Three wins by Bertuca in KZ2, Giusto takes the lead of OKNJ, Rossi confirms his speed in OKN, Frasnelli clinches the top of the MINI Gr.3 as Perico dominates MINI Gr.3 U10.

The spectacular finals of the second round of the Italian ACI Karting Championship have crowned the winners of this international event held at the International Circuit La Conca, on the beautiful track in Salento, near Muro Leccese. Following the first round in Sicily at Triscina, this event also saw a record participation with 214 drivers from 31 nations.

The competitive spectacle was exceptional in all race categories, from the high-performance KZ2 with gears to the thrilling youth categories of MINI Under 10 for the youngest aged 8 to 10, and MINI Gr.3 for the slightly older ones aged 11 to 12, in addition to the two new and already highly competitive federal categories of OK-N and OK-N Junior.

KZ2 – Three wins for Cristian Bertuca. Piccini wins race2.
The first of the two finals at La Conca in KZ2 continued Cristian Bertuca's dominance, racing with the LG Motorsport team on a BirelART-TM Kart-Vega. Bertuca has been the author of a perfect weekend from the practices and heats, already leading the championship after the full sweep of victories in the first round in Sicily. Behind Bertuca the increasingly competitive Michael Barbaro Paparo was second with the Monster K Factory team on a CRG-TM Kart, followed by the German Maximilian Paul with Team DR on a DR-Modena Engines. Also excellent was the fourth place obtained by Alessio Piccini with Team Modena Kart on a Parolin-TM Kart after a great comeback. Big applause also for Zoe Florescu Potolea with the KCS team on a BirelART-TM Kart, fifth overall and second among the Under 18s behind Bertuca. Third on the Under 18 podium and sixth overall was Enrico Martinese with the CMT team on a KR-TM Kart. Angelo Lombardo on a BirelART-TM Kart finished seventh, with the Frenchman Jean Nomblot (#115 Renda Motorsport/Sodi-TM Kart) eighth.

The grid inversion in the first 8 positions of race 1, as per the traditional format of the Italian Championship, favoured Angelo Lombardo's start at the front, overtaken first by a sweeping comeback from Bertuca, and then by Nomblot. A few laps from the end, contact between Lombardo and Nomblot opened the door for Bertuca, but he was penalized by 5 seconds for an overtake under yellow flags. The winner became Alessio Piccini, with Maximilian Paul second, Enrico Martinese third and winner among the Under 18s, Paparo fourth overall. Bertuca became second among the Under 18s, with Giorgio Basoli with the Jesolo Race team on a Jesolo TM Kart in third.

In the KZ2 Master, double victory for Davide Forè (#184 GSR Team/BirelART-TM Kart), 14th in race 1 after a comeback of 22 positions, and sixth overall in race 2.

KZ2 Championship
1st Cristian Bertuca (ITA) points 129
2nd Paparo Michael Barbaro (ITA) points 99
3rd Maximilian Paul (DEU) points 56
KZ2 Under 18 Championship
1st Cristian Bertuca (ITA) points 103
2nd Enrico Martinese (ITA) points 71,5
3rd Zoe Florescu (USA) points 48

OK-N Junior – Wins to Berezkin and Eskandari-Marandi.
For the second round of the Italian Championship at the International Circuit La Conca, the two federal categories of OK-N and OK-N Junior also recorded significant participation totalling around 100 drivers. This milestone bodes well not only for the continuation of the Italian Championship but also for the entire grassroots activity of national karting.

In the first final at La Conca, the victory was achieved by Ilia Berezkin, racing with the Monster K Factory team on a CRG-TM Kart-MG, shining throughout the weekend, from pole position in qualifying to victory in the two elimination heats. Close behind Berezkin, Australian Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi (#348 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex) secured second place after battling for the lead with Berezkin. An excellent third place on the podium was obtained by Giacomo Giusto (#335 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart) with a comeback of three positions, becoming the new championship leader. Fabio Reale (#363 LA Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) took fourth place, while Cristian Blandino (#304 Kalì-Kart Racing/Kalì-Kart-TM Kart), who started from the front row, dropped to fifth. Sixth was LA Motorsport's other driver, Bruno Blanco, followed by Michele Orlando with DR-Modena Engines in seventh, and Indian Qarrar Firhand, also with LA Motorsport, in eighth.

The second final highlighted the competitiveness of Australian Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi, who won after climbing six positions. Second and third places went to two LA Motorsport drivers, Bruno Blanco and Qarrar Firhand, while Ilia Berezkin finished in fourth place.

