MATTIA BUCCI SEEKS REDEMPTION AT IMOLA IN THE SECOND ACI RACING WEEKEND OF THE SEASON

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Catignano ace Mattia Bucci is aiming for better luck as he heads to the historic Santerno circuit for the second round of the Campionato Italiano GT Sprint

Bucci’s debut in the “Campionato Italiano GT Sprint” GT Cup category at Misano was the antithesis of what every driver hopes to experience in their first race, especially when it marks their maiden Grand Touring outing after a career in Formula racing. For Bucci and the entire Best Lap team, the upcoming Imola round represents a clean slate, a chance to build upon the encouraging ninth-place finish they secured in Race 2 at the first event.

The Bucci-Croccolino pairing will once again take the wheel of the team’s Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, tackling the twists and turns of the “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari” with a blend of their respective driving experiences: young Abruzzese talent Bucci will approach the weekend with zero kilometers under his belt at Imola, while Filippo will bring his year of experience in the Championship to the table.

This weekend’s program will feature two Free Practice sessions on Friday (11:30 and 17:30 respectively), two Qualifying sessions (11:30 and 11:55) and Race 1 (18:40) on Saturday, and Race 2 (16:30) on Sunday to conclude the GT Cup action.

Mattia Bucci: “Finally we’re back on track. It’s a dream for me to race at a circuit like Imola, especially in a Ferrari. I’m very excited and motivated to take on this challenge. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel and give it my all. It will be a very interesting weekend as I’ve never driven at Imola before, but I’m sure that with hard work from the start, we’ll be able to find the right feeling with the car and the track straight away. For me, it will all be new considering the zero kilometers I’ve done, so we need to be smart and focused to get up to speed quickly. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, Walter Marini and his entire team, and my sponsors for their support.”

The races will be broadcast on ACI Sport TV (channel 228 of Sky Italy) and on both the “Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo” Facebook and Youtube channels.

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

POINTS ACHIEVEMENT FOR MATTIA BUCCI IN RACE 2 AFTER A ROLLERCOASTER WEEKEND IN MISANO

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Mattia Bucci’s GT debut proved to be more challenging than expected due to severe technical issues

Mattia Bucci’s debut was not the one he had hoped for: this is how we can summarize the first ACI Racing Weekend of the year for the Catignano ace aboard the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo of the Best Lap team. The first round of the Italian GT Sprint Championship – GT Cup class in Misano was heavily compromised by technical anomalies that prevented the Abruzzese talentand his teammate Filippo Croccolino from racking up significant mileage between Friday and Saturday, even forcing them to retire after a handful of laps in Race 1.

The few laps completed in the previous sessions were useful for the Roman team to study the problem, analyze it and solve it. This work lasted both days and paid off in Race 2, scheduled for Sunday. Starting from 28th on the grid, Bucci was able to bring the #178 Ferrari up to 12th position with an excellent comeback, especially considering the previous anomalies.

Once the car was handed over to Croccolino during the pit stop for the driver change mandated by the regulations, the Tuscan driver was then able to continue his climb up the standing, finishing ninth overall under the chequered flag, eighth in the Pro-Am 1st Division class. Reaching the points symbolizes consolation after the incredible difficulty experienced since the first Free Practice sessions.

Mattia Bucci: “It was a very difficult weekend due to technical problems, in fact we only managed to do Race 2. However, I am very happy with the result we brought home, because we finished in the points starting from the back of the grid, so I am very satisfied with the work done with my teammate Filippo Croccolino. I can’t help but thank the whole Best Lap team for their great work, especially during the nights of Friday and Saturday. I would also like to thank Filippo for having performed and closed a great stint; I am very confident for the next appointment in Imola. I thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team and all my sponsors for the support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

CHRISTOPHER EL FEGHALI LEBANESE DRIVER JOINS MINARDI MANAGEMENT

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Minardi Management expands its international presence by welcoming the Lebanese driver Christopher El Feghali. In the upcoming 2024 season, Christopher will compete in a couple of international karting races in the OK senior category. However, his main focus will be on utilizing this year for preparation to enter Formula 4 in 2025. Exciting times ahead for Christopher and Minardi Management!

