNGEST DRIVER TO WIN F1

BRIGHT SPOTLIGHT FOR MAVLANOV

N. 180 JUNE 2016 € 5.00

For the first time in 17 years a Russian takes home the Senior Max title at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals held in Italy. The Rotax format has once again underlined its success in having a preparatory function.

(ITALY ONLY)

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

PHOTO WAFEPROJECT

OCTOBER 2017 € 5.00

TA L K IN G T O PA O L O D E C O N T O / D I E G O L A RO Q U E PREVIEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN BAHRAIN SPECIAL KZ LOVERS

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

N. 196

ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL RECORD ENTRIES

HOW THINGS STAND FOR THE NEW DIRECT DRIVE CLASS

TELEME...TRICKS DATA ANALYSIS SOFTWARE

N. 177 MARCH 2016 € 5.00

INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

Fantastic!

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TRACK TEST VORTEX DDS AND RKZ

RECLAMING DRIVE

ELECTRIC KART PART 4

HERE COMES THE CHAMPIONSHIP

CLOSE UP

WINTER LEISURE FOR F1 DRIVERS VETTEL, GUTIERREZ AND PEREZ STILL HAVE FUN ON KARTS

ANNUALVINTAGE KART SHOW

TRACK TEST TELEMETRY 60 MINI

TELEME... TRICKS

DRIVER PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS PT.2

TECHNICAL SIDE

THE CIK FIA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IS CONFIRMING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING IN THE HISTORY OF KARTING. After Hajek’s win (Kosmic/Vortex) in Zuera

OFF THE CUFF

VINTAGE

the KZ final is expected to be breathtaking thanks to Ardigò, Hajek and Iglesias being very close. Also the European championship of the new born OK class is more surprising than ever. In Zuera, the final won by Karol Basz (Kosmic/Vortex) has lived memorable moments. The potential on the track at the moment is really fantastic.

We’re going to see some incredible things are in store!

CLOSE UP

vroomgames

LEON RIPPY

LEGENDARY KARTS MASSIMILIANO ORSINI’S 1995 SWISS HUTLESS

MARTA GARCIA / BREANNA MORRIS

The anti-collision bumper as ruled by CIK-FIA is a problem and not a solution

THE SUCCESS OF VIDEOGAMES

N. 190 APRIL 2017 € 5.00 (ITALY ONLY)

INTERNATIONAL

MOMENTS OF GLORY THE WINTER CUP IS A GODSEND. THE NEW ENGINES DRAW ALL THE ATTENTION AT RENOVATED TRACK IN LONATO. IT'S VORTEX DOMAIN AS THEY CONQUER KZ2, OK AND OK JUNIOR PODIUMS. MARCO ARDIGÒ LEAVES HIS MARK WITH A FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE. KZ WHAT A SHOW!

SPECIAL MECHANIC FOR A DAY

N. 189 MARCH 2017 € 5.00

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

INTERNATIONAL

KARTING

TALKING TO Nyck De Vries GARAGE Talking about chassis ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE Muffler - Part I

VINTAGE THE BIG ONE 2017

Lorenzo Travisanutto assisted by Dino Chiesa takes home the Winter Cup as the best OK driver of the moment. After what we saw in KZ and in OK Junior, the fight for CIK-FIA titles is going to be a great success with lots of excitement

VINTAGE VINTAGE KARTING ASSOCIATION REUNION

TO SUBSCRIBE SEND AN E-MAIL TO INFO@VROOM.IT

PHOTO: D. LORENZINI LORETI STUDIO BONAGA

ZOOM Kristianstad

Travisanutto OK!

CIK-FIA World Champions are: Paolo De Conto KZ (CRG-Tm), Danny Keirle OK (Zanardi-Parilla), Dexter Patterson OKJ (Esprit-Tm) and Alex Irlando (Sodikart-Tm) wins the International KZ2 Super Cup

Girl Power: Madeline Steward & Rianna O’Meara-Hunt Vintage: iconic karts / On the technical side: the exhaust - part II

TELEMETRICKS: Thermocouple and values part II Gallery: Historic Passion / Close Up: Germany - Portugal Gift card

R AT H M A N N X T E R M I N AT O R / W O R L D C H A M P I O N 19 6 0

ADVICE FOR KART DRIVERS Changing tyre tools

LEGENDARY KARTS 2001 Kosmic T4

Ikart DANIEL RICCIARDO / CLAUDIO FLENGHI / RONNIE QUINTARELLI / JAMES GEIDEL

RACE Florida Winter Tour Australian Karting Championship Rotax MAX NZ

22 nd WINTER CUP

WORLD CHAMPS

KARTING

PHOTO: LORENZO MORO

PHOTO: D. PASTANELLA

W W W.V R O O M K A RT.C O M

WE TESTED THE TYRES FOR THE ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE, THE ONES USED IN 2016 AND THE NEW 2017 MODEL: THE MOJO D2 AND D3

Soft evolution

WWW.VROOM KART.COM FOR OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENT VISIT WWW.VROOMKART.COM

OKKART Srl Registered office: Via Mozart, 50 - 04011 Aprilia (Italy) info@vroom.it - www.vroom.it

Contents NOVEMBER 2017 / N. 197 COLUMNS

6 ON LINE MONTHLY CONTENTS

Giuliano Ciucci Giuliani (Editor in chief) cggiuliano@vroom.it

8 MONDOKART

FABINA GAVILLUCCI (Executive editor) fgavillucci@vroom.it WALTER GUCCI wgucci@vroom.it ALESSANDRO ROCA aroca@vroom.it MARIA VERRENGIA mverrengia@vroom.it

98 2017 INTERNATIONAL RACING CALENDAR

SPECIAL COLUMNS Maurizio Voltini CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE T. Azuma, E. Barbiani, E. Brigatti, G. Cooper, S. Corradengo, G. Davidson, Fast Media, J. Foulatier, FM Press, L. Hanatscheck, K. Lai, C. McCarthy, M. Melis, L. Moro, Officineinprogress, OTK&MC, D. Paolicelli, F. Weir.

92 LEGENDARY KARTS 94 VINTAGE

CLOSE UP

48 GEORGE RUSSELL

16

TALKING TO

26 RUBENS BARRICHELLO 28 EMERSON FITTIPALDI 54 RICCARDO E LORENZO PATRESE

68

SPECIAL

56 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE – pt. 2

ADVICE FOR KART DRIVERS 64 WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

RACE REPORTS

16 ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINALS SOUTH GARDA KARTING

SUBSCRIPTIONS info@vroom.it

30 EASY KART INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS 7 LAGHI KART

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Europe 62 Euro USA, Canada 93 Euro Rest of the world 104 Euro

36 DKM – SOUTH GARDA KARTING 40 RACE OF STARS – XTREME KARTING PIMPAMA

44

BACKDATED ISSUES: 5 Euro per copy

44 ROTAX MAX FESTIVAL JAPAN FESTIKA MIZUNAMI CIRCUIT

X-RAY

68 ROTAX FR 125 MAX EVO

PRINTERS: GMG GRAFICA srl via Anagnina, 361 - 00188 Roma - Italy on behalf of Grafiche Professionali via Sequals, 4 - 00188 Roma - Italy

76 TM KZ10c

TRACK TEST

86 CRG/BRIGGS & STRATTON

Registered at Law-court in Latina N°714 date: 19.10.2000 © Copyright 2000 – all rights reserved.

92

RESPONSIBILITY: Unauthorized repro-

duction wholly or in part of texts and graphic material and translations of the same is forbidden unless prior authorisation has been given by publisher. All reports and illustrations received as contributions by the publisher will not be returned even if these are not published, and the magazine assumes no responsibility for their safety, even in case of rare examples. Neither dvoes the magazine assume any responsibility for articles published therein or any errors contained. All articles published are without patent right; furthermore articles bearing a registered trade mark will be used at contributors risk.

4 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

48

www.vroomkart.com

info@vroom.it

www.facebook.com/vroomkart

twitter.com/vroomkart

Change YOUR way of perceiving THE RENTAL KART Offer your customers a higher driving experience and the opportunity of taking part to the Rental Kart World Contest

CRG CENTURION has the CE safety and quality certification

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21/06/17 18:35

Online contents News move fast, that’s why our website is constantly updated. Here is a list of a part of our articles posted on web: www.vroomkart.it info@vroom.it www.facebook.com/vroomkart twitter.com/vroomkart www.instagram.com/vroomkart/

SPECIAL

1. Thonon and his second career as coach driver “I learnt to believe in fate” - Jonathan Thonon tells exclusively to Vroom his first year as a full time coach driver.

SPECIAL

2. Paolo De Conto tests the Lamborghini Huracan SuperTrofeo - Paolo De Conto has tested the Lamborghini Huracan Supertrofeo of Team Antonelli, in a test prize promised and given by his dad after the World Championship won by Paolo.

SPECIAL

5. Forza Racing confirms its Junior drivers in OK - Christopher Lulham, Dexter Patterson and Jonny Edgar will move to OK class next year.

6 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

SPECIAL

3. BirelART confirms Kremers, Coluccio and Longhi for 2018 - The team based in Lissone discloses the first three drivers for the next season.

RACE REPORT

6. 46th Trofeo delle Industrie, South Garda Karting - October 29th 2017 - The victory of the 46th Trofeo delle Industrie went to Longhi (KZ2, BirelArt, BirelArt), Lulham (OK, Forza Racing, Exprit), Patterson (OKJ, Forza Racing, Exprit), Bedrin (60 Mini, Baby Race, Tony Kart).

SPECIAL

4. Red Bull Juniors Doohan and Hauger confirmed for 2018 British F4 campaign Arden has announced two of its drivers for next year’s F4 British Championship with Red Bull Junior Team members Jack Doohan and Dennis Hauger to race with the squad.

RACE REPORT

7. Rotax Max Festival Japan, Mizunami Circuit - October 8th 2017 - The Annual Rotax Max Festival Japan was held on October 7th & 8th at Mizunami Circuit.

A total of 226 participants from the whole Japan as well as International drivers gathered for this final show time.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS

RKZ

DDS

Vortex engines for OK and KZ2 winners of the 2017 CIK-FIA European Championship.

OK European Champion 2017

KZ2 European Champion 2017

vor tex-e ngine s.com

VORTEX ENGINES BY OTK KART GROUP

02_2017_vortex_dds-rkz_vroom_eng.indd 1

04/08/2017 16:15:07

Mondokart NEWS & PREVIEWS

ANDREA ROSSO JOINS CRG

Italian driver Andrea Rosso debutted in OK with CRG at the Trofeo delle Industrie, before competing in the two WSK Final Cup races.

CRG Racing Team is pleased to announce the collaboration agreement with Andrea Rosso, who will join the team for the last meetings of the season, making his debut in the OK class. The young Italian driver, born in 2003, will take the field with CRG colours on October 29th at the Industries Trophy in Lonato, then he will race the 2 rounds of the WSK Final Cup in Adria.

The agreement between the parties includes an option for continuing the collaboration in 2018. Andrea Rosso comes from a positive season in OK Junior where he conquered several important results, like the WSK Master Series title and the victory at the Margutti Trophy.

Now he aims to end the season in the best way with the CRG team, especially making experience in the hardest OK class, in view of 2018 when he will make all the international programme in this category. This is how the driver from Piemonte comments this new experience: “I am very happy to start this new adventure with CRG, one of the most important and winning factories in international karting, that always follows his drivers in the best way, both from the technical and formative point of view. The goal for this end of the season will be working well together with the technical staff and gain confidence with their working methods. I also hope to reach some positive results and that can lay the foundations for continuing our collaboration in 2018.”

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

2018 BNL ROUND 1 Karting Genk Belgium 14-15 april 2018

BNL ROUND 1 Karting Genk Belgium 6-7 october 2018

BNL ROUND 2 Ostricourt France 30 june-1 july 2018

THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES RUN BY THE HOME OF CHAMPIONS, THE CIRCUIT OF GENK, RELEASED ITS 2018 CALENDAR.

Another thrilling season will start in 2018 and as usual the series will run mainly on the famous track of Genk, that will also be the stage for the 2017 KZ World Championship. Drivers will fight for RMCGF tickets on a threerounds championship.

Round 1 April 14th-15th - Genk Circuit (BEL) Round 2 June 30th-July 1st – Ostricourt (FRA) All info & registrations Round 3 October 6th-7th -+100 Genk Circuit (BEL) 60 Discover us on

facebook.com/RotaxMaxChallengeBelgium

instagram.com/bmc_bnl_maxchallenge youtube.com/BNLKartingSeries

www.bnlkartingseries.com Registration starts January 2018

+18

2018 BNL KARTING SERIES CALENDAR

CIRCUIT CAMERAS

GRAND FINAL TICKETS TO WIN

MEMBERS ARE READY FOR YOU

STRONG COMPETITORS EVERY RACE AGAIN

Damstraat 1 3600 Genk +32 (0)89 65 81 82 info@bnlkartingseries.com www.bnlkartingseries.com

8 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

SAMI TAOUFIK IS THE 2017 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Sami Taoufik will receive the 2017 Rookie of the Year award at the CIKFIA Prize Giving ceremony on 2nd December in Milan.

To accompany the one-year lowering of the age of the OK category introduced in 2017, the CIK-FIA has decided to set up a specific classification for Drivers who have not yet reached the age of 16, participating in the CIK-FIA World Championship and the CIKFIA European Championship. 51 Drivers met this criteria this season and Moroccan Sami Taoufik won the title of Rookie of the Year for 2017.

An internationally acclaimed category, OK is the benchmark for direct-drive karts. The most experienced Drivers, including a few professionals and several former World Champions or European Champions, compete throughout the season against young talents straight from the OK-Junior category. The CIK-FIA created the title of Rookie of the Year to highlight these Drivers who are discovering the OK category. The results of 2017 showed that the young people were often able to shine at the front of the biggest Competitions against their elders.

Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex / LeCont) scored the highest number of points (120) to become the 2017 Rookie of the Year ahead of the Spaniard David Vidales Ajenjo (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) with 118 points and the Russian Pavel Bulantsev (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) with 112 points.

two

www.ricciardokart.com

Our

/Ricciardokart @ricciardokart

successful

@ricciardo_kart

brands! /BirelART @BirelART @Birel_ART

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Via San Michele del Carso, 40 - Lissone (MB) - Italy - Tel. +39 039 483440 - Fax +39 039 461232 - info@birelart.com - www.birelart.com

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03/10/17 08:22

Mondokart NEWS & PREVIEWS

ROTAX ANNOUNCES THE NEW EURO TROPHY

After 15 years of promoting and organising the Rotax International events such as the Euro Challenge, Winter Cup and International Open, RGMMC and BRP-Rotax have decided not to proceed with the 2018 International events in collaboration.

BRP-Rotax, the manufacturer of Rotax kart engines located in Austria, and Camp Company GmbH, race organizer (RMC Germany) established in Germany, are pleased to announce their collaboration in organizing and promoting an international Rotax race series in Europe. The Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy* which will run with four events planned in 2018.

“We are happy to have Camp Company who is specialized in organizing various motor racing series – including time keeping, race control and live streaming – on board”, said Peter Oelsinger, Vice Presi- dent Rotax Propulsion Systems and Finance. “We are confident that the

Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy will be the major karting event on European level and we are looking forward to continue our success in the Rotax MAX Challenge.”

The new 3-day-format of the Rotax Challenge Euro Trophy 2018 will follow the demad of the market with shorter duration (three days) of Rotax kart racing events and with a limited number of tyre sets for practice and racing (one set for free practice, two sets for racing).

A total of nine Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals tickets will be awarded to the best racers of the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy in 2018.

The locations for the Rotax MAX Chal-

lenge Euro Trophy in 2018 are already fixed: April

20-22, 2018 – Genk (Belgium) J une 8-10, 2018 – Kristianstad (Sweden) A ugust 10-12, 2018 – Bruck a. d.

Leitha (Austria) S eptember 28-30, 2018 – Wackersdorf (Germany) “We are excited to offer the Rotax MAX Challenge Euro Trophy in 2018 and we are promising our customers a well organized high level racing series on European ground,” said Meik Wagner, CEO of Camp Company.

KART REPUBLIC: DINO CHIESA’S NEW PROJECT ON THE OCCASION OF THE IAME INTERNATIONAL FINALS AT LE MANS, DINO CHIESA REVEALED HIS NEW PROJECT AFTER THE ZANARDI ERA.

A new project for the Italian manager in partnership with Breda Racing Srl (mainly known for car racing components than karts), which makes and

10 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

homologates chassis.

“Our history will always be Chiesa Corse, but we are now Kart Republic” Chiesa wrote on Facebook, a huge step forward has been made.

The chassis displayed at Le Mans was

only a prototype, the definitive one will be presented at the end of homologations.

For the moment we can only say that the livery and the colours choosen for this new brand are quite unconventional and it perfectly fits the concept of KR.

Mondokart NEWS & PREVIEWS

LAS VEGAS STRIP IS HOME TO THE SUPERKARTS!

USA SUPERNATIONALS 21 CIRCUIT INDUSTRY VETERANS LAY OUT TRACK FOR NEW LOCATION OUTSIDE WESTGATE HOTEL & LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER

Sodikart grabs another international title French driver Vincent Fraisse doubles the IAME International Final win after the one he took in 2015.

Sodikart continues its amazing winning period: after the CIK-FIA Int. KZ2 Super Cup won by Alex Irlando and the CIK-FIA Endurance championship won by the Rouen GSK 1 team, French chassis manufacturer takes home another title in the X30 International Finals disputed at Le Mans. Once again the driver who took home the win in the X30 Super class is Vincent Fraisse, already a winner in 2015.

“It was a really tough race – says Vincent Fraisse, X30 Senior winner - I had a problem during the qualifying session and I slipped back to 18th. I managed to recover during heats and I started the final from grid 6. After the start I lost some positions, so was 200 % concentrate to come back, overtake the drivers in front and cross the line first, and I did it! Recovering from P18 to P1 against OK drivers in Super was amazing…! Next year I’ll remain with Sodikart, but I still don’t know in which series.”

RGMMC AND BRP-ROTAX MUTUALLY AGREED ENDING OF COLLABORATION After 15 years of promoting and organising the Rotax International events such as the Euro Challenge, Winter Cup and International Open, RGMMC and BRP-Rotax have decided not to proceed with the 2018 International events in collaboration.

Both companies would like to thank everyone involved over the last 15 years; together the two compa- nies have made history in the world of karting, successfully leading the market for multiple years.

For all those who have taken part in any Rotax events organised by RGMMC over the last 15 years we thank you for being part of the success.

RGMMC will continue to proceed in the organisation, promotion and development of motorsport events.

12 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

BIRELART CONFIRMS KREMERS, COLUCCIO AND LONGHI FOR 2018

The team based in Lissone says who the first three drivers for the next season are.

Birel ART Racing and Ricciardo Kart Racing are now working to define the line-up for 2018, but among others they confirmed, Marijn Kremers in KZ1 and in OK, Riccardo Longhi in KZ2 and Luigi Coluccio in OKJ. New drivers will be officially announced shortly.

Felice Tiene is no longer a Birel ART Racing driver. The team thanks him for being a member of the Team in KZ this year and wishes him all the best for his next adventure.

TEMECULA, CA (October 17, 2017) – The Superkarts! USA SuperNationals has 20 years of history surrounding the bright lights of Las Vegas – from the ‘X-Plex’ to the Rio to Sam Boyd Stadium to the lots outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. The LVCC ‘Gold’ lot was home to the SuperNationals in 2015 and 2016. 2017 brings new racing turf as the event moves to the LVCC ‘Diamond’ lot, directly adjacent to the Westgate. The shift to the 1.25 million square foot space offers the opportunity for SKUSA to create a new track layout for the 21st running of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals, set for November 15-19. One of the main features is that portions of the track are now directly next to the famous Las Vegas Strip.

The circuit for the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 21 measures out to roughly 8/10 of a mile in length with 14 turns. The only similar portion to last year’s track is the long front straight that leads into the fast, sweeping opening corner, followed by two 180-degree turns. The rest is all new, with a few sweeping corners, more hairpins, and a number of tight turns to challenge all the categories set to compete at SuperNationals 21.

“We had a bigger canvas to work with this year,” stated Idelson. “The surface looks like a dream, and I think it will make some serious grip. Wes, Bonnier and I threw ideas around to each other over email, then we all met up on-site to make measurements and verify the concept.

We wanted to keep a few of the cool elements from last year that people seemed to like – as well as address the feedback on areas that they didn’t. Now we have some longer runs into harder braking areas to make more passing zones. We’ve added another 180 to the ‘Stadium’ section, which will be really exciting for both racers and spectators. I’m really proud of what we’ve come up with.

I can’t wait to drive on it!”

Mondokart NEWS & PREVIEWS

TONY KART RACING TEAM ENGAGED IN THE FERRARI WORLD FINALS 2017 AT MUGELLO

On the last week of October the Mugello circuit was the scenario of the Ferrari world, with the World Finals. Other than the racing events, the Ferrari World Finals were the occasion to celebrate the 70th year of Ferrari history.

In this unique location, very well known worldwide, the Tony Kart Racing Team attended all track activities as partnership

of the Ferrari Driver Academy.

On the karting track (“Mugellino”), beside the Italian circuit paddock, FDA drivers made their performance, Fuoco, Zhou, Alesi, Ilott, Armstrong and Fittipaldi, together with other experienced Ferrari drivers, currently engaged in the GT championships, such as Fisichella, Bird, Bertolini, Molina, Rigon, Pierguidi and Riberas.

During the event also our OK and OKJ drivers, David Vidales, Gianluca Petecof and Viktor Gustavsson showed off, together with the youngest talented Mini driver, Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The show ended in a thrilling KZ challenge amongst FDA drivers, won by Antonio Fuoco, preceding Marcus Armstrong and Callum Ilott.

X30 ASIA FINALS: THAILAND AWAITS The Bira Kart Circuit in Thailand will host the Iame X30 Asia Finals, The region’s definitive X30 race comes to Thailand – discover a brand new race on a brand new circuit!

Details on affordable logistics from Singapore and Malaysia are in their final stages of confirmation. Stay tuned to www.x30sea. com and www.facebook.com/x30sea for more news and updates.

