BETWEEN FRANCIACORTA AND BARCELONA: OUR DRIVERS’ WEEKEND

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This past weekend, our young drivers gave it their all: some tackled the challenging tracks of the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, while Luka Sammalisto displayed his talent in the Formula 4 Winter Series in Barcelona. Despite some setbacks, performances remained outstanding, and every race served as a valuable learning experience.

Julia Angelard – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK-NJ Category
Julia Angelard faced a challenging weekend in Franciacorta. Struggles in qualifying compromised her performance in the following heat, ultimately preventing her from reaching the finals. However, she made the most of the experience, focusing on personal growth as she prepares for her upcoming category championships, including ROK and COTFAP. Her talent is already well recognized, and we are confident that she will continue to improve, using the lessons from this weekend to achieve even greater results in the future.

Zack Zhu – P9 in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK-NJ Category
Zack Zhu finished the weekend in an excellent ninth place, showing remarkable determination. A minor setback, which led to a penalty in one heat, did not overshadow his consistent commitment.
His performance is promising: if he can capitalize on the positives he has shown so far, a podium finish may be closer than expected, and we are confident he will be ready to fight for it in the next race.

Pietro Peter Bagutti – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OKJ Category
Pietro Bagutti’s weekend was a true test of endurance. Between intense karting tests in preparation for the European Championship and Champions of the Future, he had to start from the back of the grid but fought determinedly, gaining numerous positions.
This weekend surely taught him a lot, and once all the pieces fall into place, we are certain that Bagutti, thanks to his talent, will achieve great performances in the most important championships.

Nilas Malik – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OKJ Category
In his first race in the OK Junior category, Nilas Malik immediately noticed the differences between IAME and WSK, yet he showcased exceptional potential right from the start. Malik was fast throughout the weekend, but a subpar qualifying forced him to fight back during the heats, leading to penalties that ultimately prevented him from reaching the final and nullified his impressive recoveries.
Despite it being his debut in the category, Malik displayed his talent. His speed is evident to everyone, and his potential is immense. With the right effort and dedication, we are confident he will prove his worth and stand out in future races.

Vladimir Ivannikov – P19 in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK Category
Vladimir wrapped up his weekend in Franciacorta with a 19th-place finish. The young driver is improving race by race, becoming increasingly competitive. Unfortunately, his recent weekends have often been marred by bad luck. In incidents with other drivers, he frequently ends up at a disadvantage, making it difficult to secure strong results.
Nevertheless, the path taken with Ivannikov seems to be the right one. His performances remain at a very high level, and in key events like the European Championship and Champions of the Future, we are confident he will showcase his full potential. Vladimir’s growth is exponential: beyond his progress on track, he is also maturing professionally. The upcoming races promise to be exciting with him in action.

Luka Sammalisto – Formula Winter Series Round 4 in Barcelona
RACE 1: P8
RACE 2: P10
RACE 3: P9

Despite adverse weather conditions and a qualifying session complicated by heavy rain, Luka Sammalisto demonstrated great consistency, securing valuable points in all three races.
The goal remains to fight for future victories, and Luka will have plenty of time to prepare, thanks to scheduled tests on Italian tracks. The recent races have acted as valuable preparation, allowing Luka to be as ready as possible for the Italian Formula 4 Championship, the highlight of his season.
This weekend’s performances were still very positive, and there is great optimism about Sammalisto’s potential.
Despite the challenges faced, the past weekend was an important testing ground for our young drivers. The experiences gained have strengthened their growth, and they will undoubtedly treasure what they have learned from these races.

Author: Gabriele Bovio