Giovanni Minardi: «I am thrilled to have reached an agreement with Christopher and his family. Following him closely at the 2023 FIA Karting World Championship in Franciacorta, I was truly impressed by his skills. Despite arriving without prior knowledge of the track or equipment, he immediately showcased his talent by contending for victory in the competitive OK Junior category. His speed and adaptability to new tracks are commendable. I have no doubt that we will be hearing more about him soon! 🏆​ For me Christopher has an outstanding talent and his performance reminds me a lot of another driver in the past!»

Christopher El Feghali: «It’s a pleasure joining Minardi management to take care of my racing career starting with F4 and beyond, the passion and professionalism from Giovanni and Dorothea will help us push the boundaries and reach our targets in the best way possible.»

MATTIA BUCCI IS READY TO MAKE HIS DEBUT IN THE ITALIAN GT SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP

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Misano Adriatico will host the first ACI Racing Weekend of the Italian motorsport season

Mattia Bucci’s 2023 season ended with a victory at the “Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli” in the “FX Pro Series” of the “Formula X Italian Series”. The ace from Catignano will return to action in the racetrack located in Romagna making his debut in the Italian GT Sprint Championship from May 3rd to 5th with some news: a new team, Best Lap, and a new car, the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo, which mark Mattia’s switch from Formula single-seaters to Grand Touring competition.

The work done in the recent test programs leading up to the event was more than sufficient and satisfactory to prepare Bucci for this new challenge, which won’t be faced alone as the logic of the championship dictates: Filippo Croccolino, a driver from Siena, will share the cockpit with the young Abruzzese talent and will make his year of experience available in a context as important as the series organized by ACI Sport. The two drivers were teammates during their karting days and they will compete in the GT Cup category in the Pro-Am class.

This is the race weekend schedule:
– Friday: FP1 (GT3 & GT Cup) at 10:45 am, FP2 at 3:55 pm;
– Saturday: Q1 at 9:30 am, Q2 at 9:55 am, Race 1 at 6:45 pm;
– Sunday: Race 2 at 4:00 pm.

The races will be broadcast on both ACI Sport TV (channel 224 on Sky and channel 402 on DTT) and on the Facebook page and Youtube channel “Campionato Italiano Gran Turismo”.

Mattia Bucci: “Finally the wait is over, it’s race week! I’m very happy and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel for the first round of the Italian GT Championship at Misano, a track that is very dear to me. I’m happy to be able to share this fantastic experience with Filippo Croccolino after our karting days: to have him as my teammate again is a great pleasure. I’m very excited and I can’t wait for Friday for the first Free Practice sessions. I would like to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team and all the sponsors for their support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

MATTIA BUCCI WILL TAKE PART IN THE ITALIAN GT SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BEST LAP RACING TEAM

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The Abruzzese racing driver will officially return to competition making his absolute debut with the Grand Touring world

After an intensive testing program with the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo of the Best Lap team, Mattia Bucci has been officially announced as a driver for the Roman racing team to face the Italian Gran Turismo Sprint Championship of ACI Sport with the Prancing Horse car. The ace from Catignanowill be in partnership with Filippo Croccolino, a Tuscan driver with previous experiences in closed-wheel competitions; he was Mattia’s teammate back in their kart journey.

The various track outings between Vallelunga and Misano were an appetizer of the programme that Bucci will face in this sporting season. The category in which he and his partner Croccolino will compete is the GT Cup class.

This is the calendar:
– Round 1, Misano: from May 3rd to the 5th;
– Round 2, Imola: from May 30th to June 2nd
– Round 3, Mugello: from August 23rd to the 25th;
– Round 4, Monza: from October 4th to the 6th.

The young Abruzzese talent’s last race was during the Misano weekend of the “FX Pro Series” of the “Formula X Italian Series”, a round that ended with victory in Race 2.