14 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

HERÓIS

KARTING DO

LIVE TV BROADCAST STARTS

RACE TV: WWW.ROTAX-KART.COM DAY

MONTH

YEAR

PORTIMAO/PORTUGAL NOV. 4-11, 2017

www.rotax-kart.com

© 2017 BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG. All rights reserved.

BRP - GF 2017 inserat vroom live TV broadcast RZ.indd 1

®

and TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

14.09.17 11:07

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL South Garda Circuit, Lonato, Brescia (I), 14th October 2017 – XV edition

16 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

WICKED

D’Abramo (Super Rok), Albanese (Shifter Rok), and Bosco (Junior Rok) dominate the Rok international final. Shame that Cicognini got caught up in a pile up at the last turn while he was leading the Senior Rok. And as usual Italian karting is once again the best as far as excitement and dedition is concerned WORDS S. CORRADENGO - PCS UFF. STAMPA OTK - E. BRIGATTI

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 17

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL

Shifter Rok Federico Squaranti (498)

Above, the huge prize giving ceremony went underway after the finals on Saturday afternoon.

Right, Domenico Cicognini pushes his kart after the crash that resets to zero his hope of victory.

Opposite page, 2017 winners from left to right: Mila (Senior), Bosco (Junior), Albanese (Shifter), Zilisch (Mini) and D’Abramo (Super).

A

s expected, another fantastic year for the Rok Cup International Final that was hosted at the South Garda Karting in Lonato. This fifteenth edition is a record edition, lots of entries from all over the world to vouch for the importance of this Vortex acknowledged brand trophy.

415 entries, nearly fifty different countries being represented, a real date for international karting. Five classes and just as many International Champions starting from: Connor Zilish (Mini Rok), Luca Bosco (Junior Rok), Bartosz Mila (Senior Rok), Mattia D’Abramo (Super Rok) and Danilo Albanese (Shifter Rok).

The show was on right from the free pratice on Thursday, not just for the drivers (162 in the Mini class), but mainly for the high level racing seen.

All sessions were hard fought and very close driving from the first to the last point. The level is indisputable and it’s confirmed by the presence of well-known names from the international motorsport field. As has already happened, the paddock 18 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

of the South Garda Karting, turned out to be an authentic lagoon of ex F1 drivers such as Ralf Schumacher, constantly leading the KSM team, but also Luca Badoer and Jarno Trulli both busy with their kids in the Mini Rok, same applies to the twice world F1 World Champion, Emerson Fittipaldi, with his son Emmo. Last but not least, Rubens Barrichello was here as a father with his sons Eduardo and Fernando who raced in the Junior class and as a driver; he took part in the Shifter Rok for the second season running.

Important figures who honour the Italian karting tradition, which is acknowledged as the best for its love for motoring sports and its dedition. As for the racing, you could feel an atmosphere of tension and concentration in the paddock area just before the finals. We saw some exciting racing with lots of surprises, and close duels in all five classes.

Wins that tell us about weekends developed and improved in different ways, we saw absolute wins, like

Bosco’s, D’Abramo’s and Albanese’s to wins that made you hold your breath to the very end, an exciting Senior Rok won by Mila, but ended with Zilish “being rewarded” due to a penalty for his front spoiler out of place nella Mini. A fantastic show all four racing days, the drivers presetation on the starting straight was a crown jewel. A unique event, “Olympic” style seeing the number of driver from all over the world. A show that later ended with the usual prize giving ceremony in the presence of an exceptional guest, Marco Ardigò who has been title winner more times over.

«WE HAVE WORKED HARD ALSO OFF THE TRACK AND I’M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE PROVED THAT I COULD DO IT. I OWE IT ALL TO ALESSANDRO AND MY MOTHER. IT’S THE GREATEST WIN, I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.» LUCA BOSCO

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 19

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL

RACE

Mini Rok – As expected, the class for younger drivers rewarded the public with great excitement. Lots of “mini rokkers” challenged each other over the weekend, from start to finish. During qualifiers, Italy was leading with a very fast Filippo Gallo mattador of direct duels and after on pole for the final. Tymoteus Kucharczyk is on row one start too, followed by Nikita Bedrin and Jacopo Cimenes. In true Mini style, we watched some exciting driving as from the first lap with Gallo out with a technical problem and he had to say goodbye to his dream of victory. So up comes the ace of the Baby Race, Nikita Bedrin, who sets the pace, behind him follow a brilliant pair PasiewiczZilish. The show was on, lots of place swapping and overtaking to the last turn, an actual key episode of the race. Karol Pasiewicz is thrilled, he’s first over the line, but the excitment didn’t last it was dampened by the stewards’ decision, 5 second penalty for front bumper out of place. Hoax for the Pole and great joy for final winner Connor Zilish. Afterwards, the first American to take home the Trophy said: “I’m proud of being

part of my team and for the American team.

I think that having raced in Lonato before the world championship really helped me to do better in the Rok, I used my head”. Nikita Bedrin is on podium for the Baby Race and Filippo Croccolino, ASD Revolution Motosport get podium too.

Junior Rok – “Alessandro Manetti’s treat-

ment” works well, Luca Bosco is the proof in Baby Race. A very good season marked by continuous growth and satisfaction with excellent results. An impeccable weekend for this Italian driver, constant and very fast, he left hardly any chance for his rivals. Everything went well as from heats with four wins out of five and a second place. A great

“I’M PROUD OF BEING PART OF MY TEAM AND FOR THE AMERICAN TEAM. I THINK THAT HAVING RACED IN LONATO BEFORE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REALLY HELPED ME TO DO BETTER IN THE ROK, I USED MY HEAD”. CONNOR ZILISCH MINI ROK FINAL P N Driver 1 654 Zilisch Connor 2 516 Bedrin Nikita 3 533 Croccolino Filippo 4 586 Mars Luca 5 545 Dunne Alex 6 631 Stenshorne Martinius 7 645 Wharton James 8 599 Pasiewicz Karol 9 609 Protasiewicz Piotr 10 512 Barbieri Andrea 11 570 Johnson Nikita 12 629 Spina Alfio 13 627 Soldatov Maksim 14 573 Kucharczyk Tymoteus 15 549 Filaferro Andrea 16 605 Popov Maksimilian 17 525 Cenedese Alessandro 18 566 Iancu Alexandru 19 590 Mazzola Rocco 20 642 Variawa Saood

Equipement Energy / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Righetti Ridolfi / Vortex / Bridgestone Energy / Vortex / Bridgestone Exprit / Vortex / Bridgestone Parolin / Vortex / Bridgestone Parolin / Vortex / Bridgestone Energy / Vortex / Bridgestone Birel / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone Parolin / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone Energy / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone Birel / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Top Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone

Gap 12 Laps 0.151 0.322 0.720 1.344 2.103 3.471 4.857 5.280 5.554 5.709 6.632 7.010 7.692 7.802 8.142 8.272 8.317 8.686 8.733

JUNIOR ROK FINAL P N Driver 1 114 Bosco Luca 2 116 Caglioni Leonardo 3 188 Sabella Francesco 4 181 Pizzi Francesco Raffaele 5 137 Feeney Broc 6 111 Bizzozero Gabrio 7 146 Grinbergas Gustas 8 135 Famularo Alessandro Josè 9 170 Morgatto Matheus 10 119 Cecchi Federico 11 151 Janicki Adrian 12 110 Bianchi Luca 13 136 Famularo Anthony Josè 14 196 Visser Charl 15 109 Bernardi Alberto 16 195 Villa Edoardo Ludovico 17 126 Cordera Davide 18 167 Moncini Leonardo 19 177 Perez De Arce Maria Jose 20 106 Barrichello Eduardo

Equipement Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Exprit / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Fa / Vortex / Bridgestone Birelart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Parolin / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tonykart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tb Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Fa / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone

Gap 16 Laps 0.966 1.190 3.078 3.298 4.480 6.128 6.177 6.688 7.866 9.129 11.390 12.577 13.508 14.028 14.287 14.327 16.333 16.842 16.936

THE NEXT MEETING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ROK CUP F 20 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

Left Luca Bosco on grid first, ready to dominate the Junior Rok final crossing the line on P1.

Above, early phases of the youngest drivers.

Opposite top, Mini Rok podium with Zilisch 1st, Bedrin 2nd and Croccolino 3rd.

P FINALS, IS NEXT YEAR AT ITS SIXTEENTH EDITION. VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 21

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL

visiting card for trying to aim for the number one spot in the Junior Rok final. A race that has Gara che ha condensed all of Bosco’s weekend, it can be described by just one word: dominion. Absolutely fantastic from start to lap 16 and last lap, a well deserved win and international title, no doubt about it.

«We have worked hard also off the track and I’m very happy to have proved that I could do it. I owe it all to Alessandro and my mother. It’s the greatest win, I will never forget it.»

An all Italian podium with Leonardo Caglioni and Francesco Sabella in second and third place. Close duel between Francesco Pizzi, fourth, and Broc Feeney, fifth, to the last braking point.

Senior Rok – A fight for the lead that didn’t end well, this is the most appropriate synthesis for the Senior Rok. After the exitement of the competition of the Polish team, it seemed that the title was there ready for the getting after direct duels. First and second end up wth same points in final, Macieij Szyszko and Kacper Szczurek, with three wins and a second place each. Italian colours held high by a third protagonist, Domenico Cicognini, who managed to grab third. Excellent prospectives for a breathtaking race, which is what it turned out to

be as from a few laps from the lights. Szyszko presses hard during the first half of the race, behind him Cicognini gains places. He didn’t start too well and has to work hard to catch up with the Pole. There’s lots of place swapping, a great duel right to the end.

They swap places several times with the Italian in the lead on last lap. A challenge that, allowed Michael Müller to get back into the fight at the last turn. The key event of the race, a suicidal entry from the Swiss (who later got a ten-second penalty) at the turn that led out onto the straight. Contact is inevitable with Szyszko, who crashed into Cicognini, out just before the end. Bad luck, that’s the risk of motorsport, so Bartosz Mila got the win passing from fourth to first place round a turn.

After the start was far back from the leaders – said Mila – I was fast and constant and managed to climb up, then due to the fight among the leaders I managed to get in for fight for podium.» second and third place go to Kacper Szczurek and Danny Carenini, with Cristian Comanducci and Alessandro Di Cori coming up to complete the top five.

Super Rok - Another joy for BM Racing is represented by Italian driver Mattia D’Abramo. In the lead throughout the week-

MINI ROK VORTEX, JUNIOR ROK BRIDGESTONE, SENIOR ROK OMP TROPHY

THE SHOW IS ALSO ON IN THE TROPHY EVENTS BEFORE THE FINALS, CRISTIAN BERTUCA TRIUMPHS IN MINI CLASS, ENZO PEUGEOT IN JUNIOR AND ANDERS GAJCZYK IN SENIOR. 22 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

Left Danilo Albanese (#400) leading alone the Shifter Rok. Opposite page, the contact that forced Domenico Cicognini to leave the fight with just one turn to the title. Crash started from Michael Müller who was trying to overtake Szymon Szyszko.

SENIOR ROK FINAL P N Driver 1 250 Mila Bartosz 2 271 Szczurek Kacper 3 209 Carenini Danny 4 212 Comanducci Cristian 5 219 Di Cori Alessandro 6 273 Szyszko Szymon 7 266 Sella Anderson 8 222 Eves Braden 9 254 Müller Michael 10 251 Mira Stefano 11 214 Costantini Alessio 12 238 Leist Arthur 13 272 Szyszko Maciej 14 218 De Marco Davide 15 245 Marchesan Damiano 16 284 Martinello Riccardo 17 237 Lazzaroni Filippo 18 226 Funda Marcus 19 270 Suarez Gustavo 20 239 Lejko Igor

Equipement Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Vemmekart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony-Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Maranello / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tbkart / Vortex / Bridgestone Sodi / Vortex / Bridgestone FA / Vortex / Bridgestone Tont Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone

Gap 20 Laps 0.801 1.903 2.243 2.674 4.372 4.946 10.201 10.343 10.489 10.650 10.675 10.927 12.940 13.767 14.724 17.483 17.562 17.881 18.495

SHIFTER ROK FINAL P N Driver 1 400 Albanese Danilo 2 423 Marcon Nicola 3 438 Squaranti Federico 4 443 Zani Cristopher 5 407 Cinti Riccardo 6 439 Tonoli Andrea 7 408 Comanducci Francesco 8 427 Mazzucchelli Matteo 9 405 Buran Alessandro 10 409 Dante Massimo 11 421 Korbela Lukas 12 422 Luyet Samuel 13 432 Ramirez Mathias 14 419 Kobayashi Ikkei 15 430 Pagani Marco 16 413 Grzyb Michal 17 418 Imberti Michele 18 435 Seravalle Antonio 19 442 Wojcik Filip 20 428 Meyuhas Roee

Equipement Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Fa / Vortex / Bridgestone Brm / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Maranello / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Pcr / Vortex / Bridgestone Pcr / Vortex / Bridgestone Maranello / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Birel Art / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Crg / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Righetti Ridolfi / Vortex / Bridgestone

Gap 20 Laps 1.144 1.632 2.401 3.326 5.396 5.632 6.572 7.682 7.820 10.337 10.540 10.731 12.339 12.979 13.874 14.485 16.881 17.536 17.772

SUPER ROK FINAL P N Driver 1 308 D'Abramo Mattia 2 327 Russo Vittorio 3 310 Gagliano' Giuseppe 4 303 Boyd Sebastian 5 304 Brigatti Alessandro 6 318 Mazzotti Simone 7 306 Chiari Matteo 8 332 Weibel Samuel 9 315 Lanz Fabienne 10 311 Galbiati Daniele 11 301 Boldoni Fabrizio 12 323 Nyberg Tobias 13 330 Varrone Nicolas 14 300 Bielefeldt Peter 15 326 Piñeiro Lautaro 16 305 Cepeda Ulises 17 307 Coetzee Jason 18 313 Karlshøj Lasse 19 329 Sorensen Scott 20 312 Henry Smith Kyle

Equipement Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tonykart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Exprit / Vortex / Bridgestone Ipkarting / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Fa Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Kosmic / Vortex / Bridgestone Pcr / Vortex / Bridgestone

Gap 20 Laps 2.494 5.271 5.657 6.165 6.293 8.576 9.584 9.658 10.493 13.185 13.774 14.259 14.485 15.344 16.542 16.678 18.026 19.820 28.650

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 23

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL

SUPER ROK D'ABRAMO (308) AND RUSSO (327) PULLING AWAY end, two wins out of three in qualifying heats and a second place, which gave him pole start for final.

He was fast from the start and left hardly anything for his rivals. The only one who managed to bother him was Vittorio Russo, who held on to his hopes of winning for most of the race. Hopes that vanish with the pace stopped by a very fast D’Abramo, who managed to pull a two and a half secon gap from his rival. «I realised I could win the race immediately after MATTIA D’ABRAMO the heats because no one managed to keep up with me. I’m really happy for this win, it repays for all my hard work.»

Third place goes to Giuseppe Gaglianò, a real mattador. With the first two places settled, the New Technology driver fought hard took his rivals one by one and managed to get a well deserved third place. Fourth and fifth place go to Sebastian Boyd and Alessandro Brigatti, a worthy note goes to Fabienne Lanz nineth on the scoreboard.

«I REALISED I COULD WIN THE RACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HEATS BECAUSE NO ONE MANAGED TO KEEP UP WITH ME. I’M REALLY HAPPY FOR THIS WIN, IT REPAYS FOR ALL MY HARD WORK.»

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Shifter Rok – All Italian dominance in the Shifter class, ten in the first ten final places. Squaranti storms off to lead at the lights. The Rok Italy Champion had to given to a fantastic Danilo Albanese.

Once in the lead, he just had to keep the situation under control till the chequered flag. A well deserved triumph, which is worth the record of three wins in three different classes, Senior, Super and now Shifter. This is what the champ had to say after the race: «I practiced and prepared for this Rok very well. The weekend was off to a good start as from the heats, I was up front in second place, but I managed to overtake and keep the lead to the flag.»

Behind the three-times champion, Nicola Marcon puts in a good wekend racing, duelling with Federico Squaranti who was third. Zani and Cinti also finish in the top five, a mention goes to Rubens Barrichello’s great weekend, he’s the guest start for the second year running. The former Ferrari driver is nearly always up with the top ten, he didn’t manage to finish the final as he was involved in a crash just when he was fighting to stay up with the top ten. Also Noah Millel is out in the early phases of the race.

Ikart RUBENS BARRICHELL O

The Barrichellos, a racing family Rubens Barrichello, special guest at the15th edition of the ROK Cup International Final, made the Italian weekend even more exciting. WORDS: SIMONE CORRADENGO

A

lso for this edition of the Rok Cup International final the paddock changed into a branch of the ex F1 paddock. There were lots of important names like Emerson Fittipaldi, Luca Badoer, Jarno Trulli, Ralf Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. It was the Brazilian who honoured the weekend of the International Rok Final by taking part in the Shifter Rok class. Quite a normal participation for the green-gold, together with the young Eduardo and Fernando Barrichello.

Rubens, this is your second year at the ROK, what do you think of this class, how do you find it?

«It’s quite good, I think that the level is very high and especially the ROK, it’s raced all over the world. It’s a good class, my lads and I often race in the ROK America series. I’m very happy to be at the International Final.”

His love for Italy is renown and the response he gets from his fans here, always present to cheer the ex Ferrari driver on.

Barrichello defended himself well over the weekend starting from qualifiers, hewas 22nd in time practice out of 43 “rokkers”.

Qualifying heats weren’t bad where he took second, something went wrong on heat two where he was penalised for having his front spoiler out of place. The 45 year-old from

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Sao Paolo, Brazil was then protagonist in the Shifter Rok final too, he come up from 15th to join the top ten for a good part of the race. A race that ended beforetime due to a contact that knocked out the star of the event, readily supported by his fans there.

Fernando, they too present for the second time running on the starting grid of the International Rok Cup Final, both in Junior Rok. What do you think of this weekend for the kids, are they better now than in the past?

the rear.»

If the two brothers follow in their father’s footsteps, as Rubens himself says, this is yet to be seen, one thing is sure the motorsport tradition is handed down and supported in the most “affectionate” way.

Furthermore, Barrichello lingers on the on-board lap that he did next to Eduardo and his reaction in the cockpit.

Rubens, how does it feel to race with your kids, or even as their “passenger?”

«At that moment, I felt an immense joy, and excitement.

He’s only fifteen, still a child, but he was driving like a professional driver. A 500 hp stock car ... he used the gears well, ecc. Sitting there next to him, I started thinking about my father, about my life when I started racing… a shiver ran through me, I was quite

ROK IS A GOOD CLASS, MY LADS AND I OFTEN RACE IN THE ROK AMERICA SERIES. I’M VERY HAPPY TO BE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FINAL Rubens who is constant presence in top racing events, has a great love for karting, one that has probably never ended. Just think of the CIK-FIA KZ world championship raced raced in Kristianstad last season.

The real extra kick for this rediscovered kart driver is his second youth, which he’s living with his sons Eduardo and

«Eduardo has quite a lot of driving experience, some results could have been better, but he’s got some good results in heats, an eighth and a sixth place, we can say that he’s always competitive. Instead, Fernando is only twelve, he’s doing very well in the Junior class, even if he suffered technical problems in qualifiers and had to start from

moved. The most important thing for me is that if they do become racing drivers it’s because they really want to do so, otherwise for me anything else is fine.”

Words spoken as a father and a driver, two “professions” that Rubens Barrichello has, yet again, always carried out in the best of ways.

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Ikart EMERSON FIT TIPALDI

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70 & still loves karting...

From his success in the second F1 World Championship in 1974 to the recent International Rok Cup Final held in Lonato, Emerson Fittipaldi is someone who just can’t stay away from karting circuits. WORDS: A. GIUSTINI PICS: US OTK

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avaglià, 16th September 2016. On a warm Italian Friday at the end of Summer, his adventure as a father started – Emerson Fittipaldi acts as a mentor at the “Le Sirene” circuit in Vive-

500 miles aside. From then on, in fact, this great champion seems to go back to his debut in karting and to the national title that the Brazilian won in 1965: the first note of a long and winning career.

Emerson himself defined as the “home of world Karting.”

So, a warm weekend in Biella enshrined two important starts: the one as an excellent coach driver in Europe of the Paolista legend and the Euro-

rone. A race for his son Emmo is on schedule, it is necessary to make him stay in contact with the “real” way seeing the imminent International Rok final coming up. What distinguishes Fittipaldi from any other parent is a big ring with a chequered flag surrounded by diamonds that he wears on his right ring finger. It’s the Indy 500 Winner’s Ring, a jewel that the winners of the fastest race in the world wears: the 500 Miles in Indianapolis where the Brazilian won twice, in 1989 and 1993.

As soon as he reached the pit area though, Fittipaldi puts the two seals gained in F1 and the two crowns for the

Obviously, times have changed and the “adventurers” with the kart brought over on a roof rack of a car have left room in a miniature F1 paddock. One thing hasn’t changed though: the passion, a brand for a man who has covered all the roles, from driver to team manager and mechanic before that.

Even after half a century of racing on tracks all over the world, Fittipaldi is still there with a stopwatch at hand, this time with his son who is building up a career in the world of motor racing. So, once again, it’s a racing heart that grabbed win, the same that animated Emmo the very first time on the Italian racing scene that,

pean adventure of the fifth generation of the Fittipaldis.

The latter, after having spent winter and the early part of 2017 going backwards and forwards from American tracks to Italian tracks, focused strongly on the Rok Cup International Final that took place on 14th October at the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. Despite he wasn’t able to enter for the Main Final, we certainly can’t say that young Fittipaldi hasn’t put into practice what he’s learnt so far, managing to deal with an imperfect final to get to the top ten in the Rok Vortex Trophy, 11th coming up from row eight grid start.

This was the first thing we talked about when we met Emerson at the end of the event. Where? Sat at a table with two coffees, just as “O Rato” likes it (his nickname since he started his career).

«I am very happy for Emmo coming here to learn» he said.

«Although he didn’t qualify very well, he managed to react well and climb back up… just like an Italian driver! (laughs).»

“Just like an Italian driver”. It was he who gave us the idea of introducing a rather tricky question concerning his opinion on modern karting.

«I think that there are lots of people who draw close to karting – he said. Lots of kids who follow their dream, a dream that we’ve all had as a child: become a racing driver. Several kids are very good, but they find the door shut by a system which is very hard. Our duty therefore, should be to make karting more accessible. This is a difficult aim to achieve seeing all the interests there are, but it needs to be done to be able to offer future generations the best product and the best formulas possible».

