2025 Prokart Challenge Championship podium finishers honored
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2025 Prokart Challenge Championship...

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The 2019 edition of Winter Cup was the redemption weekend for Andrey Zhivnov who battled for podium positions in OKJ. Our racing team once again shown good performance in the South Garda Karting at Lonato for the 24thedition of Winter Cup.

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Since its inception in 1996, the Winter Cup has revealed many great karting and car champions. This race is never easy to win because of the number of entries and the standard of the participants. On the ruthless circuit of Lonato, Jamaican Alex Powell patiently built the path that led him to victory in the Mini Rok category, after battles won with determination and competitiveness. The work done with the Energy Corse team was still paying off.

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Disappointing Winter Cup for Alex Irlando: even this year the Locorotondo’s driver did not finish the race because of an accident. The Winter Cup seems to be bewitched for the former World Champ Alex Irlando. The Apulian driver started the fight against other 97 drivers posting the 19th time in qualifying, just 2 tenths of second far from the leader.

Masterful double for Energy Corse at the Winter Cup

Masterful double for Energy Corse at the Winter Cup Read more

The season has definitely started strongly for Energy Corse with podiums on different continents and successive performances in Europe. At Lonato, Alex Powell and Kirill Kutskov produced a remarkable double at the Winter Cup in Mini Rok. Energy Corse is certainly one of the best teams in terms of training young kart drivers.

Tony Kart Racing Team shines in Lonato for Winter Cup! Turney and Ardigo on the podium

Tony Kart Racing Team shines in Lonato for Winter Cup! Turney and Ardigo on the podium Read more

Tony Kart Racing Team shines in Lonato for Winter Cup with drivers fighting for victories in all categories. The 24th edition of Winter Cup took place in the classic circuit of South Garda Karting where our Racing Team took podiums in KZ2 and OK classes, with Marco Ardigò and Joe Turney both finishing in third place in their finals. These results show once again the reliability and performance of the Tony Kart Chassis Racer 401 R equipped with Vortex Engines.

Who will be crowned the 25th Volant Winfield winner at Paul Ricard?

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Following the successful 2018 Volant Winfield, and with winner and reigning French F4 champion Caio Collet earning a spot within the Renault Sport Academy, the 25th edition will once again be a reference for the detection of young talents (most from karting) at the prestigious Circuit Paul Ricard.

First win for Antonelli with the Rosberg Racing Academy

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Finding the most promising drivers and guiding them to international success is the mission of the Rosberg Racing Academy. In Northern Italy, Andrea Kimi Antonelli's victory in OK-Junior at the prestigious Winter Cup more than ever confirms the accuracy of this project and the perfect organisation put in place by Nico Rosberg and the Kart Republic organisation, in partnership with Ravenol.

Birel ART Racing Team: Beautiful introduction at the Winter Cup

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The performance was undeniably there at Lonato for the Birel ART Racing Team, in the three international categories of the Winter Cup. Satisfaction lit up the faces of the technicians from the Lissone factory and their drivers after very encouraging performances during the first big meeting of the 2019 season. The course of such a competition can often be disturbed by racing incidents, but the preparation work by the team during the winter has undoubtedly gone well.

Podium for Paolo De Conto in KZ2 at the 24th Winter Cup

Podium for Paolo De Conto in KZ2 at the 24th Winter Cup Read more

In Lonato’s the crowded and competitive Winter Cup, Paolo De Conto’s second place stands out once again in KZ2. Good results also for Pedro Hiltbrand and Gabriel Bortoleto in the OK and Enzo Trulli in the OK Junior. First meeting of the year for the CRG Racing Team in Lonato, at the 24th Winter Cup, in the traditional event the opens the season and that had an excellent number of participants, with 310 drivers coming from 43 countries. An excellent testing ground in view of the FIA Karting international activity.

Big win for Sodi at the Winter Cup

Big win for Sodi at the Winter Cup Read more

Sodikart could not have dreamed of a better start for the new season than a victory for the Sodi Racing Team in KZ2 at the Winter Cup. Anthony Abbasse managed to achieve an exceptional result ahead of an international field of nearly 100 drivers, including the top KZ specialists on the formidable Italian circuit of Lonato.

