Mattia Bucci started the engines by signing his absolute debut at the wheel of Formula 4, in preparation for the 2022 season, accompanied by Vito Postiglione.
Along the 1577 meters of the Autodromo del Levante located in Binetto, he traveled the first kilometers at the wheel of the single-seater of Sandro Giuliani’s SG Motors team from Marche, scoring already interesting chronometric results.
Today is the start of a new era for Minardi Management
The birth of the new dynamic and modern Minardi Management logo, accompanied by the renewal of the portal represent a new beginning, also beside the new faces who have joined us in recent months. The DNA is always the same, with more than 30 years of Motorsport activity working alongside young talented drivers to take them to professionalism.
Giovanni Minardi
The yellow lion of Faenza on a blue background is accompanied by the caption Minardi Management placed on the right with the tricolour placed in the midpoint. On the other hand, the trapezium has disappeared.
Giovanni Minardi is pleased to welcome James Egozi. The young promise of American Motorsport, born in 2007 in Miami, starting from this season will be followed by the Faenza Manager who will make available his experience accumulated in over 30 years of career, which began in 1996 in the ranks of the Minardi F1 Team.
Archived a 2021 in continuous and constant growth that ended with the conquest of the WSK Open Cup Title in OKJ, for James a new international karting season opens in the selective OK category at the wheel of the new Tony Kart Racer 401 RR powered by Vortex, engine division of the OTK Kart Group. Parallel to the karting activity, James will begin to look at the world of formulas, with a few days of testing at the wheel of Formula 4.
Giovanni Minardi “I am very happy to start working closely with James as I consider him one of the best talents in karting. It has been a long job, but I am proud to have reached this agreement and to be able to start this collaboration. He lacks nothing to emerge. He has the speed, human skills and the determination to achieve important results in the international motorsport scene. This year, in addition to the karting program, we will also start working on the single-seater front with several days on the track at the wheel of Formula 4 accompanied by simulator sessions.
James Egozi “I am thrilled to be working alongside a world-renowned name like Minardi. In the short time we spent together, we built a great relationship. This year I will continue to drive for the Tony Kart Racing Team with a complete program that includes the WSK, RGMMC and FIA events in the OK category. I will also start preparing for the F4 tests with day sessions at the Wave Italy Simulator Training Center. After winning the title of the WSK Open Cup 2021 and a great experience in the FIA World Championship in OKJ, this year’s goal is to continue to improve my palmares with an eye to the future, aimed at the world of single-seaters. With the help and support of Giovanni Minardi I will be able to build the foundations to achieve all of my goals.”
Giovanni Minardi is happy to welcome Valentino Mini. The promising young driver of Panama’s Motorsport. Starting this year, the promising young driver born in Caracas in 2006, the son of an Italian father and Argentine mother, will be followed by the manager from Faenza who will make available his experience accumulated in more than 30 years of career that began in 1996 in the ranks of the Minardi F1 Team founded by his father Gian Carlo Minardi, in the role of Manager of Logistics for tests of the team from Faenza reaching the position of Team Manager.
With 340 Formula 1 grands prix to its credit the Minardi F1 Team worked constantly alongside young champions taking to their debuts, amongst others, the 2005 and 2005 World Champion Fernando Alonso, the Italians Pierluigi Martini, Giancarlo Fisichella, Jarno Trulli. Alessandro Nannini, the Argentine Esteban Tuero, the Australian Mark Webber, as well as many engineers. Working with young drivers has always been part of the Minardi family’s DNA and with Valentino Mini Giovanni continues this important tradition by giving the start to an ambitious path that has as its objective reaching Formula 1. Lavorare coi giovani ha sempre fatto parte del DNA della famiglia Minardi e, con Valentino Mini, Giovanni prosegue questa importante tradizione dando inizio ad un ambizioso percorso che ha come obiettivo l’arrivo in Formula 1.
After several seasons in the world of karting with more than 120 trophies under his belt, including the titles of the Pan-American and National Champions, in 2020 Valentino took his first steps in Formula 4 and in 2021 he took an important third place on Mexico City’s “Hermanos Rodríguez” circuit on the occasion of the F1 weekend, at the invitation of FIA’s President in Panama, as well as taking pole position and setting a new record on the Cordoba track and second place in the final of the Formula 4 FIA Argentina last December.
