The great success of the 2024 ACI Karting Italian Championship

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Impressive numbers across the five rounds of the Italian Championship: 480 drivers from 45 nations and 1,110 entries, with an average of 222 drivers per race. All the champions of the 2024 Tricolore season.

The 2024 ACI Karting Italian Championship concluded in Lonato with another remarkable turnout, following strong numbers in the first four rounds held in Triscina, La Conca, Val Vibrata, and Sarno.

Excellent participation across all categories.
The five events of 2024 recorded great success in participation, with strong attendance across all categories, from the youngest MINI drivers in the two age divisions of Under 10 (8-9 years old) and Gr.3 (10-12 years old), to the two new OKN and OKNJ categories boasting significant numbers and increasing quality of teams and drivers, and finally, the KZ2 category, which once again demonstrated excellent participation.

In total, 480 different drivers from 45 nations competed in the five rounds of the 2024 ACI Karting Italian Championship, with 1,110 entries and an average of 222 drivers per race. These numbers are further complemented by the 95 drivers in the single event of the KZN Italian Championship in Franciacorta and the 25 drivers of the historic karts in the Legend Italian Championship in Lonato.

Boom in OKN and OKNJ entries.
A significant boom in registrations came from the two new OKN and OKNJ categories, ranging from 90 drivers to 100 at Sarno, confirming the definitive return of direct-drive federal categories in a technical competition not only between chassis brands but also engine manufacturers such as TM Kart, Vortex, LKE, and Modena Engines. KZ2 kicked off strongly in Sicily with 60 drivers, reaching 63 at Val Vibrata. MINI drivers maintained consistent participation, ranging from 75 in Triscina to 86 in Lonato.

Champions and standings of the 2024 Italian Championship.

KZ2 - Bertuca dominates.
In KZ2, Cristian Bertuca (#102 LG Motorsport/BirelART-TM Kart-Vega) achieved a commanding victory after the unfortunate ending of last year when he lost the title in the final race in Franciacorta. This year, the Milanese driver was determined at every turn, starting with a double win in Triscina, a victory in race 1 at La Conca, two podiums at Val Vibrata, a win in race 1 at Sarno, and finally securing the title with a win in race 1 at Lonato. Alessio Piccini (#107 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart) and Michael Barbaro Paparo (#134 Monster K Factory/CRG-TM Kart) finished second and third, respectively. Bertuca also claimed the KZ2 Under 18 title, while Davide Forè (#184 GSR Team/BirelART-TM Kart-Vega) prevailed in the KZ2 Master category.

KZ2 Championship
KZ2: 1. Cristian Bertuca (ITA) points 350; 2. Alessio Piccini (ITA) 202; 3. Michael Barbaro Paparo (ITA) 180.
KZ2 Under 18: 1. Cristian Bertuca (ITA) points 345; 2. Corentin Rousseau (FRA) 163; 3. Ermanno Quintieri (ITA) 156,5.
KZ2 Master: 1. Davide Forè (ITA) points 244; 2. Mirko Mizzoni (ITA) 16.

OKN - Rossi excels consistently.
Lazio’s Federico Rossi (#436 PRK/Tony Kart-TM Kart-MG) dominated the OKN category with a consistently high-level performance throughout the season. He secured wins in race 1 at Triscina and La Conca, double podiums at Val Vibrata and Sarno, with victories in race 2 in both events. He concluded the season with a fifth place that earned him 32 points in Lonato, when he only needed one point to clinch the title. His main contenders were Manuel Scognamiglio (#442 Tellone Motorsport/Tony Kart-Iame) and Gino Rocchio (#422 Monster K Factory/CRG-TM Kart).

OK-N Championship
1. Federico Rossi (ITA) points 317; 2. Manuel Scognamiglio (ITA) 277; 3. Gino Rocchio (ITA) 231.

OK-N Junior - Blandino brings another title to Kalì Kart.
Cristian Blandino (#304 Kalì Kart/Kalì-TM Kart-MG) brought another Tricolore title to the historic Kalì Kart brand with his success in the OK-N Junior category. In a highly competitive championship, Blandino secured the title with a double victory in Sarno. The decisive result for the young Sicilian driver was his fifth place in race 1 at Lonato. His main rivals were Australian Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi (#348 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex) and Cristian Tonalini (#302 Tona Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart).

OK-NJ Championship
1. Cristian Blandino (ITA) points 233; 2. Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi (AUS) 216; 3. Cristian Tonalini (ITA) 189.

MINI Gr.3 - Frasnelli’s upward trajectory.
Trentino’s Julian Frasnelli (#41 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame-MG) claimed the title after a season marked by steady improvement, with many contenders for the crown and unpredictable race outcomes. Frasnelli secured second place in Triscina, followed by a win in race 2 at La Conca. Despite a challenging round in Val Vibrata, he bounced back at the season’s end with a victory in race 1 at Sarno, a podium in race 2, and capped it off in Lonato with another win in race 1 and a podium in race 2. Behind him in the standings were Spain’s Daniel Miron Lorente (#4 Team Driver/KR-Iame) and the USA’s Alessandro Truchot (#36 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame).

MINI Gr.3 Championship
1. Julian Frasnelli (ITA) points 313; 2. Daniel Miron Lorente (ESP) 247; 3. Alessandro Truchot (USA) 226.

MINI Gr.3 Under 10 - Perico triumphs amidst tough rivals.
Young Bergamo driver Niccolò Perico (#213 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart-MG) emerged as a top contender in the youngest category, MINI Gr.3 Under 10, securing the title after three victories in Triscina race 1, La Conca race 2, and Sarno race 1. The points he amassed with additional podiums and particularly his third-place finish in race 1 at Lonato ultimately guaranteed him the Tricolore title. Among his numerous rivals, the most challenging were Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (#218 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame), who achieved a double win in the final round at Lonato, and Georgia’s Leon Chelidze (#207 Team Driver/KR-Iame).

MINI Gr.3 U10 Championship
1. Niccolò Perico (ITA) points 316; 2. Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (ITA) 290; 3. Leon Chelidze (GEO) 203.

Other standings from the 2024 Italian Championships.

Legend 100/125:
Legend 100: 1. Matteo Leonardi (ITA); 2. Riccardo Foltran (ITA); 3. Fabrizio Scottà (ITA).
Legend 100 Over: 1. Allan Hansen (DNK); 2. Lasse Stenkilde (DNK); 3. Athanasios Karachalios (GRC).
Legend 125: 1. Roberto Taglienti (ITA); 2. Matteo Zamboni (ITA); 3. Andrea Maragna (ITA).
Legend 125 Over: 1. Andrea Maragna (ITA); 2. Giancarlo Ricci (ITA); 3. Stefano Cossetti (ITA).

KZN:
KZN Rookie: 1° Andrea Antonello (ITA); 2° Alessandro Zallocco (ITA); 3° Denny Raineri (ITA).
KZN Under: 1° Antonio Piccioni (ITA); 2° Luca Gianassi (ITA); 3° Massimiliano Casagranda (ITA).
KZN Over: 1° Andrea Spagni (ITA); 2° Fabio Ferretti (ITA); 3° Andrea Tonoli (ITA).
KZN Over 50: 1° Paolo Gagliardini (ITA); 2° Alfio Messina (ITA); 3° Luca Levorato (ITA).

Championship standings: https://www.acisport.it/it/CIK/classifiche/2024.

All results: https://www.acisport.it/it/CIK/home

Photo gallery: https://archiviofotografico.acisport.it/Campionato-Italiano-ACI-Karting/2024

In the photo: MINI Gr.3 Under 10 (Ph. Sportinphoto).