YOUNG TALENTS ON THE RISE: A WEEKEND OF CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS CAMPILLOS, MUGELLO, AND SALBRIS

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The past weekend saw several drivers competing in the Champions of the Future in Campillos, the X-GT4 Italy at Mugello, and the FFSA French Championship in France. Despite the difficulties faced, the drivers’ growth continues relentlessly, proving that every challenge is part of their development process. This weekend highlighted not only their talent and commitment but also the importance of learning from mistakes and challenges, which are crucial steps in their maturation.

Vanesa Silkunaite – DNQ in Champions of the Future at Campillos (Spain), OKJ Category
The first round of the Champions of the Future at Campillos was a tough one for Vanessa Silkunaite. Despite a solid performance, she couldn’t qualify for the final.
Vanessa showcased great speed and talent, but in competitions like these, small details make the difference between competitors. The work put in throughout the week will undoubtedly be valuable for the upcoming weekend, when she will compete in the European Karting Championship. The race will once again be held in Campillos, where her determination and hunger for redemption will give her a chance to achieve a better result.

Pietro Bagutti – DNQ in Champions of the Future at Campillos (Spain), OKJ Category
This weekend also saw Pietro Bagutti competing in the Champions of the Future at Campillos. His performance was not the best due to some difficulties that prevented him from making it to the finals, despite a promising start.
Although he did not achieve his goals, Pietro gave his all. Compared to the beginning of the season, Bagutti has grown significantly, both mentally and in his relationship with the team, which is also reflected on the track. The young driver displayed great talent, and we are confident he will express it even better in the European Championship, once again at Campillos.

Nilas Malik – DNQ in Champions of the Future at Campillos (Spain), OKJ Category
Nilas ended a challenging weekend without qualifying for the final in Campillos, partly due to minor technical issues. However, his determination never wavered, and he gave his best despite not achieving the desired result.
Despite the struggles, Nilas is working hard to find the right balance, and we are sure he will succeed soon. This will allow him to fight for a spot in the finals and showcase his full potential. Malik is in his first year in this category, and for him, gaining as much track time as possible is crucial to gaining experience and further enhancing his already remarkable talent.

Markas Silkunas – DNQ in Champions of the Future at Campillos (Spain), OK Category
A tough weekend for Markas Silkunas, who unfortunately did not qualify for the finals in the COFT at Campillos. Although it was a difficult weekend, it was still valuable in helping him understand the right direction to take in order to achieve significant results.
Markas’ talent is well known, and in the upcoming weekend, when he competes in the European Championship, he will have the opportunity to aim for results that match his abilities and potential.

Vladimir Ivannikov – P23 in Champions of the Future at Campillos (Spain), OK Category
A solid weekend for Vladimir Ivannikov, who had to battle not only against his rivals but also with tire management. Tire handling played a major role in his weekend. Despite two punctures affecting his heats, Vladimir managed to qualify for the final. In the last race, he pulled off an impressive comeback, slightly hindered by tire wear.
His pace was very strong, and race after race, Vladimir continues to grow. Next week, Ivannikov will also compete in the European Championship, where, given his strong performances this weekend and his immense talent, he will have a great chance to achieve outstanding results.

Manuel Quondamcarlo – X GT4 ITALY, MUGELLO
RACE 1- P9/P3 Category
RACE 2- DNF

The first race of the season for Manuel Quondamcarlo marked his debut in the X GT4 Italy championship. His weekend was full of ups and downs. The 2007-born driver, alongside his team, managed to claim his first podium of the season in Race 1. Unfortunately, Race 2 did not go as planned due to an accident that forced Manuel to retire early.
Despite not maximizing his potential this weekend, Manuel and his team leave with the certainty that they can fight for top positions, building great confidence for the rest of the season. In three weeks, Manuel will be back on track at Imola, where he will have the chance to showcase his talent and bounce back after the setbacks of Race 2.

Zack Zhu – P6 in FFSA Championship at Salbris, Junior Category
Another strong result for Zack Zhu, this time competing in the FFSA Championship at Salbris.
The young French driver had a tough start to the weekend, with a qualifying session that was not particularly favorable. However, Zhu showed great resilience, managing to climb up the order and finish the final in sixth place.
Race after race, Zack is displaying constant growth, establishing himself more and more as a frontrunner. It is important to highlight how Zhu is on track every weekend, always giving his best and adapting brilliantly to any changes. His talent is shining through, and we are confident that soon he will reap the rewards of his hard work and determination, achieving the results he truly deserves.
Ultimately, this weekend was a crucial learning opportunity for all the young drivers. Despite some challenges, talent and determination stood out, promising important results in the near future.

