The Italian ACI Karting Championship has started at the circuit of Siena with 140 drivers entered in the national categories 60 Mini, OK-Junior, and in the Rok, Easykart and Rotax Trophies, all fighting for the Italian 2018 title, as well as for the Naskart Trophy that will get on track Saturday.

Category 60 Mini features good numbers, with 80 drivers including several protagonists of the past edition and some new emerging talents guided by excellent coaches of the likes of 6 times World Champion Mike Wilson and 4 times World Champion Jonathan Thonon. Some former Formula 1 drivers will also be present, as Luca Badoer supporting his son Brando and Nicola Larini with his son Davide in 60 Mini, while Riccardo Patrese’s son Lorenzo Patrese will compete in OK-Junior after Mini. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, son of team manager Marco Antonelli, will be at the start too.

In the single make Trophies, Rok has a good presence and strong drivers in the two categories Junior and Senior.

 

Friday, April 27th has officially opened at the Circuit of Siena with qualifying. 60 Mini has been split into three sessions due to the high number of drivers, and the best time has been posted by Arab Emirates’ Rashid Al Dhaheri (Tony Kart-Vortex), who completed his best lap in 47.206s in the second session. He was followed by the British driver Coskun Irfan (Parolin-Tm), who has been the quickest in the third session in 47.211s, while the Norwegian Martinius Stenshorne (Paroli-Tm) led the pack in the first session with a best lap of 47.267s.

The best qualifying result in OK-Junior went to Tommaso Chiappini (Formula K-Tm), who posted a 42”052s. Regarding the two categories Rok Junior and Senior the quickest of Junior was Federico Cecchi (Tony Kart-Vortex) in 42.788s, while Rok Senior’s charts were topped by the Polish driver Szymon Szyszko (Kosmic-Vortex) in 41.974s.

 

In Rotax Senior, Davide Vuano (Praga-Rotax) went quickest in 42.874s, while Vincenzo Scarpetta (Parolin-Rotax) led the pack in Rotax Junior in 44.172s. The fastest of Easykart 125 Master was Alfonso D’Eugenio (Birel-Bmb) in 44.220s.

Complete results are available at www.acisportitalia.it.

PROGRAM. Saturday, April 28th: qualifying heats from 9.50 (local time); second chance races 60 Mini at 18.15. Sunday, April 29th: Race-1 for all categories from 9.40, Race-2 from 14.15, TV live coverage on AutoMotoTV (Sky 148), live streaming at www.acisportitalia.it and on the Italian ACI Karting Championship Facebook page.

LIVE ON TV AND STREAMING. AutoMotoTV (Sky 148) will broadcast the racing action live on Sunday, April 29th. The novelty is the live streaming from www.acisportitalia.it and Facebook page of the Italian ACI Karting Championship. TV specials will be aired in the ACI Sport Magazine on RAI Sport, national and about 50 local networks covering the Italian territory.

GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT. A special page with commentary, classifications and pictures will be published on the sports magazine Gazzetta dello Sport on Friday, May 4th.

The Italian ACI Karting 2018 Championship calendar:

1st round: April 27-29 2018 – Circuito Internazionale Siena, Castelnuovo Berardenga (Siena)
Categories: 60 Mini, OK, OK-Junior, Rok, Rotax, Easykart, Naskart.

2nd round: May 25-27 2018 – Circuito Internazionale La Conca, Muro Leccese (Lecce)
Categories: KZ2, KZ3, Iame X30, Rotax, Naskart.

3rd round: June 8-10 2018 – Circuito Internazionale Napoli, Sarno (Salerno)
Categories: 60 Mini, OK, OK-Junior, KZ2, Iame X30, Rok.

4th round: 29/6 – July 1st 2018 – South Garda Karting, Lonato del Garda (Brescia)
Categories: 60 Mini, OK, OK-Junior, KZ2, Rok, Rotax.

5th round: July 27-29 2018 – Adria Karting Raceway, Adria (Rovigo)
Categories: 60 Mini, OK, OK-Junior, Iame X30, Rok, Easykart, Naskart.

6th round: August 24-26 2018 – Kartodromo Val Vibrata, Sant’Egidio (Teramo)
Categories: KZ2, KZ3, Iame X30, Rotax, Naskart.

7th round: September 14-16 2018 – Pista Salentina, Torre San Giovanni, Ugento (Lecce)
Categories: 60 Mini, OK, OK-Junior, Iame X30, Rok.

8th round: September 21-23 2018 – Circuito Internazionale 7 Laghi, Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia)
Categories: KZ2, KZ3, Rotax, Easykart, Naskart.

ACI Sport S.p.A.
Press Office

In the pictures: 1) Jonathan Thonon (on the left) and Mike Wilson (right), at the opener of the Italian ACI Karting Championship. Both are coaches of the 60 Mini drivers; 2) 60 Mini; 3) Rok Junior.