MARKAS SILKUNAS INTERVIEW

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How do you reflect on the 2024 season?
«My season was a success, and I’m really happy with my performance and results».

What did you learn from each championship you raced in?
«I’ve learned a lot from these championships, becoming faster and more successful with each race».

Where does your win in Al Forsan rank in your best moments of the year?
«Winning in Al Forsan felt amazing, especially to do so in front of Toto Wolff and all the other racing teams».

You finally got to hear your national anthem again on the podium. What kind of support do you feel you’re receiving from Lithuania?
«Winning at the FIA Motorsport Games was the highlight of my season. Hearing my national anthem play was an unforgettable feeling».

What’s your best quality?
«I believe my greatest strengths are my focus, consistency, and adaptability».

What is the aspect you’re working on the most?
«Right now, we’re working on becoming more consistent and finding ways to improve my speed in wet conditions».

Is there a personal aspect in which you improved thanks to racing?
«At the moment, I’m focused on analyzing what went wrong in recent races and figuring out how I can improve moving forward».

What are your expectations for the 2025 season?
«In 2025, I aim to secure more podiums and continue to develop my driving skills».

Where do you see yourself in three years time?
«In three years, I would like to be competing professionally, whether in F3 or F2, and ideally either racing for free or being paid for my efforts».

What is the ultimate goal in your career?
«My ultimate goal is to become an F1 driver or to be paid for doing what I love».

Author: Jacopo Rava

JULIA ANGELARD TO STAY AT JSTR RACING FOR 2025 KARTING SEASON

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Julia Angelard will continue his karting journey with the JSTR Racing team. The thirteen-year-old Pole will take on her sophomore season in the ROK Italy Series, Junior category. Moreover, she will feature in the prestigious Champions of the Future Academy Program, OKNJ category.

Giovanni Minardi: «I’m very excited about the program Julia will undertake this year, participating in the ROK Italy Series and the Champions of the Future Academy Program.I’m sure that, after what she showed last season, 2025 will be a season where she can get many good results in both championships.I’m looking forward to seeing her on track, especially in the Champions of the Future Academy Program. She will be a girl to fear on track».

Julia Angelard: «I am very excited to continue my karting experience to fulfill my dreams in my motorsport career. I’m staying with JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing Team, which helped me to develop my skills and proved to be very fast and competitive. In 2025 I will repeat ROK Cup Italy, which I liked to participate in last year, but I will also participate in the Champions of the Future Academy Program. If budget and calendar allows I will also participate in some WSK races and the Polish Championship. I will also continue my partnership with Minardi Management, who has been a great support for me in my career and in making decisions. It’s going to be a busy and exciting year».

Kamil Jastrzębski: «After a very busy 2024 season with a lot of racing, Julia showed great improvement and progress. We will continue working together to get even better results in 2025. In this season, we are excited to focus on ROK Cup Italy series and some WSK rounds»

Author: Jacopo Rava

ZACK ZHU CONTINUES WITH LA MOTORSPORT IN 2025

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Zack Zhu will continue with LA Motorsport for the 2025 karting season. The 2012-born French driver will step from the Mini GR3 to the OKNJ category and will take on a program comprising French and Italian championships.

In France he will be supported by the Ludo Racing team (CRG France). The season will start in February with the Rotax Max Challenge France and Round 1 of the Kart Mag in Salbris. Instead, the French Championship will kick off in Le Mans at the end of February. In May there will be the first of three races of the NSK championship, while in summer there will be the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy in Le Mans and the French Cup in Angerville, his home track.

In Italy he will race with LA Motorsport team in two different international-level championships: some WSK races and the Italian ACI Karting Championship. In addition, he will try to qualify in the FIA Karting World Cup in Cremona at the end of September and participate at the Trofeo delle Industrie at the end of November.

Giovanni Minardi: «I am very pleased to have found an excellent solution with LA Motorsport for Zack. Even if for only the second part of the season, I worked very well with Luca and I saw Zack growing excellently since he races for him, so it was an easy choice to stay, even because, in addition to working well, he has excellent material for the category: Parolin chassis and TM/GFR engine. I am sure that excellent results will come during the 2025 season».