Author: Gabriele Bovio

MAYA WEUG READY TO WIN IN F1 ACADEMY AFTER STRONG START

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The Dutch Ferrari driver started the season on the right foot, with an extraordinary pole position in qualifying, a great comeback in Race 1, and a solid performance in Race 2. Although the standings have her in second place, The Maya-MP combination is proving to be successful, so they will head to Jeddah with high optimism.

Qualifying
During pre-season testing, Maya showed her speed, and she met the expectations in qualifying with a pole time of 2:03.379, 0.5 seconds ahead of closest rival and former teammate, Doriane Pin.

Race 1
One of the changes for 2025 is the return of the reverse grid, which the reason Maya started from P8 on the grid. Thanks to her daring and clever overtakes, she made her way through the field and crossed the line in the podium places. The Safety Car periods almost halved the racing laps, so it’s fair to say she could’ve climbed even higher with more time available.

Race 2
Due to the slippery asphalt, the race began behind the Safety Car. Maya started from pole position, making her the first to find out the real conditions of the track. When accelerating at the start, she went slightly wide and Doriane Pin, in second position, approached the turn more cautiously. The two rivals went wheel by wheel towards turn 1, where the Frenchwoman took the lead. Maya wisely decided not to continue the fight, instead beginning to study her opponent, in order to overtake her before the finish line. Unfortunately, the remainder of the race did not go as planned and, instead of closing the gap, she finished the race in second position, 2 seconds behind the Mercedes driver. An unfortunate result that doesn’t reflect her true potential.

Conclusions
Maya’s hunger for victory remains unshaken. She won’t be satisfied with second place and is determined to return to Jeddah with even greater resolve to achieve the results she truly deserves.

RECAP WEEKEND: MISFORTUNE ON TRACK, YET YOUNG TALENT SHINES BRIGHT

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This past weekend saw our young drivers hit the track in both the Margutti Trophy and the IAME Euro Series. The performances of the young pilots were of the highest level, despite results not favoring them. However, their growth continues positively, and we are confident that excellent results will soon follow.

Daniele Schillaci, DNQ in the Margutti Trophy at Lonato, OKN category
Daniele’s season didn’t start off well. Over the Margutti Trophy weekend, the LA Motorsport young pilot was very unlucky and failed to qualify for the final. The season’s first race wasn’t the best for him. Nonetheless, we are sure Daniele will bounce back and find his rhythm in the early stages of his season. Schillaci’s year has just begun, and he will have plenty of time to make up for it and showcase his immense potential.

Benjamin Westwood, DNF in the IAME Euro Series at Cremona, JUNIOR category
Benjamin’s weekend was marked by ups and downs due to highly variable weather. In the dry first part, he delivered excellent performances, culminating in securing pole position. However, in the latter part of the weekend, unfortunate circumstances played a decisive role as he faced different weather conditions than at the start. Although the weekend didn’t end well, Benjamin shone early in the competition with an extraordinary pole position in a category he recently joined. Westwood’s work so far has been very positive, and the young driver has stood out in spectacular duels and fast laps. Unfortunately, luck and rain were decisive factors in Cremona. Nevertheless, Benjamin will surely redeem himself and achieve his set goals, thanks to his talent and speed.

Nilas Malik, P17 in the IAME Euro Series at Cremona, OKJ category
Malik finished his weekend in Cremona in P7, but due to a penalty, he will drop to P17 in the final standings. Despite the penalty, Nilas still managed to finish the race on track within the top ten positions. The growth of Malik is evident to everyone. His performance in Cremona was crucial, even though the final result didn’t reward him. Malik’s talent is increasingly emerging race after race. We are confident that in the upcoming events, he will give his best and achieve not only the excellent performances he already demonstrates but also the results he deserves.

