The winners at the Pista Salentina in Ugento are Elie Goldstein in KZ2, Platon Kovtunenko in MINI Gr.3 U10, Oleksandr Legenkyi in OK-NJ, Leon Chelidze in MINI Gr.3 and Danny Carenini in OK-N

The first round of the 2025 Italian ACI Karting Championship, held at the Pista Salentina in Ugento, concluded with great success in terms of participation and competition, following an intense weekend that saw an excellent turnout of international-level drivers with 230 participants from 35 nations.

On the historic track in the south of Puglia, which has marked the history of karting in Italy with its 40 years of activity, the first protagonists of the Italian Karting season competed in the five categories of this edition, from the smallest MINI Gr.3 and Under 10, to the new direct-drive categories OK-N and OK-N Junior, which on this occasion reached a new record of 120 overall drivers, and finally the highest-performing KZ2 where several champions were at the start.

The first winners in Ugento.
At the end of the final phase, the winners of the Finals are: Elie Goldstein (BEL) (#417 TB Kart Racing) in KZ2, Platon Kovtunenko (UKR) (#55 Borsh Racing) in MINI Gr.3 U10, Oleksandr Legenkyi (UKR) (#204 Team Driver) in OK-NJ, Leon Chelidze (GEO) (#124 CRG Racing Team) in MINI Gr.3, Danny Carenini (ITA) (#373 Zanchi Motorsport) in OK-N.

KZ2 – Goldstein is the absolute protagonist.
In KZ2, the Belgian Elie Goldstein (#417 TB Kart Racing/TM Kart-Vega) definitely made his mark, dominating the final phase with his victory in both the Prefinal and the Final, after having also obtained first position in the qualifying heats. The Belgian driver was impeccable and the absolute protagonist, in the Final won ahead of the excellent Sicilian driver Michael Barbaro Paparo (Monster K Factory/Monster-TM Kart), while the world vice-champion Riccardo Longhi (Birelart Racing/Birelart-TM Kart) managed to recover ground after a difficult start and claim third place on the podium. Fourth place went to Alessio Scabini (DR-TM Kart) ahead of the Under 18 Enrico Martinese (KR-TM Kart). The Finn Kimi Tani (LA Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) received a penalty in the Under 18 standings, dropping to fourth, while Andrea Pirovano (TB Kart Racing/TM Kart) became second in this special classification, and Gerasim Skulanov (King Racing Team/KR-Iame) third. In KZ2 Master, Davide Forè (IPK Factory/IPK-TM Kart) took the victory ahead of Antonio Piccioni (TK Factory/TK-TM Kart) and Angelo Lombardo (Maranello-TM Kart).
Final KZ2:
1st Goldstein Ilie (BEL) 15 laps
2nd Paparo Michael Barbaro (ITA) +2.640
3rd Longhi Riccardo (ITA) +4.912

MINI Gr.3 Under 10 – Kovtunenko stands out.
The Ukrainian Platon Kovtunenko (#55 Borsh Racing/Energy Corse-Iame-MG) won the final ahead of the two Americans Josh Bergman (Kidix/KR-Iame) and Colton Schniegenberg (Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart). Kovtunenko had also stood out in the heats and then in the Prefinal, taking victory again over Bergman. Among the best also Daniel Pasquali (CRG Racing Team/T-Group-TM Kart) with fourth place, ahead of the two Team Driver drivers on KR-Iame, the Pole David Aagten and Ryan Di Munno.
Final Result MINI Gr.3 Under 10:
1st Kovtunenko Platon (UKR) 8 laps
2nd Bergman Josh (USA) +1.102
3rd Schniegenberg Colton (USA) +1.170

OK-NJ – Legenkyi is the protagonist in the final phase.
In OK-N Junior, the weekend went in favor of the Ukrainian Oleksandr Legenkyi (#204 Team Driver/KR-Iame-MG), winner of Prefinal-A and then the Final, ahead of the American Lucas Palacio (King Racing/KR-Iame). The reigning champion Cristian Blandino (GRS Team/LN-Iame) was unlucky instead, as he was forced to retire in Prefinal-A after leading for the first 10 laps, in addition to having set pole position in qualifying and the best position in the heats. Gioele Girardello (Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart) had also tried to get involved in the fight for victory, but in the end he had to settle for third place on the podium. Blandino, making a comeback, conquered fourth position, with the Ukrainian Vsevolod Osadcyi-Suslovskyi (Monster K/Monster-TM Kart) fifth. The American Nicola Stanley (MP Academy Gamoto/Henza Kart-TM Kart), after winning Prefinal-B, finished sixth in the Final, ahead of the Pole Antoni Ociepa (Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE).
Final Result OK-NJ:
1st Legenkyi Oleksandr (UKR) 14 laps
2nd Palacio Lucas (USA) +0.321
3rd Girardello Gioele (ITA) +0.695

