01/04/2011 - The new Italian CSAI Karting Championship officially started today with with qualifying held at the International Circuit Napoli of Sarno. 160 out of the 173 entered drivers passed technical verifications in the 4 categories featured in the event sponsored by CSAI (the Automobile Sportive Commission of Automobile Club Italy) in partnership with Aci Sport Italia. The highest number of drivers, 51, is that of KZ2 category; KF3 follows with 39 entered driveres, category KF2 will see 38 drivers on track while 32 drivers will battle in 60 Mini. Foreign drivers are 23 and will be representing 15 different countries (Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine).

In qualifying held today, Francesco Celenta (Crg-TM) driving for team Renda Motorsport set the fastest lap of class KZ2 in 1´03:970, Alessandro Giulietti (Tony Kart-Tm) followed him closely at 25 thousands; Daniele Quadrana (Intrepid-Tm) qualified in third position. Good performance also by Fabian Federer (Crg-Tm), fourth, who was recently protagonist in the Winter Cup, Antonio Piccioni (Parolin-Tm) followed in fifth, then Marco Zanchetta (Ckr-Tm), Yuri Lucati (Brm-Tm) and Alessandro Bressan (Ckr-Tm), all these drivers qualified within a bit more of three tenths of a second.

In KF2 Matteo Gasparrini (Tony Kart-Vortex) has been the fastest for team Imparato ad set a best laptime of 1´06:123; he had the best of Lorenzo Caponi (Tony Kart-Vortex) for 19 thousands while he was faster than the current Italian Champion Alessio Santilli (Intrepid-Tm) for 72 thousands. Some other protagonists of the race qualified in the next four tenths slot: they are Moretti, Vigorito, Di Folco, Russo, Cinti, Albano, Rovera, Di Bellonio and Marcon.

In 60 Mini the two Russian drivers of Birel powered by Lke engines, Robert Shwartzman and Alexander Zhirkov had the best of the German driver Sophia Floersch (Top Kart-Lke). Very good indeed fourth time for "Alex", son of the multiple champion of uphill races Pasquale Irlando, on Top Kart-Lenzo, as well as the fifth time set by Remigio Garofano, on Top Kart-Lenzo too.

In KF3 Nicolò Balsamo (Birel-Bmb) set the fastest lap but Federico Pezzolla (Intrepid-Tm) finished also among the best drivers as he was second at just 86 thousands; Lorenzo Paggi (Tony Kart-Tm) qualified third. The fourth time (second of his group) was set by the young Canadian talent Lance Stroll (Zanardi-Parilla), who is growing race by race. The fifth fastest time was set by Antonio D´Angelo (Pcr-Parilla).

The event will benefit from TV coverage on Italian networks with live broadcast as well as highlights on motor-sports programmes.

Qualifying heats are on programme for Saturday 2 April; repechage and final-1 races for all categories are scheduled for Sunday 3 April starting from 11.25 (local time, GMT+2) while final-2 (with live TV coverage) will start at 15.25..

The money prize of the Italian CSAI Karting championship is worth 60.000 euros plus what awarded by CSAI in partnership with Ferrari: the most deserving driver (aged between 14 and 15) will win a first level stage at the "Ferrari Driver Academy".

Updated classifications will be available on the website www.acisportitalia.it where all races can also be followed in real time.