As for circuits, the ex-McLaren driver’s experience is second to none. When asked which was his favourite track, the answer may come as a surprise, He said, “the Adria Karting Raceway is a beautiful circuit, modern, it’s where Emmo has had a chance to race on for two weeks running”.

Just like in Viverone, this time, not even the dark old fashioned sunglasses managed to hide his love for this sport, the love that reflects in Emerson Fittipaldi’s eyes, the 70 yearold man has once again fallen in love with karting.

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XVI EASYKART & KGP INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS CIRCUITO 7 LAGHI, CASTELLETTO DI BRANDUZZO,PAVIA, (I) - 6/8th OCTOBER 2017

RIVALRY AND EXCITEMENT

The Easykart and Kart Grand Prix 2017 international champions were decreed at the Circuito 7 Laghi Kart in Castelletto di Branduzzo: Daniele d’Urso (60 Easy), Etienne Linty (100 Easy), Daniele Vezzelli (125 Master), Andrea Frassineti (60 Mini), Edoardo Maccari (Direct Drive) and William Lanzeni (Shifter KGP) received their prize from some of the old champions of the Easykart circus; Simone Cunati, Luca Segù, Andrea Rosso, Marco Iannotta and Niccolò Balsamo. Hard fought battles and lots of surprises, these were the ingredients of the 16th International Easykart Final & Kart Grand Prix. After the test sessions, that started on Wednesday, the Easy-drivers challenged each other to the nearest thousandth with quaifiers on Friday and heats held on Saturday getting to the final phase held on Sunday 8th October fully motivated. Not just races, but a fanastic show, at the end of qualifiers on Friday the ptotagonists at the paddock came to the track on board a N35-RS – a Birel ART Rental Kart to have some fun sessions and on Saturday evening there was the long awaited official award giving ceremony in the BirelART tent for the winners of the 2017 Easykart Trophy followed by a Happy Hour with buffet and music. U.S. EASYKART - FG

RACE

60 Easykart - After winning the National Trophy Daniele D’Urso is the leader of the international scene beating a group of fast and determined antagonists that really doidn’t make things at all easy for him .

The 37 entries were divided into two groups and after into four to race the six qualifying heats. Jiri Skopalik storms off to lead in qualifiers and stops best time 55”981, with Fabiano Carrieri 56”107 third leading on Kowalski. Skopalik comes through the selection heats with 5 penalites and is on pole for final start next to D’Urso. Patrese

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and Principalli are on row two grids. Quinto Pirovano is in fronnt of Kowalski who gets a penalti in one of the heats and this puts him back a place. Final B was held before the Final and this gave a chance to another five drivers to qualify for Final A and taking the last five girds. At the lights of the last raace D’urso storms off to lead trying to geta way from duels with his rivals Skopalik, Patrese, Kowalski and Pirovano Alva. The first surprise comes at the lake ramp when spins and creates havoc in the second part of the group. Patrese presses hard and overtakes Skopalik first and then Kowalski. The lat-

ter takes the wrong pathline when trying to take his place backe and gets taken by Skopalik who presses hard and stops best final lap 56”064 on lap ten and overtakes Patrese during the following lap.

100 Easy – Etienne Linty with 235 thousandths over Marco Gugole is the first to cut through the finishing line. «It’s been a great weekend despite the problems we had – says Etienne immediately after the race – like in the Prefinal when I had technical difficulties and was overtaken on the last lap. For the Final we used the engine that we used for the practice even if its per-

100 Easy final grid with Puccetti (#312) on pole alongside Gugole (#333) and in second row the 2017 Easy International winner Etienne Linty.

formance was skightlt less, in any case we managed to take home the title.»

From the timed practice drivers battled hard, with Puccetti getting pole with just 6 thousandths over Tassone, while Linty leads on the best foreign drivers, Knopp.

After the two qualifying heats Prefinal line up sees Linty and Tassone on front row start, followed by Gugole and Moretti, and Puccetti and Knopp. Just after prefinal start the Linty-Gugole duo leads the group over the first five laps until Puccetti overtakes Gugole and then incombere sulle spalle di Linty. The latter resists up to the last lap

when he drops about two seconds compared to his pursuers: Puccetti, Gugole and Gnecchi who cross the finishing line first.

Brilliant performance also from new entry Erika Lavazza, seventh.

At Final lights Gnecchi storms off to lead, but soon has to give in to Gugole who overtakes taking Linty up with him. The results of this final can only be seen on lap 11 when Linty finds a gap and overtakes Gugole, while Puccetti (fastest lap 51”296) fighting hard hits Gnecchi’s kart and ends up with a bent front wheel and here ends his race.

Puccetti starts again and is eighth behine

the Pole Lalak and a very fast Fersini, sixth afte a grid 16 start. Erika Lavazza and Carlo Tamburini complete the top ten (ten places recuperated by the driver from Mantova).

However, the best come back was that of one of the many rookies of this season, Mattia Moretti from grid 19 he climbed up to third leading on Knopp and Torello gaining a good 16 places.

125 Master - Daniele Vezzelli is brilliant as he leads on 2017 Easykart Trophy winner Riccardo Pollastri by 754 thousandths, and the Italian vice champion Leonardo Sperati by 1”203.

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 31

XVI EASYKART & KGP INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS

Riccardo Pollastri stops best time in practice, 50”587, Sperati was second with 50”663 leading on Daniele Vezzelli and the first of the international drivers, England’s Tyrone Stansfield .

On prefinal grids we see Pollastri and Sperati in front of Vezzelli and Stansfield, Serafini and Massarini are on row three, a regular Decaro and Casati on row four wheile Smelov (first of the Major) and Ruga are on row five . Immediadetly after the first lap Vezzelli overtakes to lead and stays there till the end , stopping fastest lap 50”417. Behind him follow Pollastri and Sperati, Stansfield amd Serafini, Ruga is sixth followed by a very fast Orsini in seventh.

In the final Vezzelli is perfect, he steps into the lead and stays there for all 18 laps.

There was nothing Sperati, Pollastri, Stansfield and Rug could do, only Pollastri presses hard as the race was drawing to an end, he overtakes Sperati and was jus under a second from Vezzelli, stoppng recore lap time of the race 50”785. The top ten was marked on the first lap when Mendez spins and Spreafico, Orsini and Massarini get caught up. The driver from Panama (gets 5” penalty after) gets back into the race and is 12 on the genaral scoreboard. Guizzo, Bernasconi’s final as he takes Serafini robbing him of sixth. Decaro is a consistant eigth as he leads on Sertore and Casati. Unfortunately Smelov has to retire just one lap befre the end while in nineth and the first of the Major, leaving the success to Palumbo who leads on Baroni and Trombetta.

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Direct Drive KGP - In the end, Edoardo Maccari gets the international 2017 title after a very exciting final. Just 23/100 over Alessandro Salvarani and 59 over Ivan Baiguini. Maccari: «It’s been a hard and insidious weekend… lots of contacts both in the final and heats that could compromise final results. I was on grid four start for the final, but we managed to make up and win despite a poor start.»

In time practice, Edoardo Maccari is first he stops 49”366, with Baiguini, Bristot, Vanzetto and abrilliant new entry Cristina Fotia to follow.

After the two heats, on prefinal line up once again Maccari in pole with Baiguin next to him, then Vanzetto and Bristot. Surprise at

the start, Maccari goes into a spin and ends up stopping Cristina Fotia who manages to get back into the race. 15 laps racing for Maccari who manages to climb int fourth final place also thamks to Vanzetto’s penalty. The latter had managed to lead the race over the early laps after having defeded his second place well, over the last three laps he has to give way to Salvarani who had pulled Bristop up with him.

Salvarani storms off to lead at final lights.

Bristot overtakes on lap five but soon has to hand lead over to Baiguini. The race has yet to be decided with Bristot who makes his way up taking along Maccari with him. A group of 6 duel for final win. Fantastic, exciting penultmate lap with Maccani fighting

RESULTS: 16TH EASYKART&KGP INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS

Vezzelli (442): «It’s been a very hard final because the track was very slippery, but nevertheless we managed to get the title. It’s wonderful to be back with Easykart and win. I have missed that.» hard to find a gap through Salvarani, Vanzetto Cipriani and Baiguini who spread out like a fan over the finishing line. Bristot signals with his arm, steers and heads for the parc ferme under the race director’s incredulous look as he was putting up: Last lap. At that point Maccani takes advantage of the situation, he presses hard and beats

From left to right – 2017 Easykart and KGP Grand Finals winners.

Mattia Moretti (#309) recovers from grid 19th to 3rd under the chequered flag in 100 Easy.

60 Easy pack with Daniele D’Urso (#115) who wins the International title after claiming the National one.

60 Esaykart Final A – 1) 115 Daniele D’urso; 2) 122 Juri Skopalik; 3) 116 Lorenzo Patrese; 4) 124 Adam Kowalski; 5) 145 Ruhaan Alva; 6) 111 Samuele Leopardi; 7) 150 Tommaso Santini; 8) 159 Matvei Sonkin; 9) 156 Cedric Malk; 10) 118 Mattia Bucci; 11) 114 Simone Principalli; 12) 149 Christian Lilley; 13) 125 Mathias Pursl; 14) 154 Karolina Vancikova; 15) 141 Gherardo Gamberini; 16) 143 Francesco Astone; 17) 151 Lukas Horcicka; 18) 153 Matyas Lexamaul; 19) Lily Djavanbakht; 20) 162 Tomas Novak; 21) 160 Petr Kacirek; 22) 110 Filippo Dameno; 23) 157 Tim Ziegler; 24) 152 Matteo Puppo; 25) 107 Andrea Pirovano; 26) 163 Paul Rieberer; 27) 144 Marco Butti; 28) 123 Fabiano Carrieri; 29) 109 Michael Del Piccolo; 30) 113 Simone Bianco; 31) 158 Vaclav Chovanec; 32) 106 Andrea Calabrese; 33) 120 Filippo Massa; 34) 130 Robert Visconti.

60 Easykart Final B – 1) 141 Gherardo Gamberini; 2) 152 Matteo Puppo; 3) 160 Petr Kacirek; 4) 157 Tim Ziegler; 5) 130 Robert Visconti.

100 Easykart – 1) 301 Etienne Linty; 2) 333 Marco Gugole; 3) 309 Mattia Moretti; 4) 328 Joseph Knopp; 5) 318 Andrea Torello; 6) 307 Andrea Fersini; 7) 347 Alan Lalak; 8) 312 Damiano Puccetti; 9) 345 Erika Lavazza; 10) 308 Carlo Tamburini; 11) 330 Ivan Gaudieri; 12) 336 Filippo Vismara; 13) 316 Riccardo Pelloni; 14) 346 Morgan Cole; 15) 342 Daniele Tassone; 16) 343 Michelle Jandova; 17) 306 Alessandro Gnecchi; 18) 325 Leon Paeper; 19) 310 Leonardo Principalli; 20) 326 Fraser Murray; 21) 327 Martin Victor Odin.

125 Master – 1) 442 Daniele Vezzelli; 2) 402 Riccardo Pollastri; 3) 427 Leonardo Sperati; 4) 443 Tyrone Stansfield; 5) 424 Francesco Ruga; 6) 401 Leonardo Bernasconi; 7) 403 Francesco Serafini; 8) 417 Niccolò Decaro; 9) 406 Marco Sertore; 10) 408 Simone Casati; 11) 415 Alessandro Girotti; 12) 436 Juan Diego Mendez; 13) 413 Rossella Fornasari; 14) 444 Filippo De Martini; 15) 426 Alessandro Bonacini; 16) 445 Alexander Vorobyev; 17) 446 Santiago P.Gutierrez; 18) 434 Maurizio Pagani; 19) 441 Riccardo Massarini; 20) 447 Paolo Orsini.

125 Maste MJ – 1) 407 Domenico Palumbo; 2) 452 Roberto Baroni; 3) 428 Christian Trombetta; 4) 435 Evgeny Smelov; 5) 404 Davide Spreafico; 6) 420 Rosolino Caralla.

KGP Direct Drive – 1) 508 Edoardo Maccari; 2) 506 Alessandro Salvarani; 3) 502 Ivan Baiguini; 4) 522 Emilio Cipriani; 5) 512 Luca Vanzetto; 6) 505 Gianluca Guiotto; 7) 514 Cristina Fotia; 8) 515 Andrea Bristot.

KGP Shifter – 1) 602 William Lanzeni; 2) 609 Lukas Podobsky; 3) 628 Petr Klobas; 4) 610 Tommaso Benni; 5) 615 Niccolò Carpanelli; 6) 624 Matteo Chiappini; 7) 623 Simone Riva.

60 Mini – 1) 201 Andrea Frassinetti; 2) 237 Mattia Alessandrini; 3) 210 Lorenzo Ciarrocchi; 4) 205 Nathan Fabris; 5) 229 Ibrahim Cavagnaro.

EASYTRAINING - DRIVERS’ PARADE: PROTAGONISTS BEFORE THE FINAL, ALSO THE YOUNG DRIVERS OF THE RECREATIONAL SPORTS EASYTRAINING, FOR YOUGSTERS AGED 6-10. THE FUTURE EASYKART PROTAGONISTS TOOK PART IN A BRIEFING HELD BY ROBERTO BARONI, FREE PRACTICE AND RACE SIMULATIONS.

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 33

XVI EASYKART & KGP INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS

William Lanzeni «It’s been a great season, unforgetable, we’ve taken home both the Italian Championship title and the International Final. Great satisfaction aso as a team, pity that Colocci wasn’t with us, he’d have been very competitive.”

Salvarani, Baiguini who overtakes Cipriani on the last lap, Vanzetto, Guiotto and Cristina Fotia, in this same order.

Shifter KGP - After dominating in the National Trophy, William Lanzeni does very well in the international field too. Lanzeni is the only denominator, he stops best time in qualifiers , wins both heats, prefinal and final, 47”119 his fastest lap in the race. Only Podobsky tries to keep pace with him early on in the race, but later concerìntrates on defending his second place from Klobas. The later manages to overtake Benni at the last turn, he attacks from the outside on exit and gets to the final sprint.

He cuts across the finishing line to end up off the track, but third ahead of Benni.

60 Mini – After getting the Italian title, Andrea Frassineti manages to get the international title

34 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

too. “After dominating throughout the weekend, I managed to repeat myself in the most important race and win the International Final on my Birel ART.” Absolut dominium on behalf of Frassinetti as from qualifierswhere he leads on Ciarrocchi by 334 thousandths and by 430 on Alessandrini. First in both heats and even better on Sunday morning where he stops best lap time 54”717 which allows him to keep Alessandrini back, while the fight with Fabris and Ciarrocchi is still on. Nothing new in the final either, where Frassinetti dominates and wins. Ciarrocchi is off to a good start buti s suddenly overtaken by

by Alessandrini and Fabris at the next turn. His reaction, however, is immediate, he overtakes the Swiss on lap seven and is in third place behind Alessandrini. And the race continues to the chequered flag.

Race Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft South Garda Karting, Lonato (ITA) - October 22

nd

2017 – Round 5

THREE FOR CRG LAST WEEKEND OF THE GERMAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP AND ITS FOUR GRADE SERIES TOOK PLACE ON THE SOUTH GARDA CIRCUIT IN ITALY. THE HIGHEST GERMAN KART RACING SERIES STARTED IN ITALY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AND EXPERIENCED EXCITING RACES. THE WEATHER WAS SPECIAL AS WELL: HEAVY RAIN MADE CONDITIONS DIFFICULT ON SUNDAY. WORDS & PICS: FAST MEDIA

I

t was already obvious before the finale in Lonato that the races on this high-speed track were going to be especially exciting.

The fight for the championship titles was still open in all four categories DKM, DJKM, DSKM and DSKC. With more than 170 participants, the fields were strongly manned at the premiere in Italy – top drivers from more than 20 nations started there.

In addition to high-class fields of participants the weather was also a further challenge. The sky above the 1.200m long track was already overcast during the free trainings on Friday as well as qualifying and the heats on Saturday – it rained the entire Sunday then. With seven different race winners, the individual categories were very balanced. In the fights for the titles, Dennis Hauger (DKM), Kas Haverkort (DJKM), Jorrit Pex (DSKM) and David Detmers (DSKC) prevailed in the end.

A successful season of the German Kart Championship has now ended with the finale in

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Lonato. The organizational team is now already looking forward to the year 2018. The DKM is then going to start into the new season in Lonato. Races in Wackersdorf, Ampfing, Kerpen and Belgian Genk are going to follow.

Series coordinator Stefan Wagner summed things up positively in the end: “I’m very happy with this year’s season. We experienced five exciting racing weekends with high-class fields of participants. I’d like to thank my entire team for their tireless work and the further development of the DKM. I’d also like to thank all drivers and teams for the great cooperation, also in the name of the DMSB. We’re looking forward to 2018.”

DKM Dennis Hauger (CRG Holland) and David

Schumacher (KSM Schumacher Racing Team) started at the finale as the title favorites and made the fight for the championship extra thrilling. Schumacher achieved the best start on Saturday. He won a heat and started as the pole-

Red Bull Junior Team new entry Dennis Hauger wins the DKM, second title in a row after the DJKM took last year

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 37

Race Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft

Sixth title for Jorrit Pex in the DKM. The Dutchman defended his leadership from Formula K’s Jeremy Iglesias. Galiffa powered David Detmers dominated the DSKC winning with 40 points of gap over runner up Julian Müller.

setter into the first final race on Sunday.

Next to him was his direct pursuer Hauger.

The reigning junior-champion started into the race fiercely and temporarily took the lead. Schumacher’s team mates Nicklas Nielsen and Paavo Tonteri raced past him from behind though. The two then set the pace at the front. Hauger couldn’t be shaken off though and once again overtook Tonteri on second place. Nielsen crossed the finish line as the winner though and thereby achieved a successful re-entry into kart racing. The joy about his success didn’t last long though. Race control disqualified the Dane. Hauger was the new winner in front of Schumacher and Tonteri. The WARD-Racing-duo Pavel Bulantsev and Ilya Morozov completed the cup ranks.

After Hauger’s victory the Norwegian already was the new champion even before the second ranked race.

He still gave it his all one more time, but Schumacher was unstoppable this time. He drove away from the rest of the field due to numerous best times and achieved a clear victory. His success didn’t count in the end though.

Due to a loose rear protection the Erftland resident should have driven into the pit, didn’t do this though and got disqualified.

Last year’s champion Tonteri inherited

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the victory in front of Bulantsev, Morozov, Lorenzo Ferrari (Fusion Motorsport) and Hauger. The 14-year-old Scandinavian was overjoyed at the finish line: “These have been two great years at the DKM. After winning the junior class last year it’s a great feeling to win the DKM now. Today’s races were exciting but I tried to stay calm.”

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RANKING DKM: 1. Dennis Hauger (241 points) 2. David Schumacher (197 points) 3. Paavo Tonteri (154 points) 4. Felix Arnold (145 points) 5. Kilian Meyer (135 points)

DJKM The field of the German Junior Kart Championship was strongly manned at the final weekend, counting 51 youngsters. Kas Haverkort (CRG Keijzer Racing) from the Netherlands achieved the best start into the fight for the championship titles. Pole position after qualifying gave him a good starting position. During the course of the heats he fell back to third place though.

Hadrien David (Chiesa Corse), also a title favorite, then led the rankings and used his good starting position at the first final race. From the first starting row he drove away from his pursuers and celebrated his second victory of the season. There were strong fights for positions behind second

driver Luca Bosco (Baby Race Academy).

Several drivers fought for the remaining place among the top three. Leandro Anderrüti (Auf der Maur GmbH) finally came in on the third place. Malthe Jakobsen (TK Racing) came in fourth in front of Haverkort on fifth place. Thereby the CRG Keijzer Racing Team driver collected enough points to celebrate being the new champion. Best German was Hugo Sasse (CRG TB Racing Team) on ninth place.

Anderrüti provided a surprise at the second race. After David fell back to the end of the field due to a turn during the first lap, Anderrüti took the lead and held it until the end of the race. The Swiss’ joy about his first DJKM victory was overwhelming then: “I achieved a great start and then really gave everything. The weather was on my side today and helped me achieve the victory.”

Second winner and new champion Haverkort was in a great mood as well: “This was a great year for me and I’m proud to have won. I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me.” Third driver Malthe Jakobsen (TK Racing) ended up in the cup ranks again in front of Roman Stanek (Kamito) and Luigi Coluccio (BirelART Racing). Best German was Hugo Sasse (CRG TB Racing Team) again on seventh place. He also won the vice championship.

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RANKING DJKM: 1. Kas Haverkort (221 points) 2. Hugo Sasse (190 points) 3. Hadrien David (184 points) 4. Niels Tröger (133 points) 5. Luigi Coluccio (118 points)

DSKM Jorrit Pex (CRG Holland) was unbeat-

Kas Haverkort outperforms the German Hugo Sasse and grabs title win in junior.

able at the German Shifterkart Championship in 2017 again. The five-time champion travelled to the finale in Italy as the leading driver and didn’t risk too much then. He collected enough points in both races and made history again. By winning his sixth championship he broke his own record.

“This was a good season for us, without technical difficulties or fallings out. I’m honored to have won the championship six times now”, he beamed on the winners’ podium. The new champion didn’t play a role in the fights for the victories this time.

Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team) used his knowledge of the track in Lonato during qualifying and drove the best time. A falling out at the first heat threw the driver from South Tyrol back though. Jeremy Iglesias (FormulaK Racing Team) took the lead of the interim rankings and achieved a strong initial phase at the first final race. In the middle of the race he seemed to be on a safe track towards his third victory of the season. But William Lanzeni seemed to ignite his turbo from behind. The Italian was considerably faster than the leading driver and closed the gap to Iglesias. He didn’t let anyone take his lead though and won after 21 laps. “This was an exciting race towards the end. Even though I’ve already driven lots of laps here in Lonato, this was my first race in rain. Our air pressure wasn’t right anymore during the second half of the race and things got close one more time”, Iglesias summed up at the finish line. Jorrit Pex followed behind the winning duo in front of Matteo Zanchi (Zanchi Motorsport) and Marijn Kremers (KSW BirelART Austria Racing Team). Alexander Schmitz came in on the great sixth place and was the best German driver.