MINI Gr.3 – Chelidze wins a heart-stopping final.
The MINI Gr.3 race was also quite hard-fought and was decided only in the final stages with the victory of the Georgian Leon Chelidze (#124 CRG Racing Team/T-Group-TM Kart-MG), in a heart-stopping sprint over the Swede Elton Hedfors (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) and the Romanian Adam Pirvu, Chelidze's teammate. Also in contention for the win were the Scotsman Mason Robertson (BabyRace/Parolin-Iame), winner of Prefinal-B, the Estonian Mark Martin Loomets (MP Academy Gamoto/Henza Kart-TM Kart) and especially Achille Rea (Birelart Racing/Birelart-TM Kart), winner of Prefinal-A, who was instead forced to retire due to an accident a few meters from the finish. Robertson finished fourth, Loomets fifth.
Final Result MINI Gr.3:
1st Chelidze Leon (GEO) 8 laps
2nd Hedfors Elton (SWE) +0.140
3rd Pirvu Adam (ROU) +0.323

OK-N – Carenini takes the win in OK-N.
In the end, in an exhilarating OK-N race, the experience of Danny Carenini (#373 Zanchi Motorsport/Tony Kart-TM Kart-MG) came to the fore as he controlled all the contenders for success and the winners of the prefinals, respectively Kevin Battistoni (LGK Racing Kart/Birelart-Modena Engines) and Andrea Giudice (Marra61/Tony Kart-Vortex). Carenini immediately took the lead of the Final, followed by Manuel Scognamiglio (Tellone Motorsport/Tony Kart-Iame) and the reigning Italian champion Federico Rossi (PRK/Tony Kart-TM Kart). With Scognamiglio forced to retire due to a technical problem, Rossi had no difficulty taking second place, followed by the Finn Mike Parhiala (Kohtala Sports/CS55-Vortex) who climbed to the third step of the podium after setting pole position and winning two heats. Giudice finished fourth, and Nicolas Marchesi (Team Driver/KR-Iame) fifth.
Final Result OK-N:
1st Carenini Danny (ITA) 15 laps
2nd Rossi Federico (ITA) +2.159
3rd Parhiala Mike (FIN) +2.483

Pictures by Ph. Sportinphoto

Photogallery: https://archiviofotografico.acisport.it/Campionato-Italiano-ACI-Karting

ACI SPORT TV RECORDED BROADCAST
acisport.it Canale Sky 228 - Tivù-Sat 52 - @ACISportTV -@ACIKarting
Finals and Prefinals recorded broadcast on Monday at 8:00
Finals replay: on Monday April 14th at 18:45; Tuesday, April 15th at 23:30; Wednesday, April 16th at 11:45; Thursday, April 17th at 14:00; Friday, April 18th at 12:00; Sunday, April 20th at 10:45
Prefinals replay: Tuesday, April 15th at 06:00; Wednesday, April 16th at 07:15; Sunday, April 20th at 07:00

Media programmation.
A television report will be broadcast the following week on ACI Sport TV, RAI Sport and other national and regional broadcasters throughout Italy.

"Under the Helmet" TV Broadcast.

An in-depth look will be dedicated to the various protagonists of the Italian Championship in the TV broadcast "Under the Helmet" aired on ACI Sport TV, hosted by journalist Camilla Ronchi together with guests in the studio and connected remotely, on Wednesdays from 20:30.

On Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday, April 16th, a special page with photos and comments on the event.

The calendar of the ACI Karting 2025 Championship.
11-13/04/25 - 1st - PISTA SALENTINA, UGENTO
23-25/05/25 - 2nd - CIRCUITO INTERNAZIONALE DI VITERBO
13-15/06/25 - 3rd - CIRCUITO INTERNAZIONALE NAPOLI, SARNO
11-13/07/25 - 4th - CREMONA CIRCUIT
19-21/09/25 - 5th - FRANCIACORTA KARTING TRACK

Info: http://www.acisport.it/it/CIK/home

 Press Release © ACI Sport