Zack Zhu: «I’m glad to step to the junior category and to continue to work with LA Motorsport in the WSK and Italian championship next year. Thanks for their trust on me, let’s keep fighting and getting better».

Author: Jacopo Rava

PIETRO BAGUTTI JOINS BIRELART FOR THE 2025 KARTING SEASON

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Pietro Bagutti will race with Birelart in the 2025 karting season. The 2011-born driver from
Piacenza will embark in his first season in the OK Junior category on an international
level, after competing in the OKNJ category in 2024.
His 2025 program includes the CIK FIA European and World Championships, the
Champions of the Future, the WSK Super Master Series and Final Cup.

Giovanni Minardi: «I’m happy to finally see Pietro in an international program, and more importantly to see him in a Factory Team. We have been working towards this goal for a long time and we have finally managed to create the right opportunity with Birelart».

«I’m sure Pietro will make his mark in the international program he will carry out next season, I’m looking forward to seeing him on track. I want to thank the CEO of Birelart for the great opportunity he’s giving us and I hope we can repay him as soon as possible with excellent results on track».

Pietro Bagutti: «We are concluding 2024 thinking already about 2025. I’m proud to have become the official driver of the Birelart team and to take on with them the most important races worldwide: WSK, Champions of the Future, European and World Championships. One thing is certain: I’ll do my best both on track and at home to get the best results».

«I’m thankful to my manager Giovanni Minardi for the continuous support, Ronni Sala and the Birelart team, Franco Drudi and the TM for the support with the engines, my athletic trainer Gianfranco Rizzi and my parents for the continuous sacrifices they’re making for me».

Author: Jacopo Rava

LUKA SAMMALISTO TO RACE WITH US RACING IN THE 2025 ITALIAN F4 SEASON

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Luka Sammalisto will contest the 2025 Italian F4 season with US Racing. The Finnish driver, recently turned 17 years old, already has a season of experience in the category, so he’s very optimistic for the upcoming campaign.

To best prepare, Luka will carry out an intense testing program on all the tracks of the 2025 championship. Furthermore, he will compete in the Portimão and Barcelona Formula Winter Series rounds.

Giovanni Minardi: «I’m really happy for Luka. After a long and exhausting negotiation, we managed to join the team he wanted so much. Now we have everything we need to achieve excellent results».
«We are in the second year in the category, and in a super competitive team that can allow us to win races and the championship. Now we have to work hard to achieve the best possible result, the championship victory».

Luka Sammalisto: «Now I can finally announce that I will race with US Racing in the 2025 Italian Formula 4 season. I love working with the team and feel very comfortable with them».
«We have some good and intense winter preparation program for this upcoming 2025 season. My target is to race at the top and have strong race performances».

Author: Jacopo Rava

MINARDI MANAGEMENT AND GIACOMO PEDRINI PART WAYS

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It’s with great regret that Minardi Management announces driver Giacomo Pedrini will no longer be part of the Agency from January 1, 2025.
Giacomo has been a Minardi Management member since January 2019, and since then he has grown a lot, both as a driver and as a person.
Starting from the world of karting, he managed to climb the motorsport ladder to the world of GT, where he will try to become a leading driver.

GIOVANNI MINARDI: «I took Giacomo when he was a child, now he is almost a man. It’s been 6 intense years, but also very fun. It was nice working with him, because he always listened to all the advice I gave him and always tried to put it into practice».
«Together we decided that it was time for each of us to go their own way. There will always be a bond between us, because many years of collaboration cannot be canceled just because we no longer work together. He knows he can always count on me and on the Minardi Management at any time».
«I wish Giacomo and his whole family great luck for the continuation of his career, and wish him to go as far as possible».