Matteo Zanchi showed an impressive performance at the second final race. From the first lap on, he didn’t give his opponents any chance of attacking and achieved a clear victory. Second winner Lanzeni caused an Italian double success in front of kick-off winner Iglesias. The Frenchman experienced exciting first laps. Alexander Schmitz attacked several times but couldn’t get past.

He ended up among the top five on fourth place and finished the season with his best

performance so far. Jorrit Pex came in fifth, but a time penalty threw him back two places. Dylan Davies (CRG Keijzer Racing) was the new fifth winner.

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RANKING DSKM: 1. Jorrit Pex (226 points) 2. Jeremy Iglesias (214 points) 3. Stan Pex (188 points) 4. Fabian Federer (143 points) 5. Flavio Camponeschi (105 points)

DSKC On the dry track, guest driver Ste-

fano De Vecchi (Renda Motorsport) was unstoppable on Saturday. The Italian was the fastest driver of the field at qualifying and both heats. But the FormulaK-driver didn’t play any role during the final races.

In the rain, Jeroen Bos (CRG Holland) took the lead. The Dutchman drove his last kart race in Lonato and experienced a perfect end to his 20-year-long career. He achieved an advance of more than 16 seconds at both races and summed things up completely positively: “My farewell to kart racing couldn’t have been any better. I’ve now driven karts for 20 years and had a great time. The double victory and my third place in the championship make me really happy.”

The second place was indisputable at both races as well. David Detmers (MSR Motorsport/WST Power) stayed in the role of the pursuer and secured the championship title.

“Jeroen was really fast today, but I knew that second place would be enough and therefore didn’t risk too much during the races”, the Austrian summed up. The achievement of the further places was a lot more exciting. At the first final race, guest driver Emilien Denner (CRG Holland) came in third in front of Kay van Berlo (CRG Keijzer Racing) and best German driver Moritz Horn (CRG TB Racing Team). Nicolas Schöll (KSB Racing Team) showed a great catching-up race at the second race then. From twelfth starting position he drove forward to third place.

Denner came in fourth in front of best German driver Marcel Schultheiß (Mach1 Motorsport). The latter received a time penalty after the race though and lost his place – new fifth winner was Moritz Horn.

Detmers: Galiffa powered David Detmers dominated the DSKC winning with 40 points of gap over runner up Julian Müller.

FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP RANKING DSKC: 1. David Detmers (207 points) 2. Julian Müller (177 points) 3. Jeroen Bos (160 points) 4. Lucas Speck (150 points) 5. Moritz Horn (149 points)

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 39

Race 2017 Race of Stars Xtreme Karting Pimpama, Pimpama (AUS), October 15 2017 th

1

Europe, World…

Australia!

WORLD CHAMPION PAOLO DE CONTO HAS BEEN CROWNED RACE OF STARS CHAMPION FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING AFTER A CHALLENGING DAY ON THE GOLD COAST. WORDS: L. HANATSCHEK - PICS: G. COOPER

Paolo De Conto continues to be the man to beat in each competition, at each circuit. The Italian driver seems to be unstoppable and takes home the second win in a row even in the Race of Stars. While the day was marred by the freak weather event that struck South East Queensland on Sunday afternoon, it was the Italian who claimed the winner’s surfboard for 2017. Sadly, due to the amount of water that had descended on the circuit, the KZ2 final didn’t take place, with the race meeting abandoned on the grounds of safety and standing water off the 40 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

racing surface. The KA2 final was also a victim of mother nature.

With new names and new stars making the trip Down Under, it continues to spread the word about the event and the quality of Australian karting, with all visitors complementary on the quality of the Australian teams and drivers. This year’s event attracted a record international entry number, a record overall entry number, eight nations represented, and close race finishes - a majority of which in dry conditions were separated by less than 0.5 seconds.

KZ2 De Conto was supreme during the

course of the two heat races held earlier in the day, taking both of them comfortably.

The third heat on Sunday morning featured two thrilling wet track inside passes at turn one on CRG team-mate Pierce Lehane and BirelART Belgian, Rick Dreezen. Lehane was awarded second place on points - which also saw him claim the Jim Morton Perpetual Trophy, which was presented to him by Jim’s wife Janelle and daughters Jessica and Nadine after the race meeting. Fittingly, Morton, who passed away in 2014, provided

2 advice to Lehane early in his karting career and had a long relationship with the CRG Australia pilot’s father and grandfather. The trophy is supported by Castrol EDGE - who were behind Morton’s Tony Kart Australia team for many years. Rick Dreezen was awarded third placing after what has been a sensational first visit to Australia for the Patrizicorse pilot.

KA2 Gold Coaster, Lochie Hughes took home his first surfboard trophy in KA2.

Like KZ2, the final couldn’t take place due to the inclement conditions, so the Ricciardo Kart driver took the points win. New South Welshman Cody Burcher claimed second, fitting after his heat race win on Saturday and Harrison Hoey had a successful debut with JC Kart claiming third.

KA3 Junior Hughes was upstaged by Hoey though - who put in one of the finest drives of his career to win the final. The Queenslander spent little time in getting to the lead and then pulled away from the field. He dominated the pace, taking the win by more than one-second from Hughes with Jackson Souslin-Harlow taking third place for Troy Hunt’s Top Gun Academy.

KA3 Senior Five time Australian Champion James Sera showed precisely why he is still considered one of Australia’s best kart racers. The Victorian, who is the proprietor of Melbourne Kart Centre, never looked like being headed, ultimately taking the

win aboard his FA Kart by nearly 10 seconds. Second place went to a prodigy of Sera’s - Victorian Christian Pancione. In his first Senior class race, the 15-year-old had to withstand a multi-kart challenge to bring his VCM Performance-backed machine home in the runner up position. Newcastle’s Thomas Davies from Newcastle hung tough to bring his PIRTEK-backed machine home in third, outlasting a challenge that involved Kody Garland, Oscar Priest and Tommy Harradine. It was Davies’ third podium finish at the prestigious event.

KA4 Junior Zac Crichton - who won the first round of the Australian Kart Championship at Newcastle - took a win in KA4 Junior aboard his JC Kart. He was involved in a race long battle with Declan Matthews and indeed Matthews crossed the line first, however was struck with a post-race penalty which dropped him to fifth. South Australian Blake Purdie was awarded second - a just reward after a solid season in the Nippy’s Fruit Juices Corsa Kart, whilst Queenslander Ryan Newton was a welcome new face to the podium at national level finishing third.

TaG 125 Aussie TaG 125 Champion, Brendan Nelson put in one of the drives of the day in his Final. He and fellow Queenslander Kris Walton had a race long battle brewing in terrible weather conditions. Their race took place when the weather was at its absolute worst. The pair were a number of seconds in

CADET 12 FINAL P N Driver 1 11 Marcos FLACK 2 6 Adrian HAAK 3 17 Hugo SIMPSON 4 10 Emerson VINCENT 5 29 Liam SCEATS 6 4 Christian MANSELL 7 58 Rusty ROSS 8 86 Joshua BYRNE 9 9 JACOB FIMOGNARI 10 26 Ethan FEATHER

Gap 16 Laps 0.577 1.677 17.236 17.876 18.526 21.582 25.763 27.287 30.872

KA2 FINAL P N 1 18 2 48 3 15 4 36 5 14 6 34 7 2 8 11 9 33 10 98

Gap 12 Laps 0.053 0.137 0.164 1.605 3.110 9.021 12.206 15.068 20.719

Driver Jaiden POPE Blake PURDIE Lachlan HUGHES Cody BURCHER Taylor HAZARD Connor DAVISON Jai BROWN Zac ZAMPROGNO Bailey SWEENY Taylah AGIUS

front of the field as they battled it out, Nelson getting into the lead around halfway through the laps completed. The race was declared due to the inclement weather on the 11th lap, officials going back to the previously completed lap for the final result. Emerging star, 1. World Champion Paolo De Conto with the 2017 Race of Stars Winners Surfboard 2. Brendan Nelson and Kris Walton diced it out in TaG 125

VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 41

Race 2017 Race of Stars Flynn Jackes, fresh from the World Championships in England drove extremely well to bring his Kosmic kart home in third, withstanding a challenge from karting veteran, Kel Treseder and an off-track excursion to secure the podium position.

Cadet 12 The youngest category on show at the Race of Stars, Cadet 12 (drivers between nine and 12 years of age) showed maturity beyond their years in surviving the conditions they were faced. A battle at the front between Brisbane racer Marcos Flack and Sydney EVO Kart driver, Adrian Haak went for the entire race. Haak had the early advantage before Flack took control - and both were adept in negotiating the conditions and lapped traffic to last the full race distance. They finished in front of Shamick Racing-backed Victorian, Hugo Simpson.

KA3 P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SENIOR FINAL N Driver 94 James SERA 76 Christian PANCIONE 27 Thomas DAVIES 41 Kody GARLAND 56 Oscar PRIEST 38 Tommy HARRADINE 29 Beck CONNELL 9 Daniel MURRELL 2 4 Jace MATTHEWS Brieann MOYSE 75

Gap 18 Laps 9.589 10.610 11.135 11.227 13.974 16.720 17.542 18.584 18.725

KA4 P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

JUNIOR FINAL N Driver 2 Zac CRICHTON 48 Blake PURDIE 66 Ryan NEWTON 64 Kacey MANN 74 Declan MATTHEWS 18 Zachary HEARD 57 Kurtis TENNANT 85 Kai WALKER 93 Jarrod HUGHES 96 Bailey COLLINS

Gap 16 Laps 1.028 2.484 3.309 3.442 5.098 5.545 5.704 5.958 7.167

KA3 P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

KZ2 FINAL P N 1 1 2 11 3 98 4 3 5 97 6 7 7 95 8 29 9 5 10 39

JUNIOR FINAL N Driver 97 Harrison HOEY 15 Lachlan HUGHES 75 Jackson SOUSLIN-HARL… 47 Thomas SARGENT 7 Angus WALLACE 63 Jack HOTTER 6 Thomas SMITH 71 Conor SOMERS 98 Taylah AGIUS 16 Coady GORRINGE

Gap 16 Laps 1.109 4.606 5.728 9.492 17.192 18.231 23.576 23.973 24.219

Driver Paolo DE CONTO Pierce LEHANE Marijn KREMERS Rick DREEZEN Christopher HAYS Joel JOHANSSON Aaron CAMERON Dylan DRYSDALE Davide FORE Kyle ENSBEY

TAG P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

125 FINAL N Driver 1 Brendan NELSON 68 Kris WALTON 55 Flynn JACKES 75 Kel TRESEDER 58 James LITZOW 92 Joshua ROGERS 20 Cian FOTHERGILL 81 Mitchell HEWITT 44 Tyler HOWARD 27 Brett ROBINSON

1. Pierce Lehane with the Jim Morton Trophy and the Morton Family 2. Champagne flows on the Cadet12 podium

Gap 9 Laps 0.887 7.867 9.849 14.229 16.032 20.161 20.701 20.921 23.877 1

2 42 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

Gap 10 Laps 0.380 4.392 5.643 6.881 7.256 7.818 8.166 8.549 10.793

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Race Rotax MAX Festival Japan Festika Circuit Mizunami, Mizunami-shi, Japan, October 7 & 8 th

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Tickets awarded The Annual Rotax Max Festival Japan was held on October 7th & 8th In Mizunami Circuit. A total of 226 participants from the whole Japan as well as International drivers gathered for this final show time. WORDS: K. LAI PICS: T. AZUMA

Group photo of the 2017 Rotax MAX Japan Festival drivers.

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ith points generated from this race plus points from the Rotax Max series throughout Japan, winners will have their Grand Finals Tickets attributed.

Darrell Smith from BRP-Rotax was also present to provide technical assistance with the organization. This 2 days event was extremely challenging for pilots and mechanics with wet and dry conditions, and several heats where any mistakes can cost dearly, and maybe a ticket for the Grand Finals...

Micro MAX

The 16 little youngsters went on 2 Qualifying heats. The first heat was won by Rintaro Sato, Ryota Horachi 2nd and Ryo Sakai 3rd.

The second heat was won by Shota Fujii, Ryota Horachi 2nd and Rintaro Sato 3rd. All drivers finished within 4 seconds in these 2 heats thanks to the raffle system, all competitors benefited with a fair and reliable engine. In Prefinal, the battle was fierce. Overtak44 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

ings at every corners for the command, it was impossible to predict who would finish first as all drivers are packed and lined up in every lap. Ryota Horachi won the prefinal with Shota fujii in 2nd place and Kishi Fuji 3rd.

At the final race, Ryota Horachi made the hole shot with Kishi Fuji close behind. At turn 5, Hayato Iida went for big gap left by Kishi to grab 2nd. Ryota and Hayato started to pull away. Rintatro Sato with his aggressive driving style inherited from his father Takuma Sato, the Indy 500 winner this year, is trying deperately to get rid of Kishi. After several attempts, he passed Kishi, and paced up to join the lead. Kishi was soon to be passed by Shota. The front pack started to grow with all 5 drivers lined up with 1 second gap and ready to battle. Ryota and Rintaro made constant swapping for the lead, Hayato, Shota and Kishi lurking in the back, ready to profit from any mistakes.

With 4 laps to go, Ryota and Rintaro stopped any attacks, pulling further away for a final

mano a mano. Rintaro took the lead on the final lap, but made a slight mistake on the left haripin leaving a wide gap for his opponent to get in. with 3 corners to go, Rintaro tried to pass from the inside and outside, but Ryota was still in the command. The last attempt with be at the long straight, Rintaro slipstreamed and plunged neck and neck with Ryota. The photo finish revealed Ryota winning by 0.052s. Ryota Horachi is the winner, Rintaro Sato 2nd and 3rd place for Shota Fujii. Having secured enough points in the Rotax series championship, Ryota and Shota won their tickets for the Grand Finals, 2 year in a row for both of them.

Mini Max With 7 drivers on grid, Daisuke Yamashita has been the strongest, from time trials to heat 1 & 2, finishing first every time. His opponent, Ryota Horachi, double entrant is the only who can challenge him. For the prefinal, Daisuke again led from start to finish, outrageously leaving others far behind. Ryota Horachi was cruising on 2nd place, without forcing, and well aware

Junior: pole position for Tosei ahead of Toranosuke.

Proud dad: Daisuke-san posing with his son Yamashita, Mini MAX winner.

Left, not only the glory: drivers took home some money as well! 1st prize for Tosei, 2nd for Toranosuke and 3rd for Yuta.

that the title of champion is at the final. On final lap, Akihito Kawase then 3rd made mistake allowing Hitoshi Sakai to nab that position. Just behind, Masaki Kuriyama also tried to slip through but clipped Akihito, and both went to a halt, Masaki’s front over the rear of Akihito.

For the final race, Daisuke and Ryota both compose the front grid. From the start, Ryota made the hole shot from the outside lane to quickly pull away. Daisuke got surprised by the move and got stuck in the traffic. Not willing to give up, he cleared his path by overtaking each opponent and paced up.

He was soon to join the leader. Daisuke and Ryota started their dual from lap 3. With ongoing battle, Masaki quickly gathered

and soon to have the rest of the pack forming a line. Ryota tried a move at the hairpin on final lap, overtook Daisuke, but wasn’t carrying enough speed to completely pass.

Daisuke crosses the finish line first, Ryota 2nd and Masaki 3rd.

Daisuke Yamashita is the winner of the Rotax series and won his ticket for the Grand finals in Mini Max class.

Max Novice The Max Novice is the only category that doesn’t have Grand Finals ticket attribution, but nonetheless, winning at the Max Festival gives a certain prestige and fame. With a full grid of 34 drivers, Heat 1 was ran on a partially drying track, but the organization imposed rain tires for this race. Nobuaki Tomita won the first heat

with Tatsuo Akiyama 2nd and Yoshinao Adachi 3rd. The 2nd Heat was ran on a completely dried track allowing drivers to use slick tires. Yoshinao swapped places to take the win over Nobuaki 2nd and Tastuo 3rd.

In Prefinal, a big suprise awaits the 3 protagonists. Masahiro Nikaido, who qualified 24th in the rain made a huge come back, gaining 2 positions on Heat 1, and whooping 13 positions on heat 2. Starting 9th, he overtook 5 drivers in 3 laps. Halfway through, Masahiro was behind the leader. Yoshinao finally cracked and Masahiro won the prefinal race. At the final race, Masahiro Nikaido started from pole position with Adachi Yoshinao along side. Masahiro made to the hole shot and pulled away very quickly.

Yoshinao, losing a bit of pace, got passed by Nobuaki for 2nd. Battle mode was engaged with Yoshinao and Nobuaki, allowing Masahiro Nikaido to create very safe gap of 3 seconds. Yoshinao somehow managed to outpace Nobuaki and secured P2. Meanwhile in the back, 6 contenders were at battle to get final place on the podium. With places remaining unchanged till the end of the race for Masahiro Nikaido P1 and P2 for Yoshinao Adachi, the 3rd place has been taken by Kazuki Hayakawa.

Junior Max 44 drivers Junior drivers have been separated into 2 groups for time trails, and 4 groups for the qualifying heat.

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Race Rotax MAX Festival Japan

Above, Rintaro Sato leads on Ryota Horachi in Micro MAX. The duo finished the race side-by-side, but the photofinish gave Horachi the win.

Below, Novice podium: Nikaido 1st, Adachi 2nd, Hayakawa 3rd.

34 drivers composed the grid for the final, while the remain 10 drivers eliminated went on for the the little final, the NGK Cup. NGK Cup With 10 drivers for this 13 laps small final, the consolation price was still up for grab. Hitoshi Sakai finished first Ryushi Honda 2nd, Rihito Inaba 3rd. Due to aggressive manoeuvre and pushings, the judges and the race direction had a very long debate to give the final result. Rihito Inaba has been declared winner post race, Chou Yan Chen 2nd and Haruta Chikamune completes the NGK Cup Podium.

Junior Final Tosei Moriyama and Toranosuke Hamada compose the front row, Yuta fujiwara and Sena Shirakawa the 2nd row, Itsuki Watanabe and Kento Omiya for the 3rd row.

Among those 6 drivers, 4 of them have the highest scores in the Junior series and are fighting for the 2 Grand finals Ticket allocated for the Junior champion, and 2nd place.

The Start was perfect without incidents, and Tosei took a comfortable lead, with Yuta and Toranosuke close behind. Sena 5th and Kento 6th, are both aware the grand finals tickets are a few positions ahead. After a few laps, Tosei, Toranosuke, Yuta and Sena outpace the rest, while Kento was under Kotaro Shinabara’s attack.

Halfway through the race, Tosei and Toranosuke stopped fighting, the tickets for both of them were at stake. In the back, Kento tried 46 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

desperately to come back, but he had to pass Yuta for P3, but all of them were already too far. Tosei took the win, Toranosuke 2nd, Yuta 3rd. Tosei Moriyama and Toranosuke Hamada both obtained their Grand Finals ticket for Portimao.

Max Masters 68 Gentlemen competed for Max Masters class, half of them qualified, while the 2nd half took part in the little final,

the Mojo Cup. Mojo Cup For this little final, Tadashi Toyama, a disabled driver took the pole with Katsuyuki Tanaka 2nd. Again the little final is prone to a lot of incidents A handful of drivers got penalized in this final for various reasons.

The race was eventually won by Yutaka Sato, Yoshimi Inoue finished 2nd and Hiroaki Kozawa 3rd.

Masters Final Makoto Kubota, multiple time Rotax Grand Finalist took the pole, and Masanori Kato qualified 2nd, Tomokazu Kawase and Kengo Sugiyama 3rd and 4th respectively. Makoto took the lead from the start, and Tomokazu camped on the inside line to grab 2nd, Masanori 3rd. Katsuyuki Sasaki quickly slipped through the tiny space for 4th leaving Kengo 5th. For 2/3 of the race, none of those protagonists made any attack, the positions remain unchanged.

The only noticeable part is the top 3 drivers pulling away with a 3 seconds gap. 5 laps to go, Kengo made a pass on Katsuyuki, taking 4th. With 2 laps to go, the show really starts.

Tomokazu took the lead at the end of the long straight, but Makoto regained his position back 2 turns later. Tomokazu went back to retake the lead soon after. On the Final lap Makoto repeated Tomokazu’s attack after the straight. At the hairpin, Tomokazu made a hard braking, took the lead, but lost his momentum on the exit. He soon had to

Above, Makoto wins a cruel duel against Tomokazu and takes home the win in Masters. defend against Masanori who watched the whole ordeal from the back and ready to take any opportunities. Makoto cruised to Victory, Tomokazu 2nd, managed to contain Masanori, who finished 3rd.

The Grand Finalists for DD2 Masters this year are Tomokazu Kawase, Kengo Sugiyama, Masanori Kato, and Yuji Sato.

Senior Max 55 drivers took part for the Senior Max category. The top 34 drivers had been granted access to the final, and the rest went on for the little final, the XPS Cup. XPS Cup Ryo Sasaki is on pole with Futa Kojima P2. Akito Itsuki and Asuka Muroi are on the 2nd row. At the start, an incident happened on turn 2. Asuka had been taken out by a driver trying to overtake from the outside line, causing a chain reaction and dragging with him one more driver. Meanwhile, Ryo lost his lead to Futa and Akito stayed 3rd. Those position will remain unchanged for a while. with 2 laps to go, Akito made a pass on Ryo, who dropped 3rd. Soon after, Kyokichi Furue also made an attack on Ryo, sending him swinging left and right without losing control. Futa took the win, Akito 2nd and Kyokichi 3rd.

Senior Final The 2 team mates from Haruna Kart Club Akinori Kikuchi and Ryosuke Matsuzawa monopolized the front grid for this final. Koki Mizuno and Daisuke Takaguchi are on the 2nd row. The start was given,

and Ryosuke made the hole shot front the outside line, Daisuke followed the same line to grab 2nd Akinori 3rd. Kazusa Nishio, who started from 6th started to whoever was in front of him. By the end of the first lap, he went from P6 to P2. On lap 2, Kazusa took the command. in the following lap, Ryosuke made a attack back on Kazusa, they both went wide, Kikuchi went for the gap and being the new leader. Ryosuke starts to drop 5th, overtaken by Koki, Kazusa and Ren Tomita. With 13 laps to Koki got very close to Akinori and performed an attack. New leader. 8 laps to go, Ryosuke gained 1 position, now 5th. Daisuke passed Kazusa for 3rd. Ryosuke gradually regain his positions back by passing Kazusa for P4.