Mattia Bucci: “I am thrilled and honored to be participating in the 2024 Italian Gran Turismo Championship. This is a competition that boasts truly significant names in motorsport. I am confident that Filippo and I can achieve great results with sacrifice and dedication. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel. I would like to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team for this incredible opportunity, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team, and all my sponsors for their unwavering support.”

Giovanni Minardi, Minardi Management: “I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with Best Lap to participate in the Italian Gran Turismo Sprint Championship. Finally, after two years of challenges, we have found the right formula to compete in a major championship and make the switch from open-wheel to closed-wheel racing, where I think and believe Mattia has a great chance of achieving excellent results. I hope the championship can start well right away at Misano. Mattia was very strong in testing, so there are good chances of doing well. I wish Mattia and the team the best of luck in doing well right from the start. I believe this is the right year for Mattia to really show his worth.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Office Mattia Bucci

MATTIA BUCCI HAS SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED HIS GT RACING DRIVER LICENSE

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At Misano, the Abruzzese driver’s accreditation for closed-wheel competitions was consummated

With the last test carried out at the “Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli”, Mattia Bucci officially joined the ranks of GT racing licensed drivers thanks to obtaining his license. The Catignano ace was able to rely once again on the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo and the technical support from Best Lap, the team that owns the car.

Despite some technical issues and unpredictable weather conditions, the test day was positive, allowing Bucci to learn how to manage a car that is still new to him in such unique conditions, with intermittent rain and strong winds affecting the Ferrari’s aerodynamics.

Rino Mastronardi was at Misano as an examiner on behalf of ACI Sport. He is an Instructor at the Federal School of the Automobile Club and a driver who won the European Le Mans Series championship in 2021 with Iron Lynx and achieved a GTE-Am class podium in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the same year with the Italian team.

Mattia Bucci: “I am very happy both to have obtained the license to race with GT cars and for the results of this test, as we have experimented all of weather conditions. I am very satisfied with how we are training; now we must continue to train and push ourselves to the maximum to improve the results achieved so far. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team, and all my sponsors for their support.”

Giovanni Minardi, Minardi Management: “Even today Mattia has been good, he made no mistakes and recorded good lap times despite the bizarre weather with rain and sun. It was a very positive test enhanced by obtaining the license, which is very important to be ready for the upcoming news that I hope to announce soon. He is working very well, making progress every time he gets in the car, so we are optimistic for the season ahead.”

Rino Mastronardi, Instructor at the ACI Sport Federal School: “Today I was on the track to evaluate Mattia’s driving skills who, despite the bad weather conditions with cold and rain, did not make any mistakes. He was very skilled and fast with very good times. At the end of the day, with great pleasure, I issued him the authorization to pass to a higher level license.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Office Mattia Bucci

VANESA SILKUNAITE REPRESENTS THE FIA WIM AT THE FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY

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We are thrilled to announce that the talented winner, Vanesa Silkunaite, of the Girls on Track selection 2023 will be participating at the prestigious FIA Karting Academy Trophy 2024 as the official representative. The FIA Karting Academy Trophy, established in 2010, brings together 54 young talents aged between 12 and 14 from across the globe to showcase their skills.
Vanesa Silkunaite is set to be officially invited and proudly represent the FIA WIM this year, a remarkable honor following her victory in the FIA WIM Girls on Track selection 2023! The first event of the series will take place from the 25th to the 28th of April at the Circuit of Val d’Argenton in France.

Giovanni Minardi: «I am very happy that Vanesa is participating in this Trophy organized by the FIA, it is certainly an excellent opportunity to showcase herself at an international level. This category compares drivers from all over the world under the same technical conditions and therefore the value of the pilot matters a lot in achieving a good final result. Vanesa is very keen on doing well and showing off, he absolutely wants to make an excellent impression and I am convinced that she has all it takes to do so.»