Abbasse (KZ2), Travisanutto (OK), Antonelli (OKJ) and Powell (Mini) take the win in the 24th Winter Cup in Lonato

Abbasse (KZ2), Travisanutto (OK), Antonelli (OKJ) and Powell (Mini) take the win in the 24th Winter Cup in Lonato Read more

The 24th Winter Cup ended with spectacular final stages in Lonato. The International event set a record participation of 310 drivers coming from 43 different countries.

Lando Norris back to his roots in karting

Lando Norris back to his roots in karting Read more

British sensation Lando Norris had a busy week, preparing for the F1-season. Last week McLaren unveiled their 2019-warrior; the McLaren MCCL34. Still Norris had time to go back to his roots in karting

Live coverage in webstreaming of the 24Th Winter Cup Lonato

Live coverage in webstreaming of the 24Th Winter Cup Lonato Read more

The 24th Lonato Winter Cup scored record numbers again as it will have 319 drivers entered in KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The protagonists and the program of the events that will end on Sunday February 17th. The 24th Winter Cup, race to be held in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), is all set for another important event. After the heats on Saturday, the much awaited finals will get underway on Sunday.

Lonato Winter Cup: the second day devoted to qualifying heats

Lonato Winter Cup: the second day devoted to qualifying heats Read more

A total of 310 drivers coming from 43 Countries set another important record for the 24th Winter Cup. The much awaited finals will get underway on Sunday from 15.00 with live coverage in web streaming.

Lonato, the spectacle of the 24th Winter Cup is on

Lonato, the spectacle of the 24th Winter Cup is on Read more

A total of 310 are contesting the victory of categories KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok at the South Garda Karting Circuit. Qualifying practice and initial heats named the early pace setters. Further heats will follow on Saturday, February 16th, while the final stages will take place on Sunday, February 17th.

The CRG Racing Team season starts with the 24TH Winter Cup

The CRG Racing Team season starts with the 24TH Winter Cup Read more

The classic meeting scheduled for this weekend in Lonato will be the occasion to present the 2019 drivers line up and make an important shakedown in view of the FIA events. With over 300 drivers, the 24th Winter Cup will be a very interesting event and it will give an excellent feedback in view of the FIA races. All the most important teams and drivers of International Karting will be on track and for the KZ2 class, it will be the first general test in view of the World Championship, that will be hosted by this track in September.

Live-timing and results 2019 Lonato Winter Cup at South Garda Karting

Live-timing and results 2019 Lonato Winter Cup at South Garda Karting Read more

The 24th Lonato Winter Cup scored record numbers again as it will have 319 drivers entered in KZ2, OK, OK-Junior and Mini Rok. The protagonists and the program of the events that will end on Sunday February 17th. The Winter Cup, race to be held in Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy), is all set for another important event, with 319 drivers from all over the world entered in this 24th edition. These record numbers confirm the importance of this race which marks the opening of the International season. Qualifying starts on Friday follwing bij the First heats, on Saturday more heatracing and Sunday will be finalsday. Follow the results here:

Alex Irlando’s season gets underway in Lonato for the 24th Winter Cup

Alex Irlando’s season gets underway in Lonato for the 24th Winter Cup Read more

After the first win with the Ronni Sala’s team in Sarno, Alex Irlando will face all his opponents at the traditional meeting in Lonato. After a lot of winter training with his new TM-powered machine, Alex Irlando will start the new season at the South Garda Karting in Lonato, on occasion of the 24th Winter Cup.

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Exciting heats come rain or shine in the Flying Finn Race
Bas Kaligis
/ Categories: International

Exciting heats come rain or shine in the Flying Finn Race

There was an exciting day of qualifying heats in mixed weather conditions at the Flying Finn Race on Saturday, as drivers battled to be in contention for the FIA Karting World Championship titles in OK and OK Junior. On home ground at the PowerPark circuit at Alahärma near Kauhava, in the event organised by AKK, Finnish drivers came to the fore in the OK category. Juho Valtanen won three of his four heats on Saturday and Nikolas Pirttilahti won two, while Rasmus Joutsimies is also among the leading contenders, consistently inside the top four in his heats.