With 4 remaining laps, Koki had built up a comfortable gap in the lead, Akinori started to lose some pace and got overtaken by Daisuke, Ryosuke also got through, followed

by Kazusa. The infernal spiral continued with Akinori’s chain breaking. His 3rd Grand Finals dream was over. On Final lap, Had a final exchange, Daisuke on the defensive, contain every attack made by Ryosuke to secure 2nd. Koki Mizuno for the win, Daisuke Takaguchi 2nd, Ryosuke Matsuzawa 3rd.

Koki Mizuno and Ryosuke Matsuzawa had both obtained sufficient points to secure their tickets for the Grand Finals in Senior Category.

MICRO MAX FINAL P N Driver 1 3 Ryota Horachi 2 7 Rintaro Sato 3 6 Shota Fujii 4 8 Hayato Iida 5 12 Ryo Sakai 6 5 Fuji Kishi 7 16 Sun Xiao Yu 8 11 Yoshito Sasaki 9 1 Kart Yoshino 10 17 Gavin Huang MINI P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

MAX FINAL N Driver 1 Daisuke Yamashita 2 Ryota Horachi 3 Masaki Kuriyama 7 Akihito Kawase 5 Hitoshi Sakai 6 Yamato Inui 4 Shohei Koguchi

SENIOR P N 1 1 2 14 3 7 4 13 5 17 6 19 7 20 8 15 9 40 10 35

MAX FINAL Driver Koki Mizuno Daisuke Takaguti Ryosuke Matsuzawa Kazusa Nishio Hiroto Yoshie Shogo Endo Yuga Furutani Ren Tomita Takumi Kobayashi Ryo Sugimoto

Chassis Gap Praga 15 Laps Tonykart 0.052 Tonykart 1.604 Exprit 0.132 Croc Promotion 0.122 Birel 0.070 Praga 0.412 Croc Promotion 0.043 Tonykart 0.099 Tonykart 0.695

Chassis Gap Tonykart 15 Laps Praga 0.305 Art 0.565 Croc Promotion 0.509 Croc Promotion 0.091 Croc Promotion 2.521 Exprit 0.192

Chassis Gap Kosmic 23 Laps Drago Corse 2.459 Kosmic 0.176 Intrepid 0.882 Kosmic 0.661 Croc Promotion 0.650 Tonykart 0.291 Kosmic 0.213 Tonykart 0.996 Tonykart 0.426

JUNIOR P N 1 1 2 3 3 8 4 4 5 14 6 2 7 44 8 43 9 13 10 15

MAX FINAL Driver Tosei Moriyama Toranosuke Hamada Yuta Fujiwara Kento Omiya Koutaro Shinbara Sena Shirakawa Yuki Mishima Itsuki Watabe Hinato Hamachi Yusuke Mitsui

Chassis Kosmic Tonykart Tonykart Kosmic Exprit Birelart Tonykart Exprit Tonykart Zanardi

Gap 20 Laps 0.419 0.291 0.094 1.142 1.477 0.077 0.129 3.140 1.760

MAX P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MASTERS FINAL N Driver 65 Makoto Kubo 2 Tomokazu Kawase 6 Masanori Kato 1 Kengo Sugiyama 9 Katsuyuki Sasaki 67 Takanobu Fujiyama 61 Manabu Yamazaki 21 Kazumi Osada 4 Yuji Sato 57 Shinichi Takagi

Chassis Tonykart Kosmic Kosmic Kosmic Dr Kosmic Kosmic Tonykart Kosmic ---

Gap 20 Laps 0.741 0.213 2.938 0.155 0.254 0.221 0.185 1.034 0.743

MAX P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NOVICE FINAL N Driver 25 Masahiro Nikaido 11 Yoshinao Adachi 6 Kazuki Hayakawa 18 Shinji Yuasa 2 Nobuaki Tomita 4 Yuriko Shibayama 20 Lin Zhan Yi 31 Masaya Ozawa 13 Hiroyuki Kondo 14 Tatsuo Akiyama

Chassis Tonykart Tonykart Kosmic Intrepid Kosmic --Tonykart Art Tonykart Crg

Gap 15 Laps 3.753 3.156 0.809 1.250 0.323 0.065 0.598 0.335 1.156

NGK P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

CUP FINAL N Driver 29 Rihito Inaba 27 Chou Yan Chen 40 Haruta Chikamune 32 Hitoshi Sakai 7 Yuya Tanaka 25 Sena Sakai 42 Kento Yuasa 6 Ryushi Honda 38 Sun Ming Chen 37 Shin Sampei

Chassis Gap Croc Promotion 13 Laps Kosmic 0.267 Tonykart 0.061 Croc Promotion --Intrepid 1.265 Croc Promotion 1.332 Art 0.340 Kosmic 0.908 Tonykart 1.011 Tonykart 6.368

MOJO CUP FINAL P N Driver 1 53 Yutaka Sato 2 10 Yoshimi Inoue 3 11 Hiroki Kozawa 4 54 Koji Ohira 5 26 Shota Shindo 6 41 Norihide Fujii 7 33 Katsuyuki Tanaka 8 140 Tadashi Toyama 9 16 Satoshi Koshimizu 10 39 Hideo Fukawa

Chassis Gap Kosmic 13 Laps Tonykart 3.335 Kosmic 0.657 Tonykart 0.509 Kosmic 1.260 Croc Promotion 0.413 Tecno 0.230 Tonykart 1.415 Kosmic 0.813 Intrepid 0.068

XPS P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chassis Tonykart Birelart Exprit Fa Kart Tonykart Fa Kart Kosmic Kosmic Kosmic Kosmic

CUP FINAL N Driver 9 Futa Kojima 33 Akito Itsuki 18 Kyokichi Furue 37 Ryo Sasaki 28 Yamato Nagashima 36 Kyoya Ishiyama 45 Park Jun Seo 8 Tatsuya Mukai 21 Nami Saito 54 Yuzee Akoung

Gap 13 Laps 0.428 1.216 0.506 1.921 1.000 0.308 0.535 0.309 0.370

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Close up GEORGE RUSSELL Close up GEORGE RUSSELL 2011 CIK-FIA European KF3 Championship Zuera, July 24th 2011 2012 CIK-FIA European KF3 Championship PFI, July 22nd 2012 Words: A. Roca – G.C. Giuliani

ONCE AGAIN, GEORGE RUSSELL IS THE FASTEST

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We’re getting close to the 200th issue of Vroom and here we started writing about karts almost 30 years ago. Personally the part of my job that I love the most is looking at pictures of the current champions that were taken some years ago! Romans used to say that “historia magistra vitae”, this means that sometimes we have to look back to understand the future. In our case studying the past allows us to see who the next talent will be, the future ace. It’s like macro economy: studying the old social-political situations you can predict the future course of the market.

In this issue we want to celebrate George Russell, fresh 2017 GP3 Series champion in force with ART GP team and twice European KF3 Champion in 2011 and 2013.

“Little” George nowadays is just a memory: the new GP3 champion is looking to the future and he wants to be the new British rising star after his colleague Lewis Hamilton. To achieve this goal, he has to beat another up and coming British driver: Lando Norris. Recently the AMG Mercedes Formula 1 team junior driver said that he’d “love” to have Lando as his teammate in F.2 next year: “I think Lando is definitely going to be one of my main rivals out there, and I’d prefer to have him as my teammate with exactly the same equipment as me as rather than having him in another team. I want to be the best, and to do this you’ve got to beat everybody. I think we’d make a good little team. I’ll probably talk to him and to his management and see what they think about it – for us both, it would be good.”

Fair enough, but I personally have a different point of view: he wants Lando as his teammate to show that he’s the best and give Norris no excuses. Same material, same opportunities. Your teammate is your first rival, especially if both of you are racing to be the next British ace in F.1.

Despite this short analysis, enjoy these pills from the past!

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Close up GEORGE RUSSELL

2011 CIK-FIA EUROPEAN KF3 CHAMPIONSHIP - ZUERA, JULY 24 2011 TH

The second and final CIK-FIA European KF3 Championship was held at the windy (as usual) track in Zuera near Saragoza. After the first round, the enfant prodige Charles Leclerc (Intrepid-TM) took the win over Callan O’keeffe (FA Kart.Vortex) and Harrison Scott (Intrepid-TM). In Italy George Russell was forced to start from the rear for the final, but he managed to take home 16th that allowed him to remain eligible for the title. Dorian Boccolacci (Birel-BMB) was 13th, but in Zuera, after the first part of the race where he dominated, he threw his Continental title away on lap three…

Luka and Russell, olé If the surprise ending of European KF2 Championship was decreed by the CIK, in the KF3 the French driver Boccolacci made his life difficult right from the start by throwing away his chance of winning the less than certain European title. The French driver (Birel-BMB) came out with a big lead during the Prefinal and took full advantage of the start and seeing the flag 3 laps after the start.

Those looking to the title had to fight it out with him. Instead, although in pole position, the French driver dropped back as the first lap drew to an end. Clearly affected by this

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unexpected turn of events, Boccolacci thought of risking more than he should to get back on top of the race, while Russell was up there alone in front enjoying himself. So, at the first turn as he was trying t overtake Hansson, Boccolacci went into a spin and ended up off the track, and that was the end of his dream of glory.

This was at the beginning of lap 3.

At that point Russell’s race became a pleasant stroll. Behind him, Hansson and Jupp battled for second position and made it even easier than it should have been for Russell to win the race. Scott too came up alone to grab fourth.

KF3 FINAL P N Driver 1 211 Russell, George 2 205 Hansson, Robin L. 3 218 Jupp, Connor 4 230 Scott, Harrison 5 267 Piccini, Alessio 6 224 Helgheim, Oystein 7 201 Olsen, Dennis 8 270 Cunati, Simone 9 252 Ocon, Esteban 10 255 Boccolacci, Dorian 11 208 Shaw, Bradley 12 214 Karbaley, Darius 13 297 Mordret, Etienne 14 231 Verstappen, Max 15 210 Vivacqua C.De O., Thiago 16 204 Oomen, Kim 17 206 Sylvest, Nicolai 18 202 Sorensen, Lasse 19 232 Stroll, Lance 20 223 O'keeffe, Callan 21 282 Speedy, (A. Fuoco) 22 233 Hamilton, Alexander 23 280 Russo, Guillermo 24 240 Kuusiniemi, Jussi 25 216 Romanov, Vasiliy 26 261 Lavelli, Kevin 27 284 Rueda Mateos, Francisco 28 266 Dienst, Marvin 29 212 Nielsen, Nicklas 30 220 Gill, Alex 31 217 Pukema, Pasi 32 293 Moineault, Valentin 33 237 Graham, Matthew 34 281 Besancenez, Paolo

Nat GBR SWE GBR GBR ITA NOR NOR ITA FRA FRA GBR GBR FRA NLD BRA NLD DNK DNK CAN GBR ITA IRL ESP FIN RUS ITA ESP DEU DNK GBR FIN FRA GBR FRA

Chassis/Engine Intrepid / TM Energy / TM FA Kart / Vortex Intrepid / TM Tony Kart / Vortex Parolin / TM Energy / TM Top Kart / TM FA Kart / Vortex Birel / BMB Tony Kart / TM FA Kart / Vortex Zanardi / Parilla CRG / Parilla Energy / TM Zanardi / Parilla Tony Kart / Vortex Birel / BMB Zanardi / Parilla FA Kart / Vortex Top Kart / TM FA Kart / Vortex FA Kart / Vortex Tony Kart / Vortex Energy / TM Top Kart / Parilla FA Kart / Vortex Birel / TM Tony Kart / Vortex Wright / Parilla Haase / Vortex Sodi / Parilla Zanardi / Parilla Sodi / Parilla

Laps 15 +4.216 +4.455 +5.597 +10.093 +10.152 +12.049 +12.144 +12.296 +19.164 +20.275 +21.207 +21.760 +21.870 +22.781 +22.946 +23.165 +23.239 +23.435 +23.791 +24.044 +24.202 +24.441 +24.733 +25.542 +26.248 +29.242 +36.349 +4 Laps +11 Laps +14 Laps +14 Laps +15 Laps +15 Laps

Left, in 2012 George Russel wins at his local track, PFI in Grantham.

Thanks to this win, he took home the second KF3 European title in a row. Opposite page top, with the Intrepid-TM Russel secured his first continental title in Zuera, Spain. Opposite page bottom, European KF3 podium with the winner Russell between Hansson and Jupp.

2012 CIK-FIA EUROPEAN KF3 CHAMPIONSHIP - PFI, JULY 22nd 2012 Only Alex Palou Montalbo was between Russell and his second CIK-FIA European KF3 title: the Spaniard came to PFI with 13 points advantage, but on his home soil, Russell left no chances to his rival who finished sixth in both races, while the Brit killed the competition with two wins out of two rounds.

Russell…who else?

GEORGE RUSSELL IS THE FASTEST KF3 DRIVER AND FOR THE JOY OF ALL HIS BRITISH FANS, HE GRABS THE CONTINENTAL TITLE FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING AT THE PAUL FLETCHER CIRCUIT IN THE NORTH OF NOTTINGHAM. The curtain fall on the KF European Championship, held in its new 2-round formula this year: 4 finals from which the three best results can be summed up, and Russell hits bull’s eye once again and proves to be the fastest in KF3.

BACK IN GREAT STYLE

Before dealing with the races that animated the PF International circuit for the second and decisive round of the KF2/KF3 European Championship, we should acknowledge Paul Fletcher’s

project for bringing, after twenty years, a CIKFIA titled event to the other side of the English Channel. The track has been updated and has been made longer to host this titled event for direct drive classes. The impact

on first sight is good, all the right amenities to host such an event: the length of the track, 1,382 meters, is perhaps the least important of the changes that have been made. Track layout is technical and fast too (lap time is just under VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 51

Close up GEORGE RUSSELL

55” with KF2), there are appropriate straights and braking points that have characterised exciting races and last but not least, the change variant with a bridge that has given the track a touch of class that has given added value to the entire circuit. All around they have made an embankment, with a path for spectators, something that has already been seen at various French circuits, which reduces the noise level considerably, a solution that enables spectators to enjoy the space and have a wonderful view of the event. On Sunday there were loads of spectators despite the fact that the city of Nottingham and Lincoln are quite a long way away.

This was a result that was made possible thanks to promotion made for the event by the organiser who has also invited the RAF acrobatic team to fly at the rush hour on Sunday.

The RAF is based a few kilometres from the circuit.

is less convincing. Looking at the results after the heats, there are 6 British drivers in the top 9 places and this confirms that they know the track, which is a great advantage that must not be underestimated.

Timed practice and some heats were held in the cold and rain as temperatures were anything but Summery. The weather conditions did change predictions, but not all that much. Because taking the results on the scoreboard for the KF3 Championship, after the first round held at Varennes in France, the attention at PF International is focused on Spaniard Palou and Britain’s Russell. Looking at the results after the heats, that is, Race 1 grids, we see Boccolacci (protagonist in Varennes too) with Kodric next to him; and behind Ilott, Jupp, Italian Corberi and OramJones, there is Russell.

Race 1 Boccolacci storms off at the light and leads the pack on lap one, then the fight for lead builds up. After leading for one lap, Ilott is out of the game after a crash. Kodric drops back at the start but slowly comes back, on lap five Russell is already leading the pack. From here on, the result seems obvious. The only thing to do is enjoy the

RUSSEL OUTSTANDING

Russell is on row four grid start for Race 1, but the result leads to believe that there will be changes when you see the escalation up from grid 30 in qualifiers.

While Palou, row six grid,

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As already mentioned in the editorial, the tracks with certain characteristics manage to make the show more exciting with the well-known and not much loved KF classes. So, PF International has highlighted some important aspects of the circuit, so spectators can watch

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duel between Boccolacci and Kodric, immediately behind Corberi and Palou join in and a few laps from flag they overtake Karbaley and catch up with Jupp.

The Spaniard stops best time (55”820). Corberi is outstanding too, he determinedly keeps up with his rivals. At the finishing line, behind Russel, who dominates Race 1, Boccolacci, Kodric, Jupp, Corberi and Palou cross the line at 2” from each other.

Race 2 Kodric and Russell are very fast round the early laps, while Palou is held back (15th). On lap five, Russel presses hard and pulls away, leaving Kodric and Boccolacci to

A winning path started back in 2011 and that hasn’t stopped yet. The next step for the Brit is the F.2 while he is testing the AMG-Mercedes F.1 car.

KF3 CHAMPIONSHIP P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

N 201 202 204 269 226 250 209 310 313 249

Driver Russell, George Palou Montalbo, Alex Boccolacci, Dorian Kodric, Martin Corberi, Luca Ferrucci, Santino Jupp, Connor Florescu, Petru Gabriel Marcu, Dionisios Ticktum, Daniel

Nat GBR ESP FRA HRV ITA USA GBR ROU ROU GBR

fight it out. They complicate their lives and help Corberi make his escalation.

Corberi skilfully makes the most of the chance he gets to take them both, being at the right place at the right time, with Florescu following him through to complete podium. Jupp ends in 4th just as he

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exciting races, which are also selective.

Yes, because in cases like this, the driver is once again the element that makes the difference. During this European championship, we can say it, the drivers’ skill together with the teams’ hard work in setting up the karts have been put to

Equipment Intrepid / Vortex / Vega CRG / BMB / Vega Intrepid / TM / Vega FA Kart / Vortex / Vega Kosmic / Vortex / Vega Energy / TM / Vega Energy / Vortex / Vega Zanardi / Parilla / Vega Top Kart / TM / Vega Zanardi / Parilla / Vega

FRA1 FRA2 GBR1 GBR2 25 0 25 25 13 25 10 (10) 20 (5) 20 8 16 (3) 16 7 11 20 7 11 0 11 0 2 13 13 6 16 0 20 0 0 8 10 -

PT. 75 48 48 39 31 29 28 22 20 18

started, while Palou can do no better than 6th, to win the European he really needed to do a little bit better, at least shadow his closest rival. A mention goes to Ferrucci, grid 16, determinedly and skilfully he gobbles up his rivals and grabs an unexpected but a well-deserved 5th.

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hard trials on both tracks, Varennes in France and here at Brandon. This is why a title gained with such prerogatives as this, really does enhance the driver’s skill more than kart set up, you see on some tracks, it is very important to use your head as well as your right foot.

CORSARO wireless systems keep ruling ! also in 2017

3 TITLES

with three different teams

No cable from your steering wheel to the engine thanks to the compact wireless module positioned behind the seat.

PAOLO DE CONTO KZ WORLD CHAMPION

DANNY KEIRLE OK WORLD CHAMPION

LUCA BOSCO JUNIOR ROK CUP CHAMPION

Ikart RICCARDO & LORENZO PATRESE

43 years later, Patrese is back in karting Lorenzo Patrese decided to do what his father Riccardo did: he started racing in the EasyKart 60 at the age of 12 after having spent years in the field of horseracing. WORDS: A. ROCA PICS: L. MORO

M

aybe motorsport is a family sport more than any other sport. Time goes by, classes and series change, but some names remain, children continue to duel like their dads did and at times even like their grandfathers did.

If the Rok Cup is the stage where Enzo Trulli and Brando Badoer fight, in Easy Kart another important name that stands out in the 60 Easy is Lorenzo Patrese, Riccardo’s son, the same Riccardo who has raced in F1 from 1977 to 1993, 54 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

and who has the longest career in the top series before Rubens Barrichello (who is still in karting…) managed to take the record from him.

The ace driver from Padua, Italy, started his career in motorsport with a kart that his brother made for him when he was 11.

After his world title in karting in 1974, Riccardo moves to car racing in F. Italia. In 1976 Riccardo moves to F.3 and immediately wins the Italian and continental title. In 1977, after

a fantastic performance in the German GP at the Nurburgring in F.2, Patrese gets called to the Shadow GP court to make his debut in the top series where he stayed for a long time. After his father’s performance now it’s Lorenzo’s turn. Lorenzo is 12 years old he races and wins in the Easykart 60 Easy. The 2017 season brings him a second place in the Italian championship and a third place in the international finals held at Castelletto di Branduzzo last 8th October.

LORENZO You started racing in karts

when you were older than several of your rivals! Can you tell us how your love for karting started and what your first approach to this sport was?

“Everything started by chance: we went to watch a Rok race at the track in Jesolo, which is near where we live and I just felt like trying a kart! So, I asked my father if I could have a go, try to do a race and he said I could.

After having left the world of the

4 wheels, he liked horse riding, a sport that I had started practising some years ago, so this request really did put him out!”

Is there anything that motor sport and horse riding, which you have been practising over these last few years, have in common?

“Well, they are both very exciting. They are however quite different, for example, in karting you are there with a group of drivers, while in horseracing you are alone. The only things that are similar are path-lines, both in karting and horse-racing they are very important.”

You have had very good first season in Easy Kart, which difficulties have you had to face this year?

“I lacked experience and especially towards the end of the championship, this generated more pressure on me. It’s just a question of experience, the MLG team has helped me with fine tuning and set up, so I didn’t have any problems. In fact, I take this occasion to thank Andrea and Gianluca Malagoli, Stefano Guidotti and all the MLG team for the past season.”

Is being the son of an ex F1 driver positive or negative?

“It’s certainly quite positive because it’s given me a chance to grow quicker than my rivals, if this wasn’t the case, I’d still be an amateur. My father is always on the track with me, he gives me advice and never leaves me alone. I think that a very small part can be negative, the expectations others may have because of my surname.”

Where would you like to race next season?

“I will try to move to OKJ with Chiesa Corse to the “Trofeo delle Industrie”, then the year after we’ll see whether it’s best to stay in the Italian championship, or maybe try the European.”

What are your dreams for the future?

“It may seem obvious…. F.1 like my dad!”

RICCARDO Your time has come too: you

are now one of those ex-drivers who follow their kids and help them in karting! What has this return to the origin been like? What do you think of the karting environment now, has it changed over the years?

“If you compare the karting environment to when I used to race, it’s is on another planet now! When I was 12, I was the only kid who raced in a kart, maybe there was another one, but the average age was very high. Then again, F.1 has changed too over the past 20/25 years, therefore karting has changed too. Let’s say that today’s karting is much more “stressing” for these young drivers and for all that is involved in karting. I don’t mean that it wasn’t easy to be competitive when I used to race in karts, but there were less drivers, at least on a national level. If we consider that Italy is the reference point for world karting, then things get more complicated!