GIACOMO PEDRINI: «I was just 10 years old when Giovanni Minardi welcomed me into his organizational structure. I was a kid racing in the 60 mini kart and now I drive highly powerful Supercars».
«These years we spent together have been an incredible experience, full of challenges, growth and, above all, unforgettable moments. I learned a lot, both professionally and personally, and this was possible thanks to the support, competence and irreplaceable experience of my friend Giovanni and all his employees at Minardi Management which I will never stop thanking».
«Even if it is time to take on new paths, I will always carry with me the memories of this experience and the value of the relationships built».
«For me, more than a goodbye is a see you later».

Author: Jacopo Rava

MARKAS AND VANESA SILKUNAI STAR IN AL FORSAN. SCHILLACI RETURNS FROM INJURY AT SARNO

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Last Tuesday at Al Forsan, Markas Silkunas and Vanesa Silkunaite scored excellent results in the Champions of the Future Academy Program finals.
In the weekend at Sarno, Daniele Schillaci returned to racing after months of injury, showing a great performance in the Ayrton Senna Kart Trophy.

Vanesa Silkunaite (P5 in the OK-N Junior category at Al Forsan)
The thirteen-year-old Lithuanian has always been one of the fastest girls on track across the weekend. In Final 1, she crossed the finish line in P14, but was later disqualified due to an incident. She made up for it in Final 2, where she earned an excellent P5, the best classified girl. Vanesa has been competitive in every session, so she can be satisfied with her season finale.

Markas Silkunas (Winner in the OK-N category at Al Forsan)
The fifteen-year-old Lithuanian has always been a protagonist across the weekend. He was very fast right from the Heats, where he always raced in the leading pack. After a good P4 in Final 1, Markas managed to get a great victory in Final 2. For once, luck turned on his side after a difficult season, and he finally got what he had often came close to. The result meant he earned second place in the championship, an excellent boost of confidence towards the 2025 season.

Daniele Schillaci (P7 in the OK-N category at Sarno)
The fifteen-year-old from Ragusa returned to racing after a months-long injury. To ensure a great comeback, he switched from the Lenzokart to the Parolin equipment.
He started from P17 in Final 1, but with a great start he managed to grab P8 at the flag. Starting P8 in a full wet Final 2, Daniele lapped with extreme consistency and crossed the finish line in seventh position. Daniele classified P7 in the overall standings, a great sign towards a promising 2025 season.

Author: Jacopo Rava

THICK FOG RUINS ZUERA’S AND FRANCIACORTA’S KARTING WEEKENDS. PEDRINI MAKES AN EXCELLENT DEBUT IN PORTUGAL

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Five of our drivers hit the track last weekend. Deven Lewis Grabko, Vanesa Silkunaite and MarkasSilkunas participated in the IAME Warrior Final at the Zuera karting track in Spain, marred by thickfog, while Julia Angelard starred in the ROK Cup Festival in Franciacorta.

With regard to car racing, Giacomo Pedrini made his debut in the Supercars Endurance Series onthe Estoril circuit in Portugal.

Deven Lewis Grabko
The twelve-year-old Swede had a very unfortunate weekend in Zuera. His great qualifying speed was hidden by a technical problem. Despite starting from behind, he made good comebacks in the heats. Subsequently, the cancellation of the Super Heat prevented him from qualifying for the final.

Vanesa Silkunaite
The thirteen-year-old Lithuanian had a difficult start to the weekend, as she was pushed off the track in qualifying. After showing good pace in the warm up, a penalty for the dented bumper prevented her from obtaining important results in the heats. Unfortunately, the cancellation of various races did not allow her to bounce back.

Markas Silkunas
The fifteen-year-old Lithuanian made up for a difficult qualifying with a great comeback in the qualifying heats. Like Deven and Vanesa, his weekend was ruined by the cancellation of some races, so he couldn’t qualify for the final.

Julia Angelard
The twelve-year-old Pole was the fastest girl on the track in the ROK Cup Festival in Franciacorta. She qualified in an excellent P10, but a technical problem before the start prevented her from lining up on the grid. She managed to start from the pits thanks to the help of her mechanic and climbed back to P15, but she was excluded from the final ranking for the help received. Despite this, Julia has shown that she has the pace to fight in the top 10.