In OK Junior, the going was tougher for some of the local contenders despite some strong performances. The Dutch duo of Thomas ten Brinke and Laurens van Hoepen starred together with the Brazilian driver Rafael Chaves Camara.

 

OK: Valtanen leads the way

After Friday’s qualifying practice there were two Finnish drivers among the top four, with Juho Valtanen second to Gabriele Mini and Nikolas Pirttilahti in fourth behind Joshua Dufek. Valtanen (Kohtala Sports) promptly won his first heat (in which Pirttilahti had to retire) before taking fifth in his second. In the afternoon, after the heavens opened, the two Finns came into their element, dominating proceedings and taking a pair of wins each.

Valtanen is currently top of the standings with just one more heat to run on Sunday. While Pirttilahti (CV Performance Group) is making up places after his difficult start and is 22nd, Rasmus Joutsimies (Energy Corse) joins Valtanen inside the top six after a second, two third-places and a fourth during the day.

Dufek (Sauber Karting Team) is Valtanen’s closest challenger after a win in his third heat, with reigning World and European champion Lorenzo Travisanutto also in a strong position despite being yet to win. Dilano Vant'hoff (Forza Racing) won a heat and was always in the top four, with the Russian driver Kirill Smal constantly in the top five. Mini (Parolin) suffered an early setback before beating Taylor Barnard to win a particularly exciting heat, contested on slick tyres on a wet track.

- The whole day has felt good, three wins and one fifth. In both wet and dry conditions, we have been able to win heats, so I’m very happy. I was actually surprised about my speed especially in wet, I was very good. Now I’m the leader in the heat points, and tomorrow we’ll have the last heat. Let’s try to make it as good as possible to get pole position for the final. Then it’s flat out and we’ll see where it will take me eventually; hopefully to a good result, but we’ll see about that tomorrow! Said Valtanen.

- It was quite a good day. We had some technical difficulties and I had to start the first race from the pits. After the start I overtook some drivers, but after a good moment I hit another driver. In the second heat I had a good start and I was first but dropped to the fourth place. One driver went off the track and came straight back on in front of me. The last two races were wet: the first one was an easy win, the second was a bit tighter. I have good speed in both weather conditions so it doesn’t matter which one we have. Let’s continue tomorrow from where we ended today, Pirttilahti adds. 

 

OK Junior: Three apiece for Ten Brinke and Chaves Camara

The Dutch drivers flew out of the blocks, with Thomas ten Brinke and Laurens van Hoepen notching up five consecutive heat wins between them for Ricky Flynn Motorsport. They ended the day first and second in the points, ten Brinke finally beaten in his fourth and final heat of the day by the Brazilian Rafael Chaves Camara, who matched his tally of three wins by excelling in the wet.

Second in qualifying practice, the Forza Racing driver took the first of his wins in a race that had to be suspended after two laps due to torrential rain. Andrea Kimi Antonelli also looked good in the rain, ending his day with two wins to finish in the top five along with Josep Marti, winner of his first heat in the morning. Behind them, the American Ugo Ugochukwu, Austrialian James Wharton and the Russian Nikita Bedrin, who had been fastest of all on Friday.

The Finns enjoyed a strong start to the day in OK Junior, with Samuli Mertsalmi and Tuukka Taponen placing second and third in the opening heat. Taponen was fifth and sixth in two of his other heats but had a spin in another in soaking conditions, leaving him 30th in the points at the end of the day. Mertsalmi is the highest Finn in 16th, with Veeti Rajala, Patrick Hakala, Hugo Heinonen and Henri Sääskilahti all currently joining Taponen in the top 30.

Results of OK         Results of OKJ

More photos of Flying Finn Race here 

 

Finnish FIA Karting World Championship Medalists
2017 Juho Valtanen, bronze
2009 Aaro Vainio, silver
2000 Heikki Kovalainen, bronze
1995 Kimmo Liimatainen, bronze
1993 Risto Virtanen, bronze

 

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