Generally speaking one misses the crucial point: these kids should be having fun.”

Last month we interviewed Jarno Trulli and he complained about the professional level (and costs) too high in the 60 Mini, a class where kids start moving their first steps in karting; they are already subject to heavy pressure and their parents have to spend a lot of money. What do you think? What do you think needs doing to improve the situation?

“I got closer to karting about a year and a half ago, in 2016, when Lorenzo wanted to start racing, so I don’ think I’m an expert. As for the 60 cc classes, there are various options, and I personally chose EasyKart because I thought it was the least stressing for Lorenzo, and

Terry Fullerton sets the pace leading on Riccardo Patrese, Jesolo 1974.

it would give him an opportunity to grow gradually seeing that he has started a bit later.

Anyway, I think that also the National 60 isn’t so representative for a driver’s future, it all depends on the team that you are with and the move that you intend to do immediately after: the 60 is still almost a toy. As for changes, several things need to be reconsidered. It’s ok to win in the 60, but it’s not everything!”

How does it feel to watch Lorenzo driving a kart, is it more a question of fear or happiness?

“I am more worried than when I used to race. When it’s your son that’s racing all the prospective change. Let’s say that, as Lorenzo has practised horse jumping, it’s helped to get me used to seeing him in situations that are anything by calm. If you think that 17 years in F1 and I never spent one night in hospital, but in karting I broke my tibia and fibula when I was 12, and at the age of 17 I broke my femur … therefore I am aware of how painful a crash can be!”

Your wife (who didn’t seem to be at all at home in the video at Nordschleife on the track), what does she think of Lorenzo’s career in racing?

“To be honest my wife approves!

Let’s say that over the past 20 years I have dedicated much time to horse racing, and I was far from coming back to the four wheels with Lorenzo, instead there was a “conspiracy” between Lorenzo and his mother! She told me to let Lorenzo have a go after he had asked her, and she sort of hinted her approval.”

Do you sometimes come back to karting with a driving suit and helmet on?

RICCARDO AND LORENZO PATRESE POSING WITH MLG RACING TEAM GUYS

“Let’s say that, in 2005, when I raced in Formula Master GP I went back to training constantly in karting, looking to improve performance. Nowadays, it’s a pleasure to go back to the track every now and then to help Lorenzo find the right path-line rather than look to the limit.”

The 1974 world championship was a launch pad towards cars, when you were 20 years old.

What do you think of being a car racing driver at the age of 15? As a father and as an exracing driver…

“All the procedure has shortened, it takes less now, so you get used to it. We could say that as things stand, it’s harder to drive a go-kart than a racing car now: there’s power assistance, power steering, telemetry, gears on steering wheel and so on, so a racing car is quite different to what it used to be. The period of apprenticeship and practice that we used to do to get to F.1. in order to be competitive has been totally done away with.

Thirty years ago, a manufacturer knew that a young racing driver needed time to become a good driver, or he would have done more harm than good!

Today though, the budget it much more important and above all, you have to approach a team and show them that you are ready! When I won the title in 1974, Pino Trivellato spotted me and decided to let me have a go in F.3 in 1976 to advertise Chevron, because he was importer in Italy. He invested in me, a young kart driver with great hopes, and I did very well in F.3 and F.2. Once in the cadet someone from F.1. decided to invest in me, giving me a chance. Nowadays this doesn’t happen anymore: they must be sure that you are a good investment, or you must have a stratospheric potential or you must be backed by a high budget.”

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SPECIAL LOOKING TO THE FUTURE #2

LOOKING TOTHE FUTURE In the previous issue we did an overview over the real possibilities to arrive in F.1. In this second part, we’ll discuss different possibilities to be a pro driver outside F.1! WORDS: A. Roca

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T

orment and delight in paddocks throughout the world: everyone wants a manager, some pretend to be managers, but hardly anyone knows what managers actually do.

How can we get to know what a manager really is? We asked Alberto Tonti, in charge of Minardi Management karting department and counts the likes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Karol Basz among those that he has followed.

First of all, what does the word manager mean?

«A manager helps to create the right path for a driver, so he can build up a career as a racing driver. You should think of a driver as if he was a business where you have to run various aspects and departments, and not just on track performance. You have to choose the right team, the right communications, who manages sponsors that are very important in karting too nowadays, even if there is little appeal. Usually drivers and their families have difficulty in seeing to all these things, especially in the field of motorsport.

In karting we usually act as a “bridge”: we follow drivers up to the age of 14/15 and then we start working with their

families to help them to step up to fomulas. Professional kart drivers don’t really need a manager: top drivers here are quite able to see to things for themselves.

Karting must be seen as a school of life and families often need someone who put performance into a context: winning a title in itself isn’t so important as some may think.

It does help, but the anxiety trying to get a good performance is something that ruins drivers and their relationship with the people around them.

To conclude, a manager is an important character, someone who helps you to understand what you have to do when you grow up: which series, which team, how many tests you have to do and so on and so forth.»

Practically speaking, what is a manager’s job? On what part of a driver’s life is a manager involved with?

«We could say that in karting a manager is more of a “moral support”: you discuss with your driver about the performance, analyse errors and do whatever needs doing. This varies from a mature driver to a driver who is still growing: as far as Karol is concerned, we are just supports, while for younger drivers who have yet

to grow, we are much more important especially if we act as intermediaries between team and family.»

Where does a manager’s pay come from?

«A manager is a businessman who invests in the driver’s career and starts earning when the latter starts getting a salary or when his work starts paying.»

What does a kart driver manager look for? What are his decisions for the driver’s future based on?

«Mainly on his ability to be constant from free practice to the final. A driver has always got to be thought of as long term. He’s an investment, so he has to be an investment where there has to be some profit in the future.

One concentrates on fast drivers with a constant performance, have a good knowledge of set up and can relate to others well with the rest of the team and experts.

These characteristics will also be seen when they pass to car racing. As for any decisions to be taken, it all starts with the driver’s budget and then you have to manage the driver’s career.»

What do you think about today’s situation in the kart-

ing world?

«Today the problem is the OK class, too many differences between professional drivers and young rookies that go through the OK for a short while before moving to cars.

I don’t mean absolute performance, seeing that we have already been proved wrong in the European championship, but to the way a championship or an evetn is run. Young drivers have nothing to lose: they press hard and often go over the limit and this once on a while ruins the race for the more professional drivers who try to avoid crashes and try to take home a result that is very important for them, it’s their job. There ought to be a sort of distinction like KZ1 and KZ2.»

In your opinion, is the touring environment a valid alternative to the singleseater to be able to build up a career in racing?

«At the moment it is. We can say that if there is a chance, having spent some time in the formulas helps a lot, but in terms of absolute professionalism the GT is the environment that offers more places that last longer for a driver’s career.»

A FUTURE AS A PROFESSIONAL H aving seen and found out that you need to have certain requirements to get to the top in the F.1 world, the question that spontaneously comes to mind is: is it all worth it? I mean, can one actually live on motorsport?

The answer is “yes absolutely”

and the roles that one can have to take home a living, wearing a racing suit and helmet, are quite different. Several drivers or father-managers worry whether their child will be competitive in cars from karting, and here Ronnie Quintarelli’s example is perfect. The

driver from Verona has said that the level of racing in karts is incredible and these lads are very fast, so moving to cars is simply a question of adapting to the new situation.

KAROL BASZ, followed by Minardi Management, is a clear

example: the Polish champion started racing in the Italian GT championship with a Lamborghini with Antonelli Motorsport team and proved to have great skill, 10th in the championship equal to his team mate Kasai in the Italian Super GT Cup despite the fact that he

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SPECIAL LOOKING TO THE FUTURE #2

had skipped a few weekends because there were other karting event scheduled for the same weekends. Karol does even more, he’s a driver and coach driver. As long as karting is the university for a racing driver, you need teachers too.

Coach drivers are drivers who teach and give advice to new drivers or those with less experience during race weekends, they are often supervise gentlemen drivers so as to bridge the speed gap that gentlemen drivers usually have.

Karol, when and how did you come up with the idea of being a coach?

«When I started out as a driver, nobody helped me to improve my performance, then I had a 58 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

chance of spending two days testing with Robert Kubica and he helped me a lot. After, when I moved to a national championship, I always wanted somebody to help me to be faster. I felt this need for myself, so I decided to transmit my knowledge to young drivers. I started coaching a Polish guy in 2015, Szymon Szyszko who won the Rok Cup International Finals.»

Can you tell us what you normally do over a coaching weekend?

«During the testing session, when I’m not racing, I usually drive with them and we do simulations races of qualifiers and races. During racing weekends I mainly focus my

job on videos and data, and I try to give them advice and technical support.»

Stepping from GT cars to karting, what are the main differences between these two different worlds?

«The work method is really similar, what’s really different is track time: in GT you only have two sessions on Friday and you’ve got to find the right setup in those sessions, while in karting you spend a long time on the track. This is very useful, especially for young drivers who have lots to learn.

With my engineer, in GT we focus much more on data and videos, while in karting you focus on your feelings on the track. Apart from this there

aren’t so many differences.»

In which of these environments do you see your future?

«GT is something new to me, this is my first year in the Italian Super GT Championship, but despite that we’re very, very fast. In the future, I’d like to be a professional GT driver like I’m now in karting.»

TALKING TO ALESSANDRO BRESSAN

I

t’s no secret that Lamborghini is monopolising all the single brand events, the ones that gentlemen drivers like: the Lamborghini Super Trophy raced with a Huracan is held in every corner of the globe. It’s in the Lamborghini Super Trophy North America that ALESSANDRO BRESSAN started his career in the GT classes.

The driver from Treviso was born in 1986, he grew up in go-karts seeing that his father Vittorio was both driver and mechanic.

After duelling with the old generation of kart drivers for the first 30 years of his life, he gets a one way ticket for the USA.

ALESSANDRO BRESSAN, FROM KARTING TO LAMBO IN THE UNITED STATES. Let’s start with your karting career before moving to USA: how you started racing when you were 8, which is quite late compared to other kids! And yet your father and your brother were drivers..?

«Honestly, I don’t understand how it happened. I started from the 60cc Minikart because I was too old for the 50cc… I had to work hard from the start because I was competing with lads who had much more expe-

riences and I paid my due. I really got some beating up over the early races … Then at last, after a few races I was ready and started to be competitive. Maybe, such a hard debut helped me to learn quickly. In any case I have had to deal with the “illness” involved with racing… I remember wearing my brother’s helmet at home and used a round pan lid as a steering wheel and simulated raced at home, I must have been about 4 or 5 years old.»

After your first 100cc Junior in 2002, you moved to the Senior class and won your debuting race in the Italian championship, then in 2003 you had your first test with F. Renault 2.0… can you tell us a bit more about it! How come you didn’t continue in the single seater?

«My first win in the Italian 100cc ICA championship was a very important moment in my racing career. I was already very competitive and I had won several events in the Junior class, but that was the very first time that I won an important championship. In fact, before that few people knew me, but after this event everyone started asking about me.

It’s since that event, won as a private driver with my father’s support, that I started getting offers and contacts that have enabled me to build up my career as a professional driver.

The test with F. Renault 2.0 was a prize I got from the FIK (Federazione Italiana Karting) for the best drivers in the Italian Open Championship, which at that time was the top of national and international karting, when I used to drive with TopKart-Comer in Roberto Berardinucci’s Jolly Team. A few laps at the track in Vairano, a wonderful experience, even if, to be honest, I really hadn’t a clue on what I was doing when driving! I changed gears, pressed gas pedal and so on...

That formula was an important step for a driver who had only had experience in karting.

Unfortunately that experience remained just that seeing that I didn’t have even half the money necessary to be able to move up to a single seater! So I went back to karting.»

You continued in top level

karting up to 2010 that you moved to cars for a short while, Nissan 350Z in a championship promoted by the magazine Autosprint, but after you had to go back to karting. What has this return to karting been like for you?

«Obviously, being successful and professional in karting, my aim has always been to move up to cars one day. I tried to take any opportunity I could. In this particular case, I entered for any Autosprint contest, that gave the readers a chance to make their dream come true with their support.

I think I won two or three in two years, I think I must have been a nightmare for them!

Anyway, my winning debut with a Nissan 350Z was another important event for getting experience in motor racing.

However, I had to deal with the fact that I couldn’t afford it, so I went back to karting, where I could race as a professional for manufacturing businesses.

Obviously it left a bitter taste as it was another chance I missed, but I worked hard and done my best in karting until another opportunity cropped up.»

What is the role of a professional karting driver? What does he do besides racing during the week?

«Besides being competitive and winning in races, the main role of a professional driver is being able to develop the material. Being able to give the right information and sensation you get when driving to the mechanics, this is an important characteristics to help a team make progress. Top level karting is very competitive each tenth of second can make the difference, so looking to VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 59

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perfection and each detail is fundamental. You have to be precise and constant in drive, pressing hard to stop best time. A driver stops different laptimes by half a second per lap isn’t very good. Several professional drivers work for the kart manufacturers and cover several roles. Some act as mechanics or coach during the racing weekend where they aren’t racing, others work in the factory, or maybe they do both. Anyway, besides representing the image of the team, they are an “integral” part of the team and are part of the soul of the team for which they race.»

The change came in 2012: you fly to the States where you start as a driving instructor for Dream Racing and you continue to race in karts. How did you get this opportunity? Who are the people who helped you in this?

«The main person who made it possible is Enrico Bertaggia, to whom I will always be thankful. Enrico always followed me in racing and when he started racing in karts my father was his tuner and mentor, so he has always been very close to my family. In 2011 he said “come to the States with me and see what I am setting up”, the rest 60 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

you already know… I decided to leave professional karting in Europe and take this “step in the dark” moving to America… a decision that has been worth it. Over the years that followed I continued to race in karts, first thanks to Carlo DeBei with CKR and then with J3 Competition with whom we developed CompKart that I am very proud of, and I thank Justin Stefani and the Giacomelli brothers, fantastic, professionals for having believed in me.»

From the height of your experience, how important is it to have a good manager

tion in the right direction. We know that at first, everyone aims for Formula 1, but actually getting there is quite different. The competition, not just the track but also the economical/political is very high and not everyone is made for it. Being able to direct your ambitions and change your career properly is very important to become a true professional who will be able to find his role in motor sport. A good manager can help you to achieve your aim Is it possible to be competitive in open wheel cars if

TRY TO BE AS COMPLETE AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL, DRIVING SKILLS ARE NOT ENOUGH to rely on if you want to be a professional?

«Before thinking of getting a manager, he should see if he really has the skill and the money to achieve his aim. Can he afford it? Nowadays a good manager is important, especially for helping the driver plan out his career according to his budget/skill and direct the driver’s financial situa-

you come up straight from karting?

«Like in all sports, I think that you do need time to learn.

Even if it’s different for clear reasons, a formula car is more similar to a kart than a GT car, drive is more direct and aggressive like in karting. A touring car is usually heavier, you have more power to deal with and aerodynamics, which

is more limited and this means there’s much more strain on the tyres. All this means that you must have a different drive style altogether, I might even say “more evolved”, one that maintains the same precision elements and decisions that derive from karting, but at the same time there’s also more smoothness and ability to see and interpret load shift on suspension, which means using your intelligence in steering, both gas and brake don’t interfere with the vehicle and this allows you to maintain high speed. With my experience, I think that it took me quite a bit to understand all this, and my experience working as instructor at Dream over these years has been very important to improve my drive style and be more successful with GT cars.»

How did you feel about moving to America?

«Ok I think I have always been drawn to the USA, I got used to it quite easily to the new environment. Obviously it was hard to leave everything I had here in Italy: family, friends, habits… and the food!

I really do miss that. If ever I have learnt anything from this move, it’s that we Europeans are really very different to the Americans in all aspects of life. Cultural and social differences… much more that meets the eye.»

Environmentally, is motorsport in the States very different? Why? I think so. I think that in America, in some aspects it’s “healthier”… In Europe we are used to think that whoever wins is robbing. In America, when you win your rivals are the first to congratulate you…

over there, they seem to live the competition better. Then, sometimes it isn’t so there either (did someone say NASCAR?), but generally speaking the atmosphere is more relaxed and real. What makes the difference are the fans, here they really get excited.

Your contact with the public is a fundamental part of the sport in USA, while in Europe there seems to be a division between those involved and spectators.»

At the moment you are a driving instructor and professional driver always with Dream Racing, what qualities should someone have to play such a role?

«One above all the rest, determination and ability to make sacrifices. One thing is certain, what has brought me so far in this is the hard and constant work I have done over the years, it isn’t something that came up out of the blue.

I have worked hard to improve my skill both as a coach and as a driver, I have learnt many aspects concerning this job working as instructor, this might surprise you, but it has also helped me to become a better driver.

Teaching others how to drive and correcting the mistakes is a constant exercise in reasoning that later turns out to be skill in analysing your own drive style and understand the response you get from the vehicle better. Besides this I made the most of other professional skills, in fact, besides being a coach and driver, I’m also branding manager at Dream Racing and coordinator of Lamborghini Academy courses organised in Las Vegas.

Let’s say that I have tried to make the most of my learning

ability and get the most out of any field where I want to stand out from the rest.»

How much does a coach earn per weekend? Is the pay very different to what they get in Europe?

«They usually earn from about a couple hundred to about a thousand dollars a day, depends on the instructor’s level and experience. A top instructor gets about one thousand dollars a day. I don’t know how much they earn in Europe, but in many cases it’s about the same, even if I think that the job as a coach is more common in America.»

What advice would you give to kart drivers who are trying to become professionals?

«My advice is to try and be as complete as possible. Not on a driving level, but in all the rest. If you want to be a professional driving skill is the first thing and a necessary skill.

What makes the difference is having a good technical and mechanical knowledge, which allow you to see what is happening to the vehicle when it undergoes the various strain, and hence being able to give the right indications to the mechanics. Furthermore, it helps to have good communicating skill, being able to relate to others and introduce yourself appropriately.

It’s important to have a good culture and being able to speak more languages are all help in the world of professionalism.

Many professionals become “ambassadors” for factories and teams that they race for, and nowadays a driver is also requested to be an advertising instrument, a show case for the product. The more complete you are, the more you have to offer.»

A FUTURE IN KARTING T

here are drivers that go from cars to karting and others from karting to cars, BEN BARNICOAT is one of them. After years in karting, a European KF win in 2012, Ben moves up to cars in autumn 2013 and then he won the 2014 season in F. Renault 2.0 NEC. The year after he’s fourth at the Eurocup always in F. Renault 2.0, and in 2016 it’s his last season with the open wheels in the F.3 Euro-series before passing to the Blancpain and the covered wheels.

After a good season in F.3 you moved to GT cars… why?

«To be honest, the biggest issue is the budget. I’ve been sponsored for many years by Racing Steps Fundation, which is a private no-profit fund that provides and finances competition and performance development programmes for young British racing drivers and motorcycle racers.

These people supported me for many years, but now they have decided to stop the whole program. I was a bit upset, but at the end of the day they gave

me a lot of opportunities from international karting to single seaters for three seasons.

So, after that the best way to continue as a pro driver was to step to GT cars.»

How different is the GT environment compared to the environment in the single-seater?

«Well in the single-seater you have your own car you work on your own with your engineer, so you can tune your car to respond to your feelings.

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got to work well with him and look to longer races. The atmosphere is really different, I enjoy that because it’s more relaxed compared to singleseater and sometimes two different experience, yours and your car-mate’s experiences are better than one!»

Is it easier to become a prodriver with touring and GT cars rather than formulas?

«The best way to become a GT driver is to spend a few years in a single seater so you get used to having more power and a heavier car.

All the best GT drivers have started in single seaters, only a few of them have moved

from karting straight to GT. The single-seater environment is an opportunity to prove that you’re a good driver and if, for some reasons, you don’t get an opportunity to move to F.1, GT cars is a way to be a prodriver.

Nowadays, there are many options, in England for instance there’s the Ginetta Junior Cup, which is a championship for earlier karters that teaches them how to drive a GT car, after they generally move to GT4 competition, but if they get the chance, I suggest they spend some years in single seaters.»

You moved to race cars, but

CONCLUSION

you have never left karting completely. Are these just spot races or are you thinking of a future as pro-karting driver?

«In the last two seasons, 2016 and 2017, I have done many races with Terry Fullerton since he started manufacturing his own chassis. His team is based here at PFI, which is my own track so he asked me if I would do some races for him. In a way I’m a pro driver because I’m helping him to develop the material.

I have only raced in England in at national level, this is the first CIK-FIA event with OK engines, it’s my first important appointment.»

Do you coach young drivers?

Have you ever thought about being a coach for young driver?

«Not this year because I’m really busy with the McLaren program in the USA, but last year I was coaching for Fortec Motorsport, a British Formula 4 team.»

If they don’t end up with a helmet and a racing suit, often drivers end up in managerial roles on the paddock handing over tools and carburettors: from being a driver to a driver mechanic until you end up being a team manager or maybe a team owner like Danilo Rossi.

What is the summery of all this rambling on? Look around, keep your eyes open, there isn’t just Formula 1, give more importance to the people you meet in the paddock because one day, a phone call could bring about a change in your career. There are lots of good drivers, but one tends to remember the ones that you see more often: go to the track even if it’s just to say hello to someone, you are constantly under the spotlight. Step out, take a challenge and good luck!

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Advice karting drivers WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONSIGLI PER ILfor KARTISTA

PRECARIOUS BALANCE Before tampering with setup it’s important to have weights well distributed if you want to have a well-balanced kart. REPORT: E. BARBIANI – PICS: A. SCUDIERI

A

s we all know, it isn’t very easy to have a good setup so that we can stop better lap-time. The first important parameter to work on is weight distribution. What I mean by weight distribution is the amount of vertical weight is applied onto all four wheels when the kart is still and the driver sitting in normal driving position. Let’s go on and try to see how to work out this parameter and if necessary, how to adjust it…

external part of the turn obliging us to counter steer to avoid going into a spin.

If entry speed into a turn is right, understeering can be a symptom of lack insufficient load on the front, while over-steering can be a symptom of insufficient rear load. Good weight distribution allows you to make the most of all four tyre-grip and reduces chances of problems concerning over-steering and under-steering increasing therefore speed round the turn.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WEIGHTS AREN’T DISTRIBUTED PROPERLY?