Giacomo Pedrini
The sixteen-year-old from Cesena debuted with a great performance in the Supercars Endurance Series at Estoril, where he shared the Mercedes AMG GT4 of the Lema Racing team with Mark Kastelic.
In Race 1 he managed to climb to P2 (P1 in his class) before the driver change, but a timing problem in the pits costed the duo an easy podium.
In Race 2 the difficult starting position, due to traffic in qualifying, made it impossible to come back higher than P5.
The excellent pace shown by Giacomo (who raced in the Mitjet championship) cannot leave the best teams in the league indifferent.

Author: Jacopo Rava

INTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS LUKA SAMMALISTO

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You were born in Tampere, Finland in 2007. How did you become interested in racing?
«I became interested in racing because my father had a small kart for my big brother, but he didn’t want to drive it, so I went driving with the kart and everything started».

When did you start racing in go-karts?
«I started racing go karts when I was seven years old».

What are the biggest difficulties switching from a kart to a F4?
«The biggest issue switching from karting to F4 is that you need to focus a lot on many corners, because the track is twice as long as a kart track. Then, in formula a small mistake will cost you a lot more time than in karting. In addition, you have front and rear brakes, which it’s even harder if you didn’t drive in the KZ category in karting».

You made your debut in Italian F4 in 2024. How was the impact in the most competitive F4 championship?
«The impact was just like I was thinking before. The level is really high. Also, I didn’t have such big expectations for my first year».

What did you learn in the championship?
«I learnt a lot of new things, like a new driving style. I also learned a lot on how to race hard in F4».

How valuable is the support of Minardi Management in your career?
«For me Minardi is important because he has many connections that can help me go forward and he helps me a lot too».

Do you already know if you will be racing for US Racing in Italian F4 in 2025?
«At the moment I’m just testing. I hope to continue with them in 2025».

Where do you see yourself in 3 years time?
«In 3 years time I see myself in F2».

What is your best quality as a driver?
«My best quality is that I am unyielding».

What is the aspect you are working on the most?
«I‘m working the most on different muscles. I’m also doing a lot of running, so I can keep my basic condition in good shape».

What’s the best racing series outside of F1?
«I have to say F2!»

Author: Jacopo Rava

LUKA SAMMALISTO’S 2024 SEASON ENDS WITH THE F4 TESTING IN MISANO

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Luka Sammalisto concluded his 2024 season in Misano testing the US Racing F4 car. The seventeen-year-old has driven 638 km (151 laps), with a consistent pace and a best time of 1:35.284.

The weather of the two days was partly cloudy, with temperatures around 15ºC.

Day 1
The morning started with a good pace of 1:37. He then improved consistently, until he was lapping in 1:35. The first half of the day ended with 58 laps and a personal best of 1:35.864, not far from the top of the chart.

In the afternoon session, he continued to work on race pace. In the 19 laps he completed, tyre degradation was low. Therefore, he managed to set the second best time of 1:36.213 towards the end.

Day 2
The day of his seventeenth birthday began with an encouraging race pace. Of the 41 laps, the fastest was an excellent 1:35.284, just nine thousandths away from “pole”. Unfortunately he struggled to keep consistency.

After the birthday celebrations, Luka started the afternoon setting the pace in 1:35.641. Moreover, consistency improved noticeably: in the last two sessions, he lapped with great precision in the 1:36s, showing good confidence with the car.

Preparation for the next season will continue in January 2025.

Luka Sammalisto: «For me the tests went really well. It was nice to be here in Misano and Imola, we tested many things. I think we found good pace in Imola already, and it was really good in Misano too».

«We managed to take “pole position” a couple of times and we were almost every time in top 5, or even top 3, so the pace was there. I’m really proud of the team, they’ve been pushing a lot for me».

«Now I’m really happy to go on the Christmas break. We’ll see at the start of next year what we can do, now we are pushing to the highest limits. Hopefully we can win!»

Author: Jacopo Rava