Maya Weug – F1 Academy in China at Shanghai
RACE 1: P3
RACE 2: P2

It was an excellent season debut for Maya Weug in China in the two races of the F1 Academy. The young Ferrari Driver Academy pilot secured pole position and finished Race 1 with a solid third place. Remember that the starting grid of the first race is determined by an inversion of positions compared to qualifying. In the second race, starting from pole, the race began behind the safety car. Maya was overtaken on the first lap and, despite an excellent performance, couldn’t regain the lead, finishing nonetheless in second place. Maya’s weekend was extremely positive: a double podium and a pole position confirm her talent and hard work. In China, she proved to be consistently competitive and fast in all sessions. Now, attention turns to Jeddah, where expectations are high. We are confident that her dedication will be rewarded, and she will soon step onto the highest podium position.

NICHOLAS PUJATTI SWITCHES TO TDE TO CONTINUE IN PORSCHE CARRERA CUP ITALIA

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The 17-year-old from Pordenone is set to participate in his second season in the prestigious single-make championship with TDE in 2025. After showing his incredible potential last year, we have no doubt Nicholas can make his mark as one of the best young talents in the category.

Giovanni Minardi: “After a negotiations-filled winter, I’m pleased to have closed the deal with TDE to participate with Nicholas in his second season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. This year we’ll face an even greater challenge, as many experienced drivers will join the category, but I’m sure that with Nicholas’ skills and TDE and his Team Principal Umberto Dalle Piane’s experience we’ll be able to fight on equal terms with the rest of the field and bring home excellent results. Now, we just have to get back on track, take off the rust and go flat out!”.

Nicholas Pujatti: “I’m very pleased to announce my participation in the 2025 season of such a high level championship as the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia with the team from Castel Guelfo (near Bologna), TDE. It’s an honour for me to have the chance to compete with such high level drivers, and it’s an even greater honour to drive a Porsche. I’m very happy with the path we have taken to get to this point and I’m really confident we can do well this year. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this adventure possible, my sponsors, my manager Giovanni Minardi, my family (my brother in particular) and my coach Gabriele Lancieri”.

Umberto Dalle Piane: “I’m very pleased to have Nicholas on board, I’ve been following him closely since he switched to car racing and I’m sure he has a great potential. Now I’m looking forward to starting working together”.

MATTIA BUCCI AND SCUDERIA BEST LAP WILL STILL BE TOGETHER FOR THIS YEAR’S ITALIAN GT ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

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The partnership is renewed for the 2025 season, Bucci will drive the new Ferrari 296 Challenge

Mattia Bucci will continue his Grand Touring racing career with Scuderia Best Lap for the 2025 season. After the good results achieved in 2024, with two podiums in the bag, the pair will tackle the Italian GT Endurance Championship in “GT Cup” class.

The racing driver from Pescara will drive the new Ferrari 296 Challenge, which will debut in the kermesse organized by the sporting division of “Automobile Club Italia”.

Unlike the “Sprint” series format, the Championship will host a 3 hours race on Sunday in which all drivers will be involved in several stints.

The calendar is structured like this:
– Round 1: Misano, May 4th;
– Round 2: Monza, June 22nd;
– Round 3: Imola, August 3rd;
– Round 4: Mugello, September 14th.

Mattia Bucci: “I’m very happy to announce that i’ll be back on track with Scuderia Best Lap in this new sport adventure in the Endurance Championship. I can’t wait to get back driving and give my best to bring home the best possible results. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management for the work they’ve done, the Best Lap team for renewing their trust in me, my sponsors for their support, my family, my staff and Walter Marini together with his guys.”

Giovanni Minardi: “I am extremely happy to have closed for the 2025 season with Scuderia Best Lap and Mattia for the Italian GT Endurance Championship with the Ferrari 296 Challenge. I thank the Team for the help they gave us to close this deal. Mattia will be able to count on the continuity and knowledge of the team and I am sure he will be able to achieve excellent results and aim for the title in his category. I can’t wait to see him in the car.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

BALDASSARRI RETURNS TO THE ACADEMY MINI CHALLENGE ITALY

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Thomas Baldassarri will once again compete in the Academy Mini Challenge Italy at the wheel of the Mini JCW. The young driver, born in 2008, will be driving the Mini for the second consecutive year. Last year, his journey was cut short during the races at Mugello due to a serious accident that forced him to stop for several months.

This year, fortunately, he will have the opportunity to redeem himself and get back on track in this competition.

The Academy Mini Challenge is a competition dedicated to emerging drivers, like Thomas, offering them the chance to compete against high-level rivals. Last season, Baldassarri achieved excellent results, and this year, he will have a great opportunity to improve and fight for victory.