KART ON A SCALE…

If we want to answer this question, first of all we must be able to understand two responses that a kart could have when going round turns: under-steering and over-steering. Under-steering is when the fore-carriage tends to point to the external part of the turn and therefore ending up with path-line being very wide. Instead over-steering is when the rear of the kart tends to skid towards the

Before continuing with the various measurements it’s advisable to bring the setup of your kart to “zero” and bringing the values of height, camber and caster to the standard one set by the “chassis manufacturer” when the kart was made. These basic parameters are available online, or

y t h g i y e t i v w LANgCraE

p u t se

BaAmeters

par

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you could ask your chassis manufacturer.

Tyre pressure should be about 0.6 bar and the same for all four tyres. Once you have “zeroed” the chassis, get four bathroom scales, if possible the same type and analogical ones because the digital ones turn off after a few minutes after weighing and make everything rather unpractical.

At this point, you are ready to weigh your kart: let a friend help you, place the four kart wheels on the four scales and block the brake so that the kart is

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Advice karting drivers WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION CONSIGLI PER ILfor KARTISTA still, can’t go neither backwards nor forwards. Then sit in the kart in your normal driving position and let your friend note down the values seen on the four scales. Remember to hold the steering wheel straight when weighing because even the slightest angle would falsify the load reading.

Adding together the four loads you will get total weight of your kart added to your own weight (PT).

Adding together the two front weights you will get forecarriage weight (PA).

Adding together the two rear weights you’ll get rear carriage weight (PR) To find the percentage of load on fore-carriage you will have to work out PA/PT x 100 while for rear carriage weight you will have to work out PR/PT x 100.

I tried this on my kart and these are my results: Front left weight is 31.3 while front right is 33.2 kg. Rear right weight is (engine side) and 50.5 kg on rear left is 53.4 kg. It’s about 2-3 kilo difference between the right hand side and the left hand side that is unimportant. Summing up the front weights PA = 64.5kg while total rear load PR is 103.9kg. PT is therefore equal to PA + PR = 64.5 + 103.9 = 168.4 kg . So the percentage of load on fore-carriage is 64.5 / 168.4 x 100 = 38.3 % while the percentage on the rear is 103.9 / 168.4 x 100 = 61.7%. This setup helps rear grip at the expense of more front road hold.

What affects weight distribution?

What affects it most is the driver’s position, and this can be proved if you move forward or backward in the kart when the kart is on the scales; you can see the differences by just moving your torso. At this point, you may be asking yourself which is the best percentage of load on fore-carriage and rear carriage: the best range varies (according to over-steering or under-steering) between an equal distribution on front and rear (PA and PT equal) it’s 60% load on rear and 40% on front. Between two wheels with the same axis though, the load has to be basically the same so that the two wheels work in the same way, so from this point the seat has to be slightly turned to remove some weight from right rear wheel (loaded by the engine).

If the distribution of weights isn’t satisfactory for you or it’s beyond this field, it’s best to change the position of the seat or seat tilt, moving the engine or the ballast that is in the kart. Moving the seat a bit forward or reducing tilt you will reduce load at rear, moving it back or tilting it further back you will add more weight at rear. Whenever you work on seat always bear in mind the position of arms and legs. Before making another hole in the seat, make sure that you can steer clearly without your knees touching the steering wheel, if they do, remember that the steering wheel can be lifted or lowered by working on the steering column.

CONCLUSION

Try to get to know the consequences of any change you make on your kart, and always note down any change in setup carried out so that you can go back to the previous configuration and have a “registration” of all changes carried out. Correcting the distribution of the weight, any changes that you make will be more efficient and speed will improve. In fact, the starting base is more balanced and it will benefit from any other changes, so kart response will improve and the kart is better performing.

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PROTECT YOUR CHASSIS KG CHASSIS PROTECTION KIT – FIT ALL –

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5

X-RAY ROTA X FR 125 MA X E VO

hours

FIRST WE SQUEEZED IT

then opened it The second phase of our 50-hours with the Rotax FR125 Max: after the duration test, we took it a part to check if there was any wear inside. No particular surprises were found.

Words: M. VOLTINI Pics: D. PAOLICELLI

W

hen we reached 50 hours running on the track without opening the seals on the Rotax FR 125 Max Evo, we obviously finished a hard test that we already talked about in the last issue of Vroom. But it didn’t end there, on the contrary! Nearly 3700 laps done in Arce, was followed by another important instant, exciting and significant moment at the Kart-Shop Italia office in Desenzano, which is the official BRPRotax importer and distributor in Italy.

Let’s see what we found out about this engine that ran for 50 hours.

THRILLING STRIPPING

It was with understandably great excitement that engineer Marco Gelmini first cut the “lead seals” which had till that moment kept the engine sealed, and then he continued

with the actual stripping. There was a certain amount of apprehension in all of us looking on, including Dominik Kusel, a Rotax representative, who had come from Austria. This apprehension gradually vanished as the screws and components were removed: from the external accessories to the clutch, from the cylinder head to the crank mechanism, as he continued disassembly Marco looked at each part closely, his smile didn’t disappear. On the contrary, it increased with some added amazement because each single component had withstood the stress well during the test.

VISIBLY OK

Already before taking the measuring instruments, the first evaluation carried out by sight and “touch” were more

At the end of the nerve-wracking endurance test – more than 50 hours and 3,700 laps at Arce – the Rotax FR 125 Max Evo engine protagonists of the test has been removed from the chassis and took to the Kart-Shop Italia, Rotax Italian dealer, headquarter near Lonato.

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5

hours X - R A Y R O T A X F R 1 2 5 M A X E V O

After 50 hours the engine was disassembed piece by piece under our and Rotax responsibles’ eyes. From left: Reto Cariget and Marco Gelmini (Kart-Shop Italia), Dominik Kusek (BRP-Rotax), Maurizio Voltini (Vroom) and Daniele Parravano (Officine in Progress).

than favourable. There weren’t any worrying “marks” internally; except for a small mark on the cage between the conrod and shaft, which was probably due to dirt or perhaps a small machining burr (the engine was brand new, when we got it).

While the “nail test” proved that there were no steps due to wear on the piston pin.

On examining/observing the various elements spread out on the bench, it was instinctive to pick up the induction pack too, which had been left to the side, and look at it. When Marco noticed, he glared at us saying «Personally, I wouldn’t even waste time looking at the reeds…», which shows his trust in the reliability of this element. In fact, there’s nothing to point out: they shut perfectly and there isn’t the slightest sign of a scratch or anything else. The only negative thing is a crack in the clutch bell, which “started” during some “telemetric verifying laps” after the 50-hour test, just to be sure on some feedback. So, to be exact, 70 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

All 50 hours monitored The test with the Rotax FR125 Max Evo allowed us to see several functioning parameters day after day, thanks to the assistance of Officine in Progress. Graphs 1 and 2 give us an idea of the amount of data that we got in just one day: multiplied by 19 days on the track and you can get an idea of the amount of work carried out. Especially in the first one, we can see the dispersion of lateral and longitudinal forces measured on the kart (green dots): the helical shape shows good overall balance and also when braking with wheels straight you get more grip.

Besides what was mentioned in the first part, we can therefore add a few more elements, that show power and torque varies according to speed reached (graphs 3 and 4) and with the passing of time. You can see how power is higher when you manage to reach higher speed (up to this point it’s all normal) and how these are also connected to the compression too.

However, you can also see improvement in lap time, connected more with having gained more confidence with the kart and improved track conditions. In the case of torque, there’s always a drop but it’s not so evident: therefore, lower compression penalises power more, also because you no longer reach certain revs at the end of the straight.

Graph 5 shows how power consumed remains quite stable in time (apart from an abnormal day 13th March) and this proves the substantial consistency of this engine.

The “highlight” was cutting the seal that up to that moment “armored” the Rotax Engine.

GRAPH 1

GRAPH 2

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5

hours X - R A Y R O T A X F R 1 2 5 M A X E V O

REVS VS POWER Maximum power is higher when revs are higher (obvious), after March 13th the engine couldn’t reach those revs no more. To higher power doesn’t corrispond a faster laptime beacuse of the set up and the feeling that was growing day after day. In lines below we can find: HP / laptimes / day.

GRAPH 3 In the second line we added the compression measured at the end of the day: we note how the drop is linked to the revs that the engine is able to reach.

GRAPH 4 Same thing for the torque, it drops too but less steeply compared to HP. The lowering of the compression affects more the power (because the engine is unable to reach right revs).

GRAPH 5 Even with a different driver, fuel consumption remains stable, with the ecception of March 13th, it shows the driveability of the engine and its consistency.

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The disassembling didn’t reserve any particular surprise. We opened the crankshaft as well and the measuration of the rod after 50 hours of use showed a roundness of 1 and 2 millimeters on two extremes.

we should say that the engine had run for 51 and a half hours.

OVERHAULING GUARANTEED

Seeing that we have mentioned overhauling recommended and suggested on the Rotax Max after every 25 hours of running, let’s take a closer look at this aspect which shouldn’t be overlooked during a karting season. Usually one just changes the piston, rings, gudgeon pin and small end cage. This is something that should be carried out at an authorised Rotax centre, to safeguard the reliability of the engine and the veracity of the seals, and it takes one hour to do.

The cost for overhauling an engine is 206 euro.

At the start or at the end of a racing season instead, complete overhauling is recommended.

In this case all the washers are changed for bearings and conrod, besides what is done for a “simple” overhauling and it takes 3 hours to carry out: consequently final cost goes up to 662 euro. It’s important to add that, when complete overhauling is carried out at Rotax authorised centres, there is a 6 month guarantee that the Austrian firm give to all its karting customers.

Wear checked Already on taking ita part, Marco couldn’t resist picking up a bore gauge to check allowance between the piston and cylinder, to see if after over 50 hours of running allowance had passed from the original 6 hundredths to 9-10. Further measurements carried out after taking the crankshaft apart showed how the connecting rod had become oval by just 1 thousandth on the piston side and 2 thousandth on the shaft side. The housing of the same shaft had dropped 1 and 2 hundredth, found respectively on the ignition/gear side and on the clutch/pinion side.

The bearings instead had 5 and 15 thousandths wear. Therefore, stress had had limited effect despite the number of hours, besides the first 25 (that is when overhauling is recommended) are usually quite devastating.

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hours X - R A Y R O T A X F R 1 2 5 M A X E V O

RANDOMLY

Here are all components of the Rotax engine used for the test.

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Considering normal racing use, the engine only needs to be overhauled twice: simple overhauling half way through the season and complete overhauling at the end of the season.

So, we can say that, in these overall 50 hours (if we could have opened engine during out test), overhauling costs about 17 euro per hour.

EXPENSE

If we add to the previous expense, which is purely “mechanical”, the cost of fuel and lubricant used up by engine over these 50 hours (about 365 euro and 10 litres respectively) we can work out that the cost per hour of motoring is about 33 euro in all. Naturally, also tyres, track rental and so on should be added to the cost: it is however interesting and we’d like to compare it with the cost of a “normal” kart engine as soon as we get a chance to check these parameters directly (and not just by “rumours”).

In any case, both the data concerning running costs and the sturdiness of this engine proved by this test and the general easiness in running a Rotax FR 125 Max even the latest evolution (“Evo”) show and justify the great success of these engines with karting drivers, In fact, also in Italy, where up till now the Rotax series hasn’t certainly been supported, we have about 90 drivers

who compete in the championship; but what more a greater number of hobby drivers who appreciate the merits of the Rotax (one of which is having fun on the track with hardly any problems) and our test did confirm these qualities.

During disassembly, Marco Gelmin couldn’t resist measuring the gap between cilynder and piston: compared to the original, it had increased by 3-4 hundreths.

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X-Ray TM KZ10C

X-RAY OF A WINNING ENGINE

GEAR-CLASS TM We tested the latest TM for the 125 classes, the KZ10c, on the track. Thanks to the telemetric detection obtained by Officine in Progress, we were able to numerically check the characteristics of the engine, which proved its supremacy during the last World Championship in Wackersdorf. WORDS: M. VOLTINI AND OFFICINE IN PROGRESS

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X-Ray TM KZ10C

A The last evolution of the 125 TM shifter engine, the KZ10c, is more rifined in the manufacturing and it also offers the possibility to customize the clucth cover in different colours.

fter having seen in Vroom, not so very long ago, how to take apart and re-assemble a TM KZ10c, we now go back to the leading engine (at least for karting) made by the factory in Pesaro, to take a closer look at kart response on the track.

A response that, in the last world championship in Wackersdorf confirmed to be top class, seeing that the engine was outstanding in both in KZ with De Conto and KZ2 with Irlando. Therefore, it’s worth taking a better look at this engine, at least in its standard configuration, that is, how it’s sold to the public. We have

seen what the technical innovations of the KZ10c are compared to the previous KZ10b in a specific report in the February issue of Vroom. This time though, we have been able to do a bit more, and what’s more, we have done it directly on the track thanks to an engine supplied by TM, a DR kart engine, and last but not least, the instruments used for the study, which with the collaboration of Officine in Progress were mounted on the kart.

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Having been able to rely on several track test days, with driver Daniele Parravano’s help, and Andrea Saccucci as "analyst" and the setting for our test at the karting circuit in Arce, we have managed to get quite a few results and observations, to be able to formulate a thoughtful and complete opinion of the TM KZ10c. Let’s take a look at what we found out.

LATEST GENERATION We aren’t exaggerating when we say that already just by looking at the KZ10c you can feel the history and experience of a manufacturer like TM in the field of 125cc gear class engines, on the contrary.

«Its features and structure give you a sense of safety», Parravano said, and it’s true that, the idea of a compact, reliable engine seems normal just by looking at it. Then again, this latest version is the latest in forty years of engine manufacturing experience in general.

However, what were they trying to achieve by making this KZ10c compared to the previous KZ10b?

Besides general improvement concerning the external aspect too, they worked on the cylinder, casing and muffler trying to get more “robust” delivery that advantaged low revs without exaggerating with high revs. They have worked to get a good “flow” and at the same time reduce maximum revs, so as not to strain the material too much.

EFFECTIVE DECOMPRESSION A first “sensorial analysis” with the KZ10c – that is, our first impression when driving along the track – is immediately positive and confirms how this latest evolution of the TM gear-class is undoubtedly a great success.

«From the very first laps – says Parravano – we are struck by very good torque at low revs. Generally speaking, we can talk of excellent delivery also at average-high revs,.

However, generally speaking it is really efficient».

As the tests continue, at Arce (which Daniele knows well), tests that have been carried out over the past months, we appreciated the

good overall qualities, including the material used and how the structure of this engine seemed almost practically indestructible.

However, as already said, we didn’t want to stop just at the impressions we got when driving, we also wanted to see with OiP whether these sensations were confirmed or not by the results we got from the data acquisition system. Andrea Saccucci patiently extrapolated and re-elaborated this data so that we could understand a bit more, and underline the qualities of the engine in question.

LOTS OF SENSORS Several sensors were mounted onto the KZ10c used for the test, not just those for water temperature and rev counter: we also added sensors for induction, temperature and pressure of air drawn in, and at the exhaust (hence carburetion) we monitored both gas temperature using a lambda probe which enabled us to check out several interesting things. A first example of what we were able to digitize in the actual response of the KZ10c during the test can be seen in

graph 1, where you can see all the feedback concerning revs, speed, temperature, carburetion, position on the track and so on, which we got over a sequence of laps from when we entered the track to track exit, in a more general way. Graph 2, shows the flow of previous values, but only on a limited part of the lap, so single values can be verified at different parts of the track which makes it a bit “clearer”.

CARBURETION AT "C" In both cases, the bottom right graph is quite interesting, in

GRAPH 1

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X-Ray TM KZ10C

GRAPH 3

GRAPH 4

USING A PROFESSIONAL LAMBDA SENSOR ALLOWS US TO CONTROL CARBURETION MORE ACCURATELY AND IMMEDIATELY THAN EXHAUST GAS TEMPERATURE: GREEN DOTS SHOW ITS TREND, MORE CONCENTRATED AND “RICH” NEAR HIGH REVS AND MAJOR LOADS. 80 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

these screens: the green dots show lambda values registered according to engine revs, and it practically shows how carburetion is distributed while the kart is racing along the track. A clearer picture is seen in graph 3, in a 2-stroke engine with gears, you get the usual “C” shape, where the distribution of the points (in fact: the more stable and precise the more concentrated they are) the bottom right one is more interesting: in fact, it

and at incomplete load, those shown in the remainder of the "C".

Which “work area” is the one that ought to be kept in consideration?

This we can see also in graph 4, relative to engine response along the straight that in Arce takes you to the small internal turn; instead we see a transitional situation in graph 5. We can see more clearly and in more detail how the engine actually responds on acceleration from gear two to gear six, on turn exit in graph 6, where the different

the information on carburetion that we have used during the test is more accurate.

ratios used at that particular time have been highlighted.

Furthermore, you can see how the lambda probe (white line) is more reactive compared to the exhaust gas thermometer (green line), so

depends on the driver and also on gear ratios. This too was monitored, and in graph 9 you can see revs and speed, you can see the actual “situations” that occurred while the engine was working. It’s

POWER WELL-DISTRIBUTED In any case, it goes without saying that, when we talk about an engine the first thing we want to know is about power and torque delivered. A data acquisition system allows you, by intertwining the various data concerning acceleration, induction and so on, to get this information and in particular check the delivery curve. This is seen very clearly in graph 7, while the exact values at different revs can be seen on table 8. We can therefore, assess how the engine manages to supply something like 49 horse power at the wheel (hence net of absorption of drive, chain and axle included) when it turns at about 13,600 rpm.

Furthermore, you can see how engine torque is rather “flat” in a range of preferable use, that goes more or less from 11,300/11,500 up to 13,800/14,000 rpm.

Obviously, if staying within this range of use allows you to get better propulsive performance, the responsibility in succeeding

GRAPH 5 shows how carburetion is in full load at high revs, that is, when power is required. Lambda value below 1 shows carburetion which is basically rich, and leans momentarily in the transitory

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X-Ray TM KZ10C easy to check that if you change at 14,000 revs, but also just before, you always remain within the “pull area”; and also you can see how during actual use as often happens, this can occur especially

during gearing up or dropping gears round turns, you use the engine even at lower revs. You can also see how (correctly) the spacing of ratios brings about less drop in speed when changing higher gears.

VARIABLE TEMPERATURE Something interesting came up during these tests with the TM, we can see how the water temperature changes, yellow line, “constant but not too much” maybe we noticed

GRAPH 6

POWER TORQUE

GRAPH 7 82 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

RPM 10333 10500 10667 10833 11000 11167 11333 11500 11667 11833 12000 12167 12333 12500 12667 12833 13000 13167 13333 13500 13667 13833 14000 14167 14333 14500 14667 14833

TABLE 8 HP 26,09 26,69 19,53 23,08 27,11 29,41 31,33 39,73 38,16 38,13 41,56 38,73 40,51 40,66 41,53 43,29 42,66 44,74 46,64 48,81 46,24 41,11 39,65 39,56 35,63 38,77 38,89 32,92

Nm 17,11 17,33 12,67 14,86 16,98 18,14 19,1 22,82 22,3 22,43 23,51 22,07 22,63 22,68 22,61 24,03 22,7 24,29 24,28 25,19 23,76 21,07 20,17 20,28 17,83 19,56 19,66 15,9

According to performance shown on track, we measured maximum power of almost 49 hp. We need to underline that it’s a “on the wheel” value so it takes into account all dispersions given to drive.

ENGINE TECHNICAL FORM ENGINE TM KZ10C CIK homologation 32/M/24 Type 2-stroke single cylinder Cooling water Induction reed Displacement 124.66 cc Bore x stroke 54.0x54.43 mm N. Of travasi 5 Exhaust ports 3 Connecting rod length 109.8 mm Cylinder material aluminium + nikasil Clutch 9 dry discs Lubrication with 4% mixture Cost 4.063 € VAT included MAINTENANCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS Complete piston every 20 litres of fuel Cage every 20 litres of fuel Reeds every 50-70 litres of fuel Running in 10 minutes CARBURETION (Recommended for Dell'Orto VHSH30) Idle screw opening 1.25 turns Valve bevel 50 Conical needle K98 (2nd notch from top) Pulveriser DP268 Minimum jet 48 Maximum jet 178 Starter jet 60 Float 9g Drip tray 300

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X-Ray TM KZ10C this in the other graphs too. We can look at the previous graph to explain this, but graph 10 where the arrows show a certain drop in temperature of the cooling liquid

GRAPH 10

GRAPH 11 84 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

(blue line) is even more indicative.

This drop in temperature occurs at the braking points for U turns, the harder turns where you spend longer with your foot off the

accelerator pedal therefore with the engine not producing any power or heat. Therefore, when you press on the gas pedal again, you find that water is 3-4 degrees

centigrade cooler, that is, from 47-48°C to 44-45°C. You may think that there’s nothing else to worry about, on the contrary best if the engine “rests” and cools down, right? Instead we saw how this drop in temperature significantly disturbs carburetion.

Especially in graphs 11 and 12, we can see how the lambda probe detected oscillation in carburetion, which doesn’t help delivery at a “delicate” instant when driving: exit of a slow turn.

Such “disturbances” haven’t only been theoretical, they were also felt by the driver, who felt something abnormal in engine response during these phases, enough to disturb pure delivery also at higher speed. Well, it looks as though the engine doesn’t like these abrupt variations of temperature: we evaluated power drop less than 1 horse power, but the effect in terms of smooth delivery was much more.

Naturally, this doesn’t depend on the TM itself, but on how the way the whole cooling system has been “organised”: maybe if we had used a different pulley for rotating the water pump, of if we had mounted a smaller radiator, we could have

overcome this abnormality. This is however an interesting technical comparison that we will deal with during future tests.

CONCLUSIONS As we have said more times over, the TM KZ10c is really the maximum motoring evolution made for karts by the factory in Pesaro and our instrumental tests only confirmed it. They showed the strong points, starting from a “strong” delivery which is also linear.

ADDRESS TM Racing SpA via Fano 6 - 61122 Pesaro (I) tel. 0721-25113 - fax 0721-401808 mail: info@tmracing.it web: www.tmracing.it

Slight changes in the transfer port between the KZ10b and KZ10c cilynders gave more torque at low revs.