Giovanni Minardi “I am very pleased to be able to start this collaboration with Valentino who has already shown his qualities at speed in both karting and his first races in single seater racing cars. We are working hard on the 2022 programme which has as its objective full time employment in Formula 4. We are looking at the championships both in Europe, including Spain and France, and overseas, and also to organize some test days in Italy to make contact with the main tracks”
Valentino Mini “I am very excited to be able to count on the support and backing of Giovanni and Minardi Management knowing that they represent a Team and a brand with an important past in F1. Until now I was alone with my dad. Now I see my childhood dream of Formula 1 coming closer”
Valentino Mini joins Karol Basz, the reigning World Lamborghini Super Trofeo Champion, Giacomo Pedrini, Mattia Bucci, Nicholas Pajutti and Thomas Baldassari trying to follow in the steps of fifteen year old Kimi Antonelli who is already in the orbit of Mercedes AMG thanks to the work carried out with Giovanni Minardi in order to bring the nation of Panama to the peak of Motorsport.del Motorsport.
Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti are happy to announce that Nicholas Pujatti, has become part of the Minardi Management family together with kart drivers Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Thomas Baldassari, as well as drivers Karol Basz and Antonio D’Amico. The agreement was reached with the driver of the Gatto family’s satellite team, CRG Gamoto, at the Sarno track during the recovery of the round of the WSK Super Master Series (which had been cancelled due to snow). He was the author of an important recovery in the Final when he managed to climb up ten positions in just eight laps, finishing the weekend with twelfth position in 60 Mini.
“We are very happy to gather Nicholas into the ranks of Minardi Management which could watch him up close from the beginning of the season. With today’s result he confirmed for us his value technically and we are anxious to begin working together full time during the next round to be held here at Sarno once more,” ” commented Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti. “
“It was a positive weekend in which I enjoyed myself a lot by overtaking a few others. It was a good way to begin working together with Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti. I am sure that together with them I will be able learn a lot and am eager to race once again here at Sarno next week before the beginning of the Italian Championship,” ” was the comment of Nicholas Pujatti. Next week Naples’ International Circuit will host the fourth and final appointment of the WSK Super Master Series.
Minardi Management is happy to welcome 24 year old Antonio D’Amico into the Minardi family.
The driver from Fiano Romano began his sporting activities in 1998 when he debuted in the ACI CSAI kart championships and moved on to the covered wheels in 2014 at the wheel of Seat Ibiza winning the Mugello 4 hour event and coming in second place in the Junior category Championship. The following year he made his international debut in the TCR International series race at Monza, as well as his commitments in the Seat Leon Cup.
In 2016 he was one of the major protagonists of the Italian Super GT Championship at the wheel of a Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo of the Raton Racing Team, finishing the year in third place overall.
“I can only be happy to become part of the Minardi Management family and together I will be able to continue growing as a driver and as a person. In the next few days we will announce the new sporting programme and I am eager to get back to racing once more to achieve new objectives,” commented Antonio
“I am very pleased to welcome Antonio into the Minardi Management family, in these years he has shown his true worth with victories and important placings. Last year he was regularly amongst the protagonists of the Italian GT Championship and closed the season in third spot. Over the next few days the new sporting calendar will be released and I am sure that we will be able to achieve important results together,” said manager Giovanni Minardi
The Minardi Management is pleased to welcome the young driver from Bologna, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, born in 2006, that officially becomes part of the great Minardi family. In spite of his young age, Andrea Kimi can rely on a considerable kart experience and a remarkable prize list enhanced this year’s with the Lonato podium in the 45th edition of the Factory Trophy, one of the most important international events where he has also been one of the best among the Italian drivers at the starting. From this season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will wear the official colors of the Tony Kart and will engage in the WSK 60 Mini categories of the Italian ACI Championship, and in the most significant international trophies with the brand new Neos chassis, flagship of the Tony Kart in the category. Along with the many-times-awarded Factory that has been able to launch names the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Jan Magnussen, Lucas Di Grassi, Fabrizio Giovanardi and Jarno Trulli, Kimi Andrea Antonelli is ready to climb one by one all the steps of the international motorsport pyramid.
“In 2014, I saw Andrea Antonelli Kim in action for the first time during the Federal courses and I became enthusiastic. The results of these two years are the proof of the technical merit of this 10 year old boy, and as Minardi Management we are proud to cooperate with him “ explain Giovanni Minardi, founder of the management company based in Faenza and his associate Alberto Tonti.
“It is an honor to race with the color of the Tony Kart and under the supervision of the Minardi Management. This is an opportunity that comes only once in life, and I will do my best thanks to the experience acquired last season. Today (Wednesday) and Thursday, I will use the Neos chassis again on the Lonato track for the first event of the season in Adria on January 29 that is valid for the WSK Champions Cup ” an enthusiastic Andrea Kimi Antonelli says. “
It starts a partnership with a family that I respect very much. This year Andrea Kimi will experience a demanding season. He will live the first chapter of it at the end of the month, at the circuit of Andria, after Lonato’s tests. Knowing the environment of motor sports well, I will try to not commit the same mistakes made by many parents, leaving Andrea free to walk with his legs without being present in too many races ” says Marco Antonelli, founder of the Antonelli MotorSport.
Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti are pleased to announce their new partnership with Alexandros Vernardis and his photo agency “The Race Box”. Thanks to his experience on major karting international stages, during racing weekends, Alexandros Vernardis will capture the most exciting moments of drivers handled by the Minardi Management that has as standard-bearers the World Champion Karol Basz, Gianni Vigorito and Riccardo Negro.
“I am excited for this new long-term cooperation with a company of the caliber of the Minardi Management. I have already worked with Alberto Tonti and with some drivers like Karol Basz during his winning season”, ” Alexandros Vernardis comments.
““We are thrilled to have achieved a cooperation with “Alex” who beyond being an excellent professional is a wonderful person and knows karting very well. He is an important resource to make growing our brand in this milieu”. ”
Minardi Management and Giovanni Minardi are pleased to welcome Federico Iribarne, born in 1998 in Lanus (Buenos Aires). Thanks to the strong friendship between Argentina and the Minardi family, Federico will make his debut in Italy behind the wheel of Tatuus Formula 4 of Marco Antonelli’s team, on the tracks of Imola (June 16th) and Mugello (June 23rd).
Busy in the 2015 Metropolitan Formula Championship, in his debut in the Old Country the 17-year-old driver will be managed by Giovanni Minardi and Miguel Angel Guerra. The appointment at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola will be an opportunity to get acquainted with the team of Antonelli Motorsport and with the car which is protagonist of the Formula 4 Italia, before continuing the work on the track owned by Ferrari at Barberino del Mugello. Federico will be called to face two demanding tracks that are part of the International Motorsport history.“I‘m really happy to give this opportunity to Federico. For him, everything will be new. The team, the car, the circuit. Imola will be an opportunity to become familiar with the material and know the staff, and then continue the work at Mugello. We speak of two really selective circuits and full of pitfalls. A good test. In this debut, I will be alongside Federico, in order to give him all my support“ ” manager Giovanni Minardi says
“First of all, I want to thank Castor Gonzalez and Miguel Angel Guerra for this great opportunity. On Tuesday I will be in Imola with the Antonelli Motorsport team, together with Giovanni and Gian Carlo Minardi, for a test with the F4. It will be my first outing in Europe and I hope to do a good job and a good impression. To get ready, I have studied the two circuits at the simulator“ Federico Iribarne says
The family and the team of Minardi Management. continue to grow. After the programs developed with the kart drivers Karol Basz, Gianni Vigorito, Matteo Nannini and Joao Vieira, who’s engaged in the Italian Formula 4, the newcomer is Riccardo Negro. Winner of the WSK Euro Series and third placement in CIK-FIA World Championship in 2013, Riccardo’s commitment will be the CIK FIA European KZ2, for the first part of the season and the test at Muro Leccese in the WSK Super Master Series with Renda Racing Team, waiting to evaluate various options that are being presented entering the Minardi Management.
“I’m really happy to have reached this partnership with Giovanni Minardi and Alberto Tonti, two people who know perfectly motorsport and karting world. I am sure that together we can celebrate many successes“, ” Riccardo Negro says. The opening race of WSK Master Series Super at Adria International Raceway also inaugurated the season of Riccardo, after five months away from the circuit. For Riccardo, it was a weekend spent to find the pace and the right feeling with new team and CRG new material, in view of next round on La Conca kart track and starting the CIK FIA European KZ2.
“I had never been so long without driving. Five months is a really long period of forced stop. I knew it was not easy, but not so much. Athletically, kart is a selective vehicle and you as soon as “stop” you pay the consequences. The weekend of Adria was important because it gave me the chance to race again and check my condition. Moreover, I had to quickly learn Rovigo’s circuit, where I had never raced. Unfortunately, a puncture in Qualifying made me loose sixteen positions, moving from eighth to last place. When you start so far back, it is hard to recover“ ” Riccardo concludes.“I am very happy with the arrival of Riccardo, both because we are talking about a very good driver and we now have our bearer in KZ that will achieve great results” the manager Giovanni Minardi comments “
“The arrival of Riccardo makes us pleased, because with him we are going to be in the top category, the KZ, where I won two European Championships. Riccardo is definitely one of the most emerging Italian drivers, and the missed results of 2014 were due to a lack of his competitiveness. Thanks to Renda Racing Team, he will race with a Wild Card agreement, with CRG materials. He relied on these materials and he worked well in the final, despite not being in top athletic condition“ ” Alberto Tonti, the supervisor Minardi Kart section analyses