Giovanni Minardi: “I am extremely happy to announce that Thomas will be back on track after the accident at Mugello last season, where he unfortunately broke two ribs, keeping him out of action for a couple of months. Now that he has put everything behind him, he will return to the track with his Mini Cooper No. 7, and I am sure that, with his great determination for redemption, he will have an excellent championship and fight for victory.”

Thomas Baldassarri: “I am very happy to take part in the Mini Challenge Academy again this year because I have always loved the Mini JCW, and I am convinced that this season we have the potential to do a great job and fight for the top of the standings.”

PREPARATION WEEKEND: GREAT RESULTS AHEAD OF THE FUTURE

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The past weekend saw our drivers achieve excellent results, thanks to outstanding performances. Benjamin Westwood and Nilas Malik took advantage of this weekend to carry out tests and fine-tune their setups in preparation for the IAME Euro Series.

Zack Zhu, competing in the FFSA French Championship, secured an excellent fifth place, once again confirming his consistency among the top five. Meanwhile, Julia Angelard delivered another impressive performance, finishing twelfth at Franciacorta in the ROK Italy Series.

Julia Angelard – P12 in the ROK Cup Italy at Franciacorta, Junior Category
One of the standout drivers of the weekend was Julia Angelard. The young talent impressed with her strong performances, culminating in a twelfth-place finish in the final. Despite facing several setbacks in the last race, which forced her to restart from the back of the field, Julia showed great determination, recovering 20 positions and securing a very positive result.
Her progress continues in the best possible way. Each weekend, Angelard demonstrates remarkable growth compared to the previous one. She is developing at an impressive pace, and important results are sure to come soon.

Zack Zhu – P5 in the FFSA Championship at La Hague, Junior Category
Zack Zhu was in action in the FFSA Championship over the weekend, securing an excellent fifth-place finish despite some challenges. The young French driver consistently fought for fourth and fifth place, showing great determination, although he was unable to break into the battle for the podium.
Zack has everything it takes to take the next step and compete for the top three positions, despite the challenges of the championship. From the next race onwards, Zhu will push to fight at the front, relying on his tenacity and strong will to achieve even more prestigious results.

Nilas Malik – P17 in the IAME Open Games at Cremona, X30 Junior Category
Nilas had a highly productive weekend, making the most of the opportunity to test and experiment ahead of the upcoming IAME Euro Series.
Next weekend will be crucial, as it marks the first round of the IAME Euro Series. The experience gained over the past few days, including on-track battles and technical tests, will allow Nilas to arrive well-prepared and determined to fight for top positions.

Benjamin Westwood – P12 in the IAME Open Games at Cremona, X30 Junior Category
Benjamin’s weekend was very similar to that of his teammate Nilas. Westwood will also compete in the IAME Euro Series, and as a result, he used this weekend to carry out several tests. In the final, he delivered a remarkable comeback, climbing up to twelfth place.

The next event will be crucial for him as well. The results achieved over the past few days are promising ahead of the IAME Euro Series. We are confident that Benjamin, like Nilas, will give his all to aim for the best possible result.

JULIA ANGELARD WITH A SPRINT IN THE FINAL OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE ROK CUP ITALIA

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  • The first round of the ROK Cup Italia on the Franciacorta track turned out to be an intense mix of joy and hardship for Julia Angelard.
  • The 13-year-old Pole finished her qualifying session in 11th place, only to encounter some difficulties not only in the subsequent heats, but also at the start of the final race.
  • As a result, the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing driver presented the fans with a spectacular sprint in the final, breaking from 36th place to a high 12th place.
  • The WSK Super Master Series also ended last weekend. Despite competing in only two rounds, Julia Angelard was ultimately classified as 27th out of 72 drivers in the OKN-Junior category, being the highest placed female driver in the table and ahead of, among others, the Iron Dames representatives.

After the first round of the ROK Cup Italia, Julia Angelard can have both reasons to be proud and a sense of dissatisfaction. The Minardi Management protégé showed strong pace during Saturday’s qualifying session after training runs, taking 11th place out of 54 competitors in the Junior ROK category. Everything indicated that the next heats, thanks to starts from the 7th and 8th starting positions, would bring more good results. Unfortunately, reality decided to verify the expectations of the competitor and her team.