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WHEN PRECISION COUNTS!

SINCE 1986 UNIPRO HAS DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED PIONEER PRODUCTS TO ACTIVE RACE DRIVERS WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR RESULTS ENSURING PRECISION, QUALITY AND FLEXIBILITY

UniTire UniTire uses a flexible cable between the handle and the gauge, and that means that all the air that is normally wasted in the hose, is no problem in UniTire. Having the air pressure sensor is placed in the handle no more air is wasted. The handle itself is angled in a way that allows for easy access to the tire valve and with dual valves for letting out air, the handle can be used by both left and right handed users. If you need to let a lot of air out, both buttons can be pressed at the same time. The standard pressure range is 0-5 bar.

Another unique feature is the stealth mode for “secret� tire pressure operation. No more need to try to hide the pressure gauge for prying competitors!

The UniTire - IR model is adding a infrared temperature sensor at the top for measuring tire and asphalt temperature.

UniStop is the right choice when you want an easy to use stop watch with the high quality and elegant design that comes standard with the Unipro products. You can take lap- and split times on up to 4 drivers.

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UniGo 6005 is both a Laptimer and a Data Logger. It means that all data are stored in the Laptimer at up to 60 times per second. It makes it possible to transfer the results to a PC or MAC for further analyzing. The included analyze program will give you the complete overview together with the possibility to compare results between drivers, training sessions and heats.

track test CRG/BRIGGS & STRATTON

IDEAL FOR EVERYBODY

Taking advantage of the launch of the Briggs Kart Championship with CRG chassis and B&S 4-stroke engine, we were able to carry out tests not just on the track, but also during a race.

Words: M. VOLTINI AND L. MORO Pics: BRIGATTI

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track test CRG/BRIGGS & STRATTON

T

he meetings for presenting a new class in Italy, one that CRG is about to launch in Europe, continue; a new class that stands out because it mounts a Briggs and Stratton engine that has already made proselytes in America.

This is a series for kart drivers who want to have some fun without being an exaggerated commitment, both economically and physically. It is though, a higher level than what has been offered

by Endurance events that, always mount a 4-stroke engine up till now. In fact, the B&S 206 is always a single cylinder engine made with pull start, where thanks to the use of a “racing” exhaust you can get about 12 horse power. However, the main difference compared to ”rental” for endurance racing, is the use of the CRG FS4 chassis, which is also a racing chassis, compared to the ones for 2-stroke engines, the only changes made is barely noticeable to house the 4-stroke adequately.

Advantages are reliability and cost, it is really affordable, both in terms of purchase price and maintenance. CRG intends to sell the complete kart (mounting Vega tyres) for 2,700 euro plus VAT.

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In America, where they already race, it seems that drivers would rather buy a new engine between one season and another instead of wasting their time in overhauling. Therefore, it’s not a class that starts in direct competition with KZ karting, or with any other traditional direct drive series, but a class that could be a “bridge” between indoor/outdoor rental and normal races.

COMING TO EUROPE

What we’re saying that CRG is preparing to launch this class in 2018, as an experiment not only in Italy, but also in Germany, Spain and other European countries that “have the amenities” to host the events. Then the factory in Desenzano, on Lake Garda, northern Italy will continue its programme also in Peru, Honduras, South Africa and other countries in the world where they don’t race with the B&S classes yet. As a “launch pad”, karting fans have already had a chance of trying these karts at

Italian circuits such as Lonato, Lignano, Corridonia, Franciacorta, Viverone and Vicenza.

We already had a chance of trying this kart at these meetings and noticed that it worked much better on small tracks where there was no exaggeration in “overspeed” like in Lonato, where it’s hard to find a drive ratio that adapts contemporarily to the straights and the numerous hairpins. On more “sized” tracks the engine responds well, making the most of torque and on turn exit.

Furthermore, besides the mentioned tests, they organised proper races, demonstrative races with invites to Corridonia and Lignano Sabbiadoro in northern Italy. In the second race, we called to arms our photographer come kart driver, Lorenzo Moro (who had already had experience as a hobby driver with his 100cc) and asked him to take part in the race. What follows is what he said about the CRG/B&S that he drove.

OUR PHOTOGRAPHER LORENZO WAS PROMOTED TO TESTER AND DRIVER AT THE EVENT OF THE B&S PROMOTIONAL RACE IN LIGNANO SABBIADORO

SENSATIONS OF A SUNDAY DRIVER BEING USED TO A 100CC 2-STROKE AIR-COOLED ROTARY VALVE, THIS IS THE FEELING THAT LORENZO GOT WHEN HE DROVE A “DIFFERENT” KART, THE 4-STROKE POWERED CRG AND BRIGGS & STRATTON The first approach wasn’t at all obvious.

Being half way between an agile racing kart and a heavy rental kart you have to “get used to it”. At first I thought I would be able drive it smoothly (well, as smoothly as possible) like I would drive my 100cc Formula A, that is delay braking as much as possible with wheels straight and then press hard counting on grip to make the kart turn pressing gas pedal progressively as it exits the turn. Instead this technique didn’t work: due to a new braking system (so a “non-braking” system), tyres with limited grip (yellow Vega) and an engine that although lively would never respond to gas like a 2-stroke racing engine (but we’ll look at the engine in detail later).

So, I had to change my approach. The track in Lignano-Precenicco, where the race organised by CRG was hosted is a particular one: it alternates fast turns one after the other joined to three narrow and hard U turns. Especially the first one and the third of these turns, which you reach at high speed, they really do test your braking skill and also your sensitivity at the wheel.

The drive style of a 100cc driver, as I said, didn’t work. You had to carry out long braking to try and slow down, in any case I was always too fast at corner entry with the consequence of steering inwards and getting (instead of a smooth drive round turn “resting on tyres” and grip as happens with my 100cc) violent, very slow and use-

The 4-stroke Briggs & Stratton 206 engines are the basis for the series that CRG promotes across Europe, allowing considerable savings: the full kart costs 2,700 euros plus taxes, and Vega tires will be limited to 99 euros per set.

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track test CRG/BRIGGS & STRATTON THE BRIGGS KART CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE PROMOTED BY CRG STARTING FROM ITALY, GERMANY AND SPAIN: IT IS ESPECIALLY THOUGHT FOR THOSE WHO BEGIN, FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO “GO UP” FROM THE ENDURANCE RACES AND FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT WANT TO SPEND A FORTUNE less over-steering, then ending up with hardly any power or inertia to be able to exit turns fast.

It took me a while, but in the end I worked out how to tackle these two turns that, it seems, were the turns that made me waste more time. Instead of looking for the best, most accurate and smooth braking point, I started being more aggressive, that is, as we say in common jargon, brake with chassis.

Point the fore-carriage inwards, clamp hard, control skid and as soon as turn exit is in sight, straighten wheels and press hard. This way, not only did I manage to maintain fluidity and allow the engine to work more efficiently, I also managed to gain 5 metres at a time compared to those in front of me.

I don’t know if it’s a characteristic of this kart in particular, probably with a more “aggressive” braking system and tyres with more grip I might have been TECHNICAL FORM Chassis: CRG FS4, bars 28mm, racing line accessories made of magnesium Engine: Briggs & Stratton, 206cc, pull start, dry clutch, about 12 hp power Tyres: Vega Weight: about 70 kg (just kart) Cost: 2700,00 € + VAT Web: www.briggskartchampionship.com

able to get a better and cleaner drive. At this point, we can add that the chassis hasn’t been made – at a structural level – with the aim of looking to extreme grip, it’s very soft and accommodating, not having a third rear bearing makes it extremely free and playful. Furthermore, such a light chassis is a perfect mate for an engine with contained power, but however with good torque. Well, the chassis isn’t a victim of a powerful engine and vice versa, the engine is not suffocated by a chassis, which is too stiff or has too much grip. On the contrary, the characteristics of the chassis make the driver feel at ease immediately and find the right speed, moreover it allows the driver to have some fun and lets him 90 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

find his limit within himself, like I did, and the best way to communicate with the kart to become, once he has the hang of things, one with the kart.

It’s a kart that, although it had put me in difficulty round slow turns, it turned out to be great round fast turns, all you had to do was point the internal curb and find yourself driving perfectly with wheels, accurate and surprisingly fast: this CRG is surprisingly fantastic. The only thing that you have to be careful with (I’m talking about my particular case obviously) lack of rear grip that could change into unwelcome over-steering when you point with fore-carriage too much. When widening out path-line by mistake, instead of pointing or directing with steering wheel (with consequent over-steering), I found it was better to slightly life foot off gas pedal and let it run without forcing; thanks to engine braking, which is typical of the 4-stroke it was sufficient to slow down just that little bit without any pointless loss of grip.

In the end, the engine, a small 4-stroke with a lot more character compared to the rental Honda “lungs”, is really a good playmate. It picks up revs without you even noticing it, and torque available manages to give the impression that it’s pulling you out of the turns. Once you get going, at average revs, response to gas is prompt and perky, making turns fast and fun. Also the way it launches toward the limiter, you reach limit without getting any impression of suffocation or drop in power, but on the contrary it gives the idea of “blocking” has been a great surprise (considering that I am used to a 100cc air-cooled, rotary valve that does almost 20 thousand revs). Well, it’s hard to believe but, thanks to its weight, only 70 kg, the Briggs & Stratton was great, I didn’t miss my 2-stroke air-cooled (especially maintenance and worries like “oh my god, it’s going to explode”), and its combination with a chassis that has been made for a new agile and fun vehicle that when placed with another ten (or more) like it, manages to create really exciting situations with a typically racing spirit.

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Legendary karts BY GLENN DAVIDSON

TONY KART EXTREME

After having previously done up a Tonykart Esprit and using that as my green kart of choice I noticed a new crack in the frame, which was very disappointing. Rather than continue to use the Esprit, I decided I needed to find a replacement so a new search began to try and find a new Tonykart I could do up and drive. 92 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

O

nce again finding a 32mm Tonykart was proving near impossible, so a friend in Italy Neil McKernan found me a frame, had it prepped and painted, then sent it out to Australia. The Extreme had 3 different frame modifications from 1997 to 1999 with the triangles in the waist getting smaller each year.

The frame I received was the 1998 version but with no parts and just a bare frame the search was now on for parts.

Thankfully over the years I had managed to collect some Tonykart spares so I already had a head start on the plastics, steering wheel, rims, hubs and fuel tank. To get the remaining parts I found a old 2nd hand Tonykart Formula that had been modified making it unwanted by most but I decided it could be salvaged and provide the missing parts I needed.

Next came the livery and I decided

upon replicating Johnny Mislijevic’s 1997 Extreme as he raced with the number 1 from his victory in the 1996 World Championships. I decided to run a 50mm axel in the kart and went with the Vortex VR95 engine with a ibea slide carbie. From beginning to end it took over 18 months to finish the restoration but it’s turned out great and is one of the best karts I have restored to date.

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Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT

THE BIREL TARGA, WORLD CHAMPION 1973, 1974 AND 1978

1

The Birel Targa Since Edgardo Rossi’s World Championship victory in 1967 the following years had been rather lean as far as follow up World titles went for Birel. Despite putting much research and development into the Birel Drag which was the company’s version of the Swedish Robardie, victory in karting’s premier competition still eluded the Lissone based factory. words: Frank Weir

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2 1./2. Chris Arnold’s replica of Riccardo Patrese’s 1973 World Championship winning Birel Targa T3/ Komet K88.

Photo: Chris Arnold 3. Birel’s ingenious arrangement to alter the wheelbase dimension on the first Targa chassis designated as T0. Note the removable cross member in front of rear axle.

Photo: FTM Vintage Kart

3

Birel owner back then Umberto Sala and his son Oscar thought it was time to develop a completely new chassis which would be simpler than the Drag and above all else less complicated to set up.

The Targa began to take shape, a chassis which would bring Birel untold success in the 1970’s.

The first version of the Targa (T0) was introduced in 1972 and was constructed using tubing of 1.125 inches diameter.

The wheel base was adjustable by relocating the position of the rear axle bearings; this gave a wheelbase of either 1010 mm

or 1060 mm, there was no in between setting. The front track was set at 750 mm wide but the rear track could be adjusted by altering the position of the wheel hubs which slid along the axle. This chassis was the first Birel kart to have side nerf bars to prevent the wheels of competitors’ karts from becoming entangled during close racing. Fuel was carried in a new purpose designed fibreglass fuel tank similar to the tank on the Drag but altered to fit between the two steering column supports located just in front of the seat.

Production of the Targa chassis commenced during the winter of 1971/72. It won easily on its first outing at the 1972 opening race at the Pista d’Oro track near Rome driven by Eugenio Piazza. Not only did Birel works drivers win; but private entrants who raced the Targa also started to take top finishing positions.

Despite high hopes for the Targa at

the 1972 World Championship held that year in Kalmar Sweden Birel returned home with nothing. The kart that season was the fastest yet it achieved no notable results at international events. Umberto Sala believed in the kart but realized that something was not right, perhaps the team organisation needed to be better or the drivers required additional incentives.

Developments continued with the Targa, the T1 version was basically the T0 but had the wheelbase fixed at 1010 mm.

In early 1973 the Targa was the chassis to beat. It scored a string of victories in Italy and soon everyone at Birel thought it was time to win at International level.

The second Coppa dei Campioni was scheduled for the first weekend in June 1973 at Jesolo. Oscar Sala won the first final, Baroni was second, Gorini finished ahead of Fullerton in fourth and Necchi claimed fifth place. Sala had to retire VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 95

Vintage ICONIC KARTS FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF THE SPORT with mechanical problems in final two but finished second in the third final.

Overall victory went to Gorini driving a Taifun nevertheless Birel had shown that they had a kart that could possible win the World Championship slated to be held later that year at Nivelles in Belgium. That fact was not lost on Terry Fullerton who drove a Barlotti at Jesolo; between races he spent considerable time talking with the Birel team.

Four times World Champion Francois Goldstein was considered favourite to win the Nivelles event and make it his fifth victory on his homeland. Terry Fullerton had other plans. He had decided that the Birel Targa chassis would be the kart to win him his first World crown. By this time the changes had been made to the prototype. The wheelbase was now fixed and the removable cross member behind the seat was now permanently welded in position.

In August during the height of summer two months before the World event Fullerton tested the Targa T2 chassis on the Nivelles track. The T2 had a 28 mm rear cross member and a similar diameter tube just in front of the seat; the wheelbase remained at 1010 mm. Oscar Sala and Komet’s Giuseppe Morini left Lissone by car in the late afternoon the day before Fullerton’s test and drove all through the night arriving in Nivelles as dawn was breaking. Despite the noise from racing motorcycles testing at the adjacent car circuit Sala and Morini were so tired that they were able to sleep in their car until Fullerton arrived much later in the day. The British driver who incidentally competed at times using an Irish licence, put in many laps searching for his best set up that day. In the late afternoon as the temperature started to fall and the track conditions began to mirror what would be expected in October at the World meeting Fullerton turned in very impressive lap times. The Belgium importer for Birel had been watching Goldstein’s preparation for the event from a distance so the Birel folks knew the times that needed to be matched. At the conclusion of Fullerton’s test the Birel camp was full of optimism; Sala departed from Nivelles convinced that Birel could win the World Championship that year.

Fullerton was not an official Birel 96 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE

works driver; he ran his own team at the tracks with help from his father and his brother. Nevertheless Birel and IAME were involved in developing and preparing his equipment. The circuit layout at Nivelles was more suitable to the short stroke Komet than the Parilla. The track included a number of slow corners and a long straight. This would be an advantage to the short stroke motors because they could fit shorter gear ratios, in other words rear axle drive sprockets could have an additional two or three teeth added which would allow the karts to exit the slower corners much quicker and still be able to be accelerating just before brak-

first final.

Fullerton drove spectacularly in the first final passing both Goldstein and Vokinger as Goldstein hesitated when overtaking Vokinger on lap three. This move by Fullerton was considered by many as the moment the 1973 World Championship was won for Birel. Fullerton continued onwards towards the front of the race taking the lead a few laps later to win. Unfortunately Goldstein had a rear tyre deflate and finished a lowly twenty second.

The second final eventually started after Goldstein was given the opportunity to make running repairs. Fullerton immediately went into the lead and Goldstein

4 ing at the end of the long straight. Even Goldstein who had won his previous four World Championships with Parilla power arrived at the World meeting with Komet engines mounted on his Taifun karts.

Goldstein and Fullerton confirmed their superiority with their qualifying times and were the only competitors to get below 47 seconds. Fullerton was fastest with a time of 46.60 seconds followed

by Goldstein on 46.97 seconds. The outlook was good from the Birel point of view until the second heat race which included Goldstein and Fullerton. Both drivers had turns in the lead but as a result of a coming together between them both were disqualified from that race. Fullerton was now on the walking wounded list and Birel’s hope for a World Championship title was slipping away. Goldstein had won two heats and Fullerton had placed second twice. However both had to pay the price for the disqualification starting eleventh and thirteenth respectively in the

5

THE FIRST 1972 TARGA WHICH ALLOWED THE REAR CROSS MEMBER TO BE DETACHABLE AND THE DISTINCTIVE REAR AXLE BEARING PLATES WHICH PERMITTED THE WHEELBASE TO BE ALTERED. THE EXPLODED VIEW IS TAKEN FROM THE BIREL REPLACEMENT PARTS CATALOGUE OF THAT ERA. 4. Terry Fullerton on his way to victory in the 1973 World Karting Championship on board his Birel Targa T2/ Komet K88.

5. Topside and underside anatomy of Terry Fullerton’s 1973 World Championship winning Birel Targa T2.

Photo: Alan Burgess 6. Riccardo Patrese won the 1974 World Championship at Estoril using a Birel Targa T3/Komet K88.

7. American Lake Speed became World Champion at Le Mans in 1978 driving a Birel Targa T8 powered by a Parilla TT22.

6 made rapid progress from well back on the grid to occupy second position on Fullerton’s rear bumper with seven laps to go. Fullerton was well aware that Goldstein winning the second final would not stop him from being World Champion so he allowed Goldstein to pass and then set about taking care of his engine to make sure that he finished in second place to become the 1973 World Karting Champion driving a Birel Targa chassis.

Six years after Edgardo Rossi won the title for Birel at Monte Carlo and after many years of deep technical crisis the factory from Lissone was back on top of the karting world.

7 The Salas’ next objective would be to win the World Championship again but this time with a real works team managed by Birel and perhaps with an Italian driver. And this they did the following year in 1974 at Estoril with Riccardo Patrese using the T3 version of the Targa which was softer in the centre than its predecessor; the cross member in front of the seat was now reduced from 28 mm to 20 mm diameter. The final World Championship victory for Birel in the 100 cc category was won by American Lake Speed affectionately known as ‘The Tourist’ at Le Mans in 1978. Lake’s Targa was designated as the T8. The T8 model used

30 mm diameter tubing for the frame and had a two bearing 30 mm diameter rear axle, all design features in response to stickier tyres, though Lake used a 25 mm rear axle to win at Le Mans.

The World Championship for karts powered by 100 cc engines terminated at the end of 1980. A new class using a 135 cc engine was selected by the CIK as the category that would compete for the title of World Champion in the years ahead.

The Targa would be the foundation for the successful kart that Birel would develop for the new class but that’s a whole story on its own for later

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Racing Calendar

NOVEMBER 11th & 12th

WSK Final Cup - II round

18th & 19th

SKUSA SuperNationals

DECEMBER 2nd & 3rd

Rotax Winter Cup China

KZ2, OK, OKJ, 60 Mini S1 Pro, S2 Semi-Pro, S4 Masters, S4 SuperMasters, Micro Swift, Mini Swift, X30 Junior, X30 Senior, X30 Masters TBD

Adria

Italy

Las Vegas

Las Vegas, USA

TBD

China

DKM: EVEN MORE INTERNATIONAL IN 2018 The highest German kart racing series is already setting the course for the year 2018. The new racing calendar comprises five events again, two in other European countries.

The 2017 season is a big success for the German Kart Championship with the grade series DKM, DJKM, DSKM and DSKC. The fields of participants were always strongly manned and the fights for the titles were really exciting.

For the next season the German Motorsports Foundation (DMSB) is going to hold on to the strong concept next year as well. The racing calendar is going to comprise five events again. The DKM is going to take place in two foreign countries for the first time.

Racing calendar DKM 2018: April 13th - 15th 2018 – Lonato (ITA) May 11th - 13th 2018 – Wackersdorf June 1st – 3rd 2018 – Ampfing July 27th – 29th 2018 – Kerpen August 17th – 19th 2018 – Genk (BEL)

Karting Australia releases 2018 National Karting calendar FOLLOWING MONTHS OF PLANNING, KARTING AUSTRALIA’S NATIONAL EVENT CALENDAR FOR 2018 HAS BEEN FINALISED.

Aimed at keeping a very similar schedule to 2017, the calendar has also been arranged to avoid the major motor racing and sporting events around the country where possible. To encourage participation on either side of the Tasman, there are also no clashes between the Kartsport NZ major Series’ and Karting Australia’s National Championship and Series.

2018 AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 - February 23-25 - Monarto (SA) Round 2 - April 13-15 - Albury (VIC) Round 3 - May 25-27 - Newcastle (NSW) Round 4 - July 27-29 - Emerald (QLD) Round 5 - August 31 – September 2 - Port Melbourne (VIC)

2018 RACE OF STARS October 12-14 - Gold Coast QLD NSW KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 - April 27-29 Round 2 - July 13-15 Round 3 - September 28-30

SA KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 - April 28/29 Round 2 - July 14/15 NT KART CHAMPIONSHIP July 6-8

2018 ROTAX PRO TOUR TASMANIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1 - January 26-28 - Port Melbourne March 16-18 QLD KART CHAMPIONSHIP (VIC) Round 1 - July 6-8 Round 2 - March 9-11 - Dubbo (NSW) Round 2 - September 28-30 WA KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 3 - May 4-6 - Ipswich (QLD) September 28-30 Round 4 - June 22-24 TBA VICTORIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP Round 5 - August 10-12 - Albury (VIC) Round 1 - TBA* Round 5 - September 14-16 TBA Round 2 - July 6-8 *To be advised after further advice is received from Karting Victoria Note - the Calendar of events is correct at the time of publication but is subject to change at the discretion of Karting Australia

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ONE STEP AHEAD

TONY KART by OTK KART GROUP

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