Another great beginning of season for the South Garda Karting circuit of Lonato for the 18th edition of the Winter Cup, in schedule from 15th to 17th February 2013 in the classic race of the CIK-FIA calendar.
In the three categories – KZ2, KF and KFJ – there are 280 entrants, with the participation of all the major manufacturers and all the top international teams.
The race of the most performing gerabox category, the KZ2, is going to be particularly gripping: this year there are lots of new protagonists and several big names at their debut with new teams, all looking for more glory. Among the many new protagonists in this category, the presence of the KF1 world champion Flavio Camponeschi with Tony Kart is outstanding; he will race side by side with the winner of the past edition, the Belgian Rick Dreezen, and his teammate Marco Ardigò, Mirko Torsellini and the Indonesian Armand Philo, at his debut in KZ2 and near to move to car-racing.
Among the excellent debutants in KZ2 also Charles Leclerc with Art GP, last year’s protagonist in KF2 thanks to his win in the WSK Euro Series. With Art GP also Ben Hanley, among the best drivers of the last edition of the Winter Cup.
In KZ2 Energy confirmed its participation with the European Champion and winner of the WSK Euro Series, the Lithuanian Simas Juodvirsi, besides the 2011 WSK Euro Series champion Joel Johansson. Birel will race with Paolo De Conto, Roberto Toninelli and their new driver Jan Midrla. At his debut on a Birel chassis (but always with the AVG-Racing team) also the 2009 World Champion Arnaud Kozlinski.
Maranello Kart, too, seems to be very competitive in KZ2 thanks to its new drivers Yannick De Brabander (at his comeback to the Italian manufacturer after winning the KF2 Winter Cup with Maranello in 2007), Massimo Dante and Marco Zanchetta, while CRG will be represented by the 2011 European Champion Fabian Federer, besides Davide Forè (but on thisoccasion racing with the Czech team DTK). Among the private teams, always for CRG, also Andrea Dalè and the Austrian Marcel Mueller.
Also Praga team stands a good chance with the 2012 KZ1 World Champion, the Dutch Bas Lammers, besides the Czech Patrick Hajek (winner of the Winter Cup in 2011) and Martin Doubek, as well as the DR team of Danilo Rossi with Riccardo Negro, excellent protagonist of the category and winner in the recent WSK Final Cup.
In KF (formerly KF2), among the about 100 entrants, Luca Corberi is at his debut in the category. He is the 2012 KF3 world champion with the Kosmic official team. With Kosmic also the French Armand Convers. Among the favourites also the quick Dutch Max Verstappen, winner of the last edition and, for this season, confirmed as official CRG driver. The other drivers for CRG are the Finnish Niclas Nylund, the Brazilian Vitor Baptista, and the French Ingrid Girard.
Among the favourite teams also Art GP, which has among its drivers the English Ben Barnicoat, reigning European champion. With Birel the English George Russell, the European champion, will make his debut. LH Racing fields lots of drivers too: many Swedish drivers at the start. The same can be said for the Chiesa Corse team, which has Lance Stroll and Tom Joyner among its drivers. With Energy sarà the strong French Dorian Boccolacci, at his debut in KF2.
The junior category, the KFJ (formerly KF3) is very “crowded” too, with more than 100 entrants. Among them Giuliano Alesi’s name is outstanding: he is the son of the former Ferrari F1 driver Jean Alesi, racing for the Intrepid team.
In KFJ the duel between the two brothers Alessio and Leonardo Lorandi is going to be very interesting, given that Leonardo has just arrived from the 60 Mini (where he has won almost all, from the Italian championship to the WSK Euro and Master Series, besides the WSK Final Cup) to race in the major category next to his brother Alessio (recent winner of the KF3 Italian championship).
North America will have a handful of driver competing once again this year, with Porsche driver Patrick Long the only driver to win at the event (1998). The United States will not have any drivers in KZ, but will see Sargeant brothers Dalton and Logan representing the Red, White, and Blue in KF and KFJ. Dalton will take position with the prestigious Tony Kart Racing Team in the competitive KF category while Logan is set to race with the Ward Racing operation, also aboard a Tony Kart, in KFJ. Representing the ‘Great White North’ will be Zachary Claman-DeMelo and Lance Stroll. The two talented Canadian will race in the KF class. Claman-DeMelo will race as part of the CRG Spa effort, while Stroll will continue to run under the Chiesa Corse operation.