Difficult conditions and the finale of redemption
There was no shortage of satisfaction with the result in the qualifications – the result clearly emphasized that the competitor has the potential to improve her position in the races. Unfortunately, she encountered bad luck in the first heat. She was pushed off the track by one of her rivals, which resulted in losing not only valuable seconds, but also places in the grid. Despite her efforts, Julia was unable to return to a good position, what’s more – this was not the end of the problems. In the second race, her rival, who lost control of his vehicle, crashed into her, giving her no chance to avoid a collision. This impact destroyed her chances for a good position, and she finished the race with a damaged kart.

The finale that everyone was waiting for was supposed to be a chance for redemption for Julia Angelard, but bad luck again did not leave the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor. Just a moment before leaving for the track, the engine of her vehicle simply refused to obey and would not start, which is why Julia was unable to go out on the formation lap on time. As a result, she had to start from 36th place, which definitely made it difficult for her to continue fighting. Despite such circumstances, accompanying her throughout the weekend, the 13-year-old Pole did not give up. Thanks to the excellent pace that she managed to maintain throughout the final race, she pushed ahead and eventually finished the competition in a sensational, 12th position.

Ambitions were much higher
“From the beginning of the weekend I had solid pace, which resulted in 11th place in qualifications. Unfortunately, in the first heat I was pushed off the track, and in the second one my rival, who had lost control of his vehicle himself, hit me, leaving me with zero chance of avoiding contact. In the final, bad luck did not let up – just before entering the track, the engine gave out, which forced me to start from P36. Despite this, thanks to great pace, I made it all the way to P12. This is a good result, but ambitions were much higher,” emphasizes Julia Angelard.

However, the Minardi Management protégé may have reasons to be happy after last weekend. At the same time, the WSK Super Master Series ended. Despite starting in only two rounds, Julia Angelard was ultimately classified as 27th out of 72 competitors in the OKN-Junior category. This made her the highest placed female competitor in the table, ahead of, among others, Iron Dames representatives and female drivers covered by junior programs of Formula 1 teams.

The JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor now has a 3-week break. The next races of the 13-year-old Pole can be followed on 03-06.04.2025, when she will appear on the 7 Laghi track in Italy during the second round of the ROK Cup Italia.

TARIQ SOOFI WILL MAKE HIS DEBUT IN ROK CUP ITALY WITH LA MOTORSPORT

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Tariq Soofi will race in the Rok Cup Italy with LA Motorsport. The young driver, winner of the Rotax Max Challenge championship, will put himself to the test with a challenge as complicated as it is important. Tariq will be competing in two races at Cremona and Franciacorta, under different conditions from those he is used to. This will be a very important opportunity for him to showcase his already well-known talent in other categories.

Giovanni Minardi: “After the excellent victory in the Rotax Max Challenge Championship in Bahrain, I can’t wait to see Tariq race here in Italy. We have reached a great agreement with LA Motorsport to compete in the two races at Cremona (00/07) and Franciacorta (00/07). I am glad that Tariq is coming to have this experience and see a different category from what he has competed in so far, but above all to get to know new tracks, which will be important for his future.”

Tariq Soofi: “The ROK championship will be a novelty for me. I will work hard to prepare myself to be one of the leaders in the upcoming races. The most important thing for me is to learn, grow, and enjoy the racing experience.”

Author: Gabriele Bovio

MAYA WEUG HITS THE GROUND RUNNING IN F1 ACADEMY TESTING IN SHANGHAI WITH MP

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The Ferrari driver carried out a perfect testing program with her new team. Now it’s all about hitting the track in Shanghai at the end of the month for the first F1 Academy round of the season.

Day 1
In the morning Maya sent a clear message about her intentions for the 2025 season, setting the benchmark in 2:03.680.
She improved in the afternoon by another 5 tenths, ending the day with 59 laps completed.

Day 2
Like the day before, Maya set the time first, eventually finishing as the fastest of the day. Her name stayed at the top of the leaderboard for almost the entire day and the 207 km covered allowed the team to collect valuable data.

Day 3
Once again Maya sets the benchmark to beat at 2:04.520 and ends the morning in third position, after Chambers and Felbermayr ran with more grip.
In the afternoon she made up for it by setting the fastest time of the day in 2:03.204.

Conclusions
Maya concluded the testing with 162 laps (the equivalent of 12 races) and a very promising speed. The new all-Orange combination seems to be a winning one, so she will undoubtedly be among the protagonists of the F1 Academy 2025 championship.