18/09/2012 – The initiative of ACI-CSAI in collaboration with the Federal CSAI School of Vallelunga for the selection of the best young drivers of the Italian CSAI Karting Championship to be initiated to the Ferrari Driver Academy programme directed by Luca Baldisserri keeps going at full speed.

In the recent fourth round of the Italian Championship held in Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia), the selection awarded Diego Bertonelli (14 years old from Forte dei Marmi) and Mattia Drudi (14 years old from Misano).

The two new selected drivers will add to the previously chosen ones that were: Francesco Iacovacci (15 years old from Rome) and Leonardo Pulcini (14 years old from Rome) in the race of Sarno, Cristopher Zani (16 years old from Brescia) and Danilo Albanese (13 years old from Siena) in Ugento, Giulio Tommasin (14, Padova) and Matteo Desideri (14, Rome) in the race of Siena.

The initiative that has Gian Carlo Minardi as the person in charge, will end with the last race of the Italian CSAI Karting Championship to be held at the International circuit of Abruzzo in Ortona next 30 September that will select the last two youngsters aged between 13 and 16.

The two drivers selected in the Italian CSAI Karting Championship at the Circuit 7 Laghi of Castelletto di Branduzzo:

DIEGO BERTONELLI (born on 31/1/1998, in Forte dei Marmi). He started racing at the age of 7 in the Baby category where he ended second in the Regional Championship. At 8 Diego moved to Easykart, winning the national 60 Easy championship in 2008 and ending third in the International race. He successfully continued in the superior category 100 Easy, winning in 2010 the International Final Easykart. Diego Bertonelli moved to KF3 since 2011, first with the Birel's Junior Team, with which he run the WSK Master Series, the Euro Series and the European CIK-FIA Championship. At the beginning of 2012 he moved to Spirit. In this season Diego moved to DEP Competition on a Tony Kart-Vortex, winning the first race of the Italian KF3 Championship at Castelletto. He will continue the season taking part in the Zuera's KF3 World Cup, in the Rok Cup International Final and in the WSK Final Cup.

MATTIA DRUDI (born on16/7/1998, in Misano). Mattia Drudi, son of the motor-racing champion Luca Drudi, has had so far a successful agonistic career made of 27 absolute wins and more than 60 podiums. Mattia began his activity in the Baby category at 7, winning in 2006 the Ragional Championship and ending fourth in the WSK Euro Trophy. In 2007 he moved to Easykart, winning 5 zone titles in the 60 championship, the national title and the European one. He also ended second in the International finals. Mattia competed in Easykart 100 in 2010 and 2011 where he won the zone title and the European championship ending second again twice in the International finals. From 2008 to 2012 he has been member of the Easykart Driver Program. He also competed in America in the Rotax Trophy with the team belonging to Max Papis. In 2011 Mattia made his debut in KF3 with Birel Motorsport, while in 2012 he is works driver of the First, part of Birel Group, with which he ends fourth in the National Kart Grand Prix. Recently he has been selected by CSAI as Italy's representative for the FIA Academy Trophy, where he won the world race of Angerville. During the season Mattia moved to the team led by his father, Drumel Kart, on Tony Kart-Vortex, with which he obtained the podium in the race of Castelletto.

ACI Sport
Press release

In the picture: Diego Bertonelli on the left, Mattia Drudi on the right.