All the information on http://www.southgardakarting.it
WINTER CUP – LIST OF WINNERS
1^ WINTER CUP 1996
100 Junior: O. Tami (I) – Tibikart/Vortex
100 ICA: Vitantonio Liuzzi (I) – Kalì/Crg
100 FA: Natale Maggio (I) – Tony Kart/Vortex
2^ WINTER CUP 1997
100 Junior: Andrea Bonetti (I) – Rakama/Parilla
100 ICA: Martin Jensen (DK) – Tony Kart/Vortex
100 FA: Matteo Gamba (I) – Crg/Crg
100 FSA: Roberto Toninelli (I) – Haase/Titan
3^ WINTER CUP 1998
100 Junior: Marco Ardigò (I) – Crg/Crg
100 ICA: Francesco Basilico (I) – Top Kart/Comer
100 FA: Patrick Long (USA) – Crg/Crg
100 FSA: Roberto Toninelli (I) – Crg/Crg
4^ WINTER CUP 1999
100 Junior: Sodergberg (S) – Tony Kart/Vortex
100 ICA: Marco Ardigò (I) – Crg/Crg
100 FA: Dos Santos (BR) – Crg/Crg
100 FSA: Ronnie Quintarelli (I) – Tony Kart/Vortex
5^ WINTER CUP 2000
100 Junior: Carlo Van Dam (NL) – Trulli/Vortex
100 ICA: Davide Gaggianesi (I) – Crg/Crg
100 FA: Nelson Van der Pol (NL) – Tony Kart/Vortex
100 FSA: Davide Forè (I) – Tony Kart/Vortex
6^ WINTER CUP 2001
100 Junior: Filippo Tedeschini (I) – CRG/Parilla
100 ICA: Bart Kramer (NL) – Tony/Vortex
100 FA: Ben Hanley (GB) – Kosmic/Vortex
100 FSA: Mauro Piu (I) – Haase/Titan
7^ WINTER CUP 2002
100 Junior: Matteo Chinosi (I) – Maranello/TM/Vega
100 ICA: Edoardo Mortara (CH) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Vega
100 FA: Andrea Tressino (F) – Top Kart/Rotax/Vega
100 FSA: Sauro Cesetti (I) – Kosmic/Vortex/B’stone
8^ WINTER CUP 2003
100 Junior: Andy Zanella (I) – Top Kart/Comer/Vega
100 ICA: Oliver Oakes (GB) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Vega
100 FA: Davide Forè (I) – Tony Kart/Vortex/B’stone
9^ WINTER CUP 2004
100 Junior: Alessandro Ruggeri (I) – Italsistem/Italcorse/Vega
100 ICA: Atte Mustonen (FIN) – Birel/TM/Vega
100 FA: Ben Hanley (GB) – Maranello/Maxter/B’stone
10^ WINTER CUP 2005
100 Junior: Roberto Merhi (E) – Birel/Iame/Vega
100 ICA: Ollie Millroy (GB) – Birel/TM/Vega
100 FA: Sauro Cesetti (I) – Birel/TM/B’stone
11^ WINTER CUP 2006
100 Junior: Luca Genini (I) – Birel/Parilla/Vega
100 ICA: Ollie Millroy (GB) – Birel/TM/Vega
100 FA: Sauro Cesetti (I) – Birel/TM/B’stone
12^ WINTER CUP 2007
KF3: Viktor Oberg (S) – Gillard/Mrc/Vega
KF2: Yannick De Brabander (B) – Maranello/Parilla/Vega
KF1: Michael Christensen (DK) – Gillard/Parilla/Vega
13^ WINTER CUP 2008
KF3: Aaro Vainio (FIN) – Maranello/Xtr/Dunlop
KF2: Rob Foster Jones (GB) – FA Kart/Vortex/Vega
KF1: Yannick De Brabander (B) – Intrepid/Tm/Vega
14^ WINTER CUP 2009
KF3: Daniil Kvyat (RUS) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop
KF2: Brandon Maisano (F) – Intrepid/Tm/Bridgestone
SKF: Gary Catt (GB) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Vega
15^ WINTER CUP 2010
KF3: Egor Orudzhev (RUS) – Intrepid/Tm/Dunlop
KF2: Michael Heche (CH) – Intrepid/Tm/Bridgestone
SKF: Toman Libor (CZ) – Birel/Bmp/Vega
16^ WINTER CUP – 2011
KF3: Dennis Olsen (N) – Energy/Tm/Vega
KF2: Teemu Suninen (FIN) – Maranello/Maranello/Bridgestone
KZ2: Patrick Hajek (CZ) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop
17^ WINTER CUP – 2012
KF3: George Russell (GB) – Intrepid/Tm/Vega
KF2: Max Verstappen (NL) – Intrtepid/Tm/Vega
KZ2: Rick Dreezen (B) – Tony Kart/Vortex/Bridgestone
Written By: EKartingNews.com
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