A new adventure is starting for two very young Italian drivers, sent by ACI Sport and the ACI Sport Scuola Federale 'Michele Alboreto' to the FIA XC Academy Trophy. The 14-year-old Matteo Bernini, from Tortona, and Alexander Karim Mancusi, 15 years old, from Rome, will represent Italy in the international series, which will race on kart cross along six rounds around Europe. The first one will be this weekend, on Saturday 24th, and Sunday 25th of June in Germany, at the Matschenberg Offroad Arena in Cunewalde (820 m), near Dresden. The first day is dedicated to the qualifying sessions, which will give access to and draw up the starting grid for the semi-finals and the final, scheduled for the following day.

The European series launched in 2021 is equivalent to the Junior Off-Road European Championship, as it awards the off-road title for the junior category. The FIA XC Academy Trophy is precisely a format designed and promoted by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, involving the different ASNs to identify tomorrow’s champions in rallying and off-road racing. Ten drivers from six different countries, between 13 and 16 years old, will face each other. They will have all the expertise and professionalism provided by LifeLive, the project's technical partner owned by Yannik and Thierry Neuville, the official World Rally Championship driver from Hyundai. Each driver will have a mechanic at his disposal to prepare and manage the 75-horsepower TN5 tubular vehicle in the best possible way.

Second consecutive year of participation for Matteo Bernini, who is now bidding for a possible star season in the series. 2022 was the year of discovery for the young driver, who had started with some participation in Romania. Matteo inherited the passion for rallying from his father Michele, who heads the family racing team. In addition to the stages of the FIA XC Academy Trophy, which will also give him more knowledge of the circuits, Bernini has also had the opportunity to deepen his driving technique and gain experience in the Italian Rally Cross Championship, in which he is also participating in the current season and in which he ranks 5th in the overall standings. "It is great to be at the start of this program for the second year. The first experience,' explains Bernini, 'allowed me to discover this sector and to compare myself with many young drivers and professionals. Of course, having the chance to receive advice from Neuville is something extraordinary, and the Scuola Federale also helped me to grow step by step. We are happy to be able to do this once again. Now I will try to compete in every race, even if the growth path is the thing that matters most."

 

On the other hand, for Alexander Karim Mancusi it is his absolute debut on four wheels. The driver is making his first experience in the competitive cars sector, but he knows well the speed and adrenaline of dirt track racing thanks to his background in motocross, his passion since he was 7. He inherited the family sporting tradition from his father, Massimo, who was a driver in cross-country Baja and rally raids. Therefore, the FIA XC Academy Trophy seems the ideal opportunity to try his hand at the new discipline, starting with a kart cross on the circuit. Probably the shade of motor racing closest to his previous experience. "I'm excited about this new beginning," says Alexander, "but I'm not intimidated, I can't wait to start. Motocross is my passion, but the beginning of this new path in such an important project is a special opportunity.

 

THE 10 DRIVERS        COUNTRY
Juan Manuel Grigera - Argentina
Marius Debuisson - Belgium
Emilien Allart - Belgium
Lucas Cartelle - Belgium
Alexander Karim Mancusi - Italy
Tomas Pregliaso - Monaco
Bryan Neumeyer - Germany
Matteo Bernini - Italy
Jordan Genten - Belgium
Diego Martínez - Spain
 

 

FIA XC ACADEMY TROPHY 2023 CALENDAR: 24 June | Germany, Matschenberg; 22 July | France, St-Georges-de-Montaigu; 26 August | Czech Republic, Přerov; 23 September | Italy, Maggiora; 7 October | Spain, Mollerussa.