Vanesa Silkunaite: «What’s it like being a girl in kart racing? It’s awesome! I love being part of the action and showing the boys what’s up. I want to prove that girls can totally rock it in racing too! Even when it’s tough, we girls are tough cookies and can totally crush it on the track. To all my fellow girls, don’t be scared to race and go for it! Keep trying, never give up, and you’ll totally nail it!»

A SECOND TEST SESSION AT MISANO CIRCUIT IS SCHEDULED FOR MATTIA BUCCI WITH THE FERRARI 488 CHALLENGE EVO BY BEST LAP

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The racing driver from Abruzzo will be back at the Romagna racetrack for a new test session

The learning journey of Mattia Bucci aboard the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo of the Best Lap racing team progresses with sails unfurled. The Catignano ace will return at “Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli” for a test day with his GT car.

After a first taste happened at Vallelunga, Bucci continued his learning journey at Misano earlier this month with a very positive testing day; the racetrack tarmack will see him once again hurtling with the Pracing Horse Grand Touring.

Mattia Bucci said: “Finally i’ll be back in the car, i’m very happy and ready as always. I can’t wait to jump in the Ferrari for Misano. It will be a very crucial test and i hope to achieve the results that we’re expecting. I’m working at 360 degrees for my goals. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and all the Minardi Management, the team Best Lap, my family, my staff, Walter Marini and his team and all my sponsors for their support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Office Mattia Bucci

POSITIVE SIGNALS FOR MATTIA BUCCI AFTER HIS TEST AT MISANO WITH THE FERRARI 488 CHALLENGE EVO

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The young driver’s adaptation to the world of GT competitions continues

The “Misano World Circuit – Marco Simoncelli” welcomed Mattia Bucci back after his success in the “FX Pro Series” in 2023. The racing driver from Catignano had his second day of testing on track with a Grand Touring car following Vallelunga, specifically the Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo from the Best Lap team.

The solid test at the Romagna circuit saw Bucci achieve competitive and consistent lap times, a clear indication of his increasing confidence in driving his new car.

Supporting the talent from Abruzzo, in addition to the Best Lap team, was Driver Coach Matteo “Babalus” Santoponte.

Mattia Bucci: “I am very happy with the result achieved today. I have managed to improve the feeling with the car and I am very happy about it. I am sure that by continuing to work like this, we will achieve good results. I thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, the Best Lap team, my family, my staff, my trainer Walter Marini and his team and all my sponsors for their constant support.”

Giovanni Minardi, Minardi Management: “Today Mattia had a great test because, apart from the excellent times, he was consistent, but the important thing is that he did not make any kind of mistake on a such particular track like Misano. I believe we are on the right path being only his second day of testing, he set excellent times and also consistent, not far from more experienced drivers. We are on the right way to do a great job in this 2024.”

Matteo “Babalus” Santoponte, Driver Coach: “Today Mattia made a great debut here in Misano, he was very good and focused. There has been a very positive progression, what left us stunned were his very intelligent questions, aimed at improving performance. He had a great pace in the last laps having everything under control.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Office Mattia Bucci

LUKA SAMMALISTO, THE FIRST FINISH DRIVER JOINS THE MINARDI MANAGEMENT

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The Finnish driver born in 2007, Luka Sammalisto joins Minardi Management.
Luka’s first season in single-seater started already in the first months of this year, participating at the UAE F4 Championship, starting already once from the front row in Race 2 in the last event in Dubai, and now he is ready to attack the most competitive F4 Championship, the Italian one.

Giovanni Minardi: “I am very happy to start working with Luka. We met a few days ago in Imola during the first F4 test sessions and I immediately got on well with him. I am convinced that together we can achieve excellent goals.
Luka is a very intelligent guy with an impressive desire to learn, I immediately noticed how much he dedicates himself to this sport, he leaves nothing to chance, he studies everything down to the smallest detail and above all he has a very good ability to learn extremely fast the tracks, when he runs on them for first time.”

Luka Sammalisto: “This is my first season in single-seaters and I am very happy with my collaboration with Minardi Management. They have long professional experience in motorsport. I look forward to working with Giovanni Minardi and I believe that together we will achieve our goal.”