OK-N Junior Championship
1st Giacomo Giusto (ITA) points 70
2nd Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi (AUS) points 69
3rd Ilia Berezkin points 66

OK-N - Federico Rossi is the leader.
In OK-N, the anticipated duel from qualifying was won in the first final by championship leader Federico Rossi (#436 PRK/Tony Kart-TM Kart-MG), who led from start to finish but was closely pursued by his two main rivals, Polish Karol Pasiewicz (#408 Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE) and Turkish Bati Ege Yildirim (#430 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart), who finished in the other two podium positions. Fourth place went to last year's Italian Junior champion, Gino Rocchio (#422 Monster K Factory Team/CRG-TM Kart), ahead of Manuel Scognamiglio (#422 Tellone Motorsport/Tony Kart-Iame). Defending champion Federico Albanese (#401 Italcorse Racing Team/Italcorse-TM Kart) slipped from third to sixth place due to a 3-second penalty. Seventh was Francesco Marenghi (#420 MLG Racing/Parolin-TM Kart), and eighth was the other Polish driver Bartosz Grzwacz (#455 KGT Motorsport/Tony Kart-Vortex) after a comeback.

In the second final, it was Karol Pasiewicz who took the satisfaction of victory after a great comeback, with Federico Rossi also making a comeback to finish in the second step of the podium and further cement his lead in the championship. Gino Rocchio also had a strong race, finishing on the podium in third place. Fourth was Federico Albanese.

OK-N Championship
1st Federico Rossi (ITA) points 133
2nd Karol Pasiewicz (POL) points 93
3rd Bati Ege Yildirim (TUR) points 85

MINI Gr.3 - Frasnelli takes the lead in the standings.
In the MINI Gr.3 category, there was a great battle where in race 1 the victory went to Achille Rea with the Tony Kart Racing Team on a Tony Kart Vortex-MG, after a penalty was issued to Spanish driver Daniel Miron Lorente racing with Team Driver on a KR-Iame for incorrect positioning of the front spoiler, dropping him from first to seventh place. Edoardo Colucci with CMT team on a Parolin-Iame finished in second position, followed by Gioele Girardello with Parolin Motorsport on a Parolin-TM Kart in third. Fourth and fifth were the two BabyRace drivers Julian Frasnelli and the Swiss driver Albert Tamm.

In race 2, Julian Frasnelli soared to victory, ahead of Daniel Miron Lorente and the American from BabyRace, Alessandro Truchot. With this win, Frasnelli takes the lead in the championship.

MINI Gr.3 Championship
1st Julian Frasnelli (ITA) points 99
2nd Alessandro Truchot (USA) points 92
3rd Gioele Girardello (ITA) points 64

MINI Gr.3 Under 10 - Perico dominates and confirms his leadership.
In the MINI Under 10 category, the first final was marked by a series of duels that ultimately saw Georgian driver Leon Chelidze with Team Driver on a KR-Iame-MG emerge victorious, taking the lead in the final laps and clinching the win in a close finish while fending off attacks from championship leader Niccolò Perico with Energy Corse team on an Energy-TM Kart, who finished second at just 52 milliseconds behind Chelidze, and ahead of his teammate, Estonian driver Mark Martin Loomets. In fourth place was debutant David Moscardi with Team Driver, followed by Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio with BabyRace team on a Parolin-Iame, who secured pole position in qualifying. Canadian Rocco Simone and American Luca Palacio, both with Kidix team on a KR-Iame, as well as Andrea Iannone from Spino Project team on an Energy-Iame, also secured strong positions.

In race 2, Niccolò Perico managed to clinch victory in the second final with a comeback of six positions, confirming his lead in the championship. Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio also performed well, securing second place on the podium, with Georgian Chelidze finishing third.

MINI Gr.3 Under 10 Championship
1st Niccolò Perico (ITA) points 130
2nd Leon Chelidze (GEO) points 100
3rd Mark Martin Loomets (EST) points 70.

Results and complete classifications:
https://www.acisport.it/it/CIK/classifiche/2024.

A television broadcast will be aired next week on ACI Sport TV, RAI Sport, and other national and regional broadcasters across the entire national territory.

On Corriere dello Sport, Tuesday, May 21st, there will be a special page featuring photos and comments on the event.

On the ACI Sport website https://www.acisport.it/it/CIK/home, press releases with presentations and comments, an extensive photo gallery, results, championship standings, and links for Live Timing and Live Streaming are published.

Photogallery: https://www.smugmug.com/app/organize/Campionato-Italiano-ACI-Karting/2024/LA-CONCA-Round-2

The next race: the third round of the championship on June 23rd at the Kartodrome Val Vibrata (Teramo).

The calendar of the ACI Karting 2024 Championship.
21/04/24 - TRISCINA - Mini Gr.3 Under, Mini Gr. 3, OKNJ, OKN, KZ2.
19/05/24 - LA CONCA - Mini Gr.3 Under, Mini Gr. 3, OKNJ, OKN, KZ2.
23/06/24 - VAL VIBRATA - Mini Gr.3 Under, Mini Gr. 3, OKNJ, OKN, KZ2.
21/07/24 - SARNO - Mini Gr.3 Under, Mini Gr. 3, OKNJ, OKN, KZ2.
08/09/24 - FRANCIACORTA - KZN Under, KZN Over.
22/09/24 - LONATO - Mini Gr.3 Under, Mini Gr. 3, OKNJ, OKN, KZ2, 100/125 Legend.

 Press Release © ACI Sport