Great races at the Circuito di Siena, but also very challenging and competitive to secure a spot in the finals of the second round of the Italian ACI Karting Championship, given the record attendance at the Tuscan circuit, with 283 drivers competing in the KZ2, 60 Mini, KZN Under, KZN Over, Iame X30 Junior, and Senior categories.
In KZ2, it was Simone Cunati (CRG-Tm) from the Modena Kart team – already the leader after the first round in Castelletto di Branduzzo – who collected the most points for the championship standings, which he was able to increase with an excellent victory in Race 1. His teammate, Luigi Di Lorenzo, also made a strong impression, being very fast throughout the weekend and taking the lead in the final, but had to retire midway due to a technical problem, leaving the track clear for Cunati. Cristopher Zani (BRM-Tm) also performed well, finishing second at the finish line ahead of Alessio Baldi (Intrepid-Tm), who also delivered a great performance on his home circuit. Alex Irlando (BirelArt-Tm) finished fourth, with Marco Tormen (Praga-Tm) in fifth and Francesco Iacovacci (Maranello-Tm) in sixth. In Race 2, with the grid inverted in the top 8 positions, Kristian Habulin (TB Kart-Tm) and Leonardo Marseglia (BirelArt-Tm) quickly took the lead along with Tormen, who managed to take the lead in the final part of the race and win ahead of Marseglia and Habulin. Giuseppe Palomba (Croc-Tm) made a great comeback to finish fourth after starting from the back due to a retirement in a qualifying heat. Cunati finished fifth, and Irlando sixth.
The 60 Mini was as competitive as usual, with 69 drivers registered. Giovanni Trentin (Parolin-Tm) won Race 1, quickly taking the lead. In the battle for the other podium positions, Englishman William Macintyre (Parolin-Tm) secured second place, while Andrea Filaferro (Tony Kart-Tm) finished third. Jamaican Alex Powell (Energy-Tm), after shining in the heats, finished fourth. The inverted grid of Race 2 favored Francesco Marenghi (Energy-Tm), who went on to win the second final, with Englishman Coskun Irfan in second place and Powell on the podium in third. In a rather competitive finish, Macintyre finished fourth ahead of Trentin and Flavio Olivieri (Parolin-Tm).
In the first round of the KZN Under season, Roberto Cesari (Top Kart-Tm) triumphed over 2018 Italian champion Emanuele Simonetti (Tony Kart-Tm), who had been the fastest in practice and heats. However, a penalty for a false start relegated Simonetti to fourth place, allowing Alessio Mordini (Energy-Tm) to take second and Andrea Pastorino (BirelArt-Tm) third. In Race 2, Filippo D’Attanasio (Formula K-Tm) proved to be the most determined, taking advantage of the inverted grid to win in a sprint finish over Simonetti, with Edoardo Tolfo (Praga-Tm) in third place.
The KZN Over also had its season debut, with a strong performance by Roberto Profico (Tony Kart-Tm), who won Race 1 over Riccardo Nalon (Parolin-Tm). Marco Pagani (Parolin-Tm) finished third. In Race 2, local driver Simone Torsellini (KR-Iame) took a satisfying victory in front of his home crowd. Marco Ruschioni (TK-Tm) and 2018 category champion Cristian Griggio (Maranello-Tm) joined him on the podium in second and third place. In Race 2, Profico finished fifth, preceded by Fabio Ferretti (Tony Kart-Vortex).
In X30 Junior, Alessandro Cenedese (KR-Iame) had no trouble winning over Israeli Ariel Elkin (Intrepid-Iame), while Cristian Bertuca (BirelArt-Iame) had to forgo third place on the podium due to a 5-second penalty. The third spot went to Francesco Pulito (KR-Iame), with Bertuca classified fourth ahead of Enzo Trulli (CRG-Iame). Bertuca redeemed himself in Race 2, winning a very competitive final, with Elkin in second and Michael Barbaro Paparo (KR-Iame) in third. Enzo Trulli missed the podium in Race 2 due to an accident in the final laps while in the leading positions.
In X30 Senior, it was easy for poleman Edoardo Ludovico Villa (TB Kart-Iame) in Race 1, winning with a good lead over Leonardo Fornaroli and Leonardo Caglioni, both on KR-Iame from the Driver team. Race 2 was much more competitive, with Villa struggling a bit to make up ground due to the inverted grid of the second final. Mattia Ingolfo (KR-Iame) won Race 2 over Vittorio Maria Russo (Tony Kart-Iame), with Caglioni again in third. This time, Villa, also due to a penalty, had to settle for 12th position.
All rankings on the website www.acisport.it
CORRIERE DELLO SPORT. A special page with commentary and photos will be published in the sports daily Corriere dello Sport on Thursday, June 13.
Next appointment with the Italian ACI Karting Championship on July 7 at the Circuito Napoli in Sarno (Salerno) with the categories 60 Mini, KZ2, KZN Junior and Over, X30 Junior and Senior, Rok Junior and Senior.
ACI Sport Karting Press Office
Fernando Morandi
ACI Sport S.p.A.
Email: external.morandi@acisportspa.it
Facebook: @ACIKarting
In the photos: 1) KZ2 start Race 1, Cunaphoto; 2) KZN Over podium Race 1; 3) X30 Junior podium Race 1.