FORMULA 4 DRIVER LUKA SAMMALISTO IS BACK IN ACTION!

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A Finnish formula 4 driver, Luka Sammalisto had a whirlwind seven-week recovery period filled with the events unfolding behind the scenes: team meetings, simulator tests, test days and future planning sessions… The experience from the July event is now a chapter of resilience. Showcasing Sammalisto’s attitude, determination, and tenacity in both life and motorsports.The Japanese saying goes, “Fall down seven times, stand up eight!” For the promising young driver from Finland, the focus is now on the present moment, the remaining races of the season, and future ambitions. His mantra from karting days, “Never give up!” remains stronger than ever. The Formula4 season continues, the dream lives on, and the dedicated work towards achieving those dreams never stops.

– A massive shoutout to the incredible sponsors and partners who have stood by me through thick and thin! Their continued support and belief in my racing career mean a lot for the motivation and ongoing success.

Two weeks ago, Sammalisto dusted off his racing uniform and hit the Red Bull Ring for the F4 Euro series weekend. Originally, the F4 Euro series wasn’t in his race schedule, but strategic discussions with his manager, Giovanni Minardi, led to the decision to participate.

– Spielberg is a track raced in higher formula classes (FRECA, F3, F2). Luka’s participation in the Austrian race weekend was a carefully considered strategic decision. Another key reason was that the Italian series resumes only this coming weekend in Barcelona, so getting Luka race ready before Barcelona was seen as positive. – Giovanni Minardi

Red Bull Ring is notorious for its challenging and rapidly changing weather conditions, and the F4 Euro series weekend was no different. The cold, almost winter-like (+5°C) temperatures throughout the weekend added to the challenge.

In the first qualifying session, Sammalisto secured a P8 finish, meeting his goals. However, tire pressure and grip issues hampered the second session, resulting in P19 (QP2) and P20 (QP3) finishes.

– I couldn’t get the tires to work optimally, and the grip was poor. Without grip, the driving feel is not good.

The first race was on slick tires despite parts of the track still being wet, making the grip nearly non-existent. Sammalisto had a great start, but a water puddle in the first corner slowed him down. On the second lap, he experienced an unexpected challenge when drivers ahead went off into the gravel, resulting in a spray of stones. One unfortunate rock hit Luka’s finger so hard that he couldn’t hold the steering wheel due to sudden pain, ending his race.

Both second and third races were driven in rainy conditions. Starting from mid-grid, the rain and poor visibility made it difficult to aim for top 10 finishes, resulting in P17 and P18 placements.

– The weekend was challenging, but returning to the track feels really good. We learned a lot and were able to develop the car and settings, especially in rainy conditions.

The F4 Italian Championship resumes this weekend in Barcelona, marking the penultimate race weekend of the season.

– The goal is to make this weekend the best of the season, a complete and successful return race. We’re aiming for maximum points—the more we get, the better and of course, the more fun!

DEVEN GRABKO TAKES VICTORY AT THE GOTHENBURG GRAND PRIX, IS CROWNED SWEDEN’S IAME JUNIOR X30 CHAMPION

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Young Swedish-American racing talent, Deven Grabko, became the winner of the 2024 Gothenburg Grand Prix in the Junior Open 125cc category on Saturday. The success marked his 3rd victory of the season, and confirms his position as one of his country’s brightest young racing talents.

The prestigious race, the 2nd biggest in Sweden only after the National Championship itself, regularly draws entries from all over Scandinavia and Europe, this year seeing 45 entries in the Junior category, also served as the 6th and final round of the IAME Series Sweden – itself one of the largest and most prestigious karting championships in the country, boasting over 170 participants over the 6 rounds of the championship.

Deven, still only 12 years old and in his first season stepping up to the Junior categories as one of the youngest drivers in the field, came into the weekend 3rd in the IAME Series Sweden standings and needed to win to have a chance at taking home the championship.

He did exactly that after a dramatic qualifying that saw another competitor leak water onto the track, sending off several karts behind them, including Deven. The young pilot dragged his kart deep out of the grass and got back underway with only a couple of minutes remaining in the qualifying session and managed a last gasp flying lap good enough for 2nd in his group and 4th overall.

From there he finished 3rd in his first qualifying heat and took a heat win in his second. The results were good enough to give him the overall pole position going into the super heat phase of the competition. Deven was able to win his super eat as well, guaranteeing his position on pole for the all decisive final.

In the final he was able to make a very good start and getaway, able to control the entire race, and won the gruelling 20 lap final by over 2 seconds.

The IAME Series championship means that Grabko qualifies for the IAME Junior X30 World Finals, to be held in Valencia, Spain from November 4-7.

Deven, who is represented by the well-respected Italian Driver Management Agency, Minardi Management, has already made an impact on the international junior karting scene, scoring an impressive top 10 finish at the age of 11 in his junior category and World Series Karting debut, where he finished 7th at the 2023 WSK Final Cup at the hallowed South Garda Karting Circuit in Lonato, Italy, last November.

Grabko, earlier this season named to the USA national team squad to compete at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games in October, will now have the honour of competing in another International and World Final.

The young pilot also made his Champions of the Future Euro Series and FIA Karting European Championship debut earlier this summer, where he made an immediate impact and turned heads with his speed, despite results not going his way.

Deven was extremely proud of his success, “What a great feeling! I am so happy right now – to win the IAME Series championship in the final round like that, and qualify for the IAME World Finals is amazing. Taking the win here at one of the biggest and hardest races here in Sweden, it just feels so great, and makes me hungry for more! Huge thanks to all my sponsors, fans, supporters, my team AD Motorsport, Hugo my mechanic, my family, none of this is possible without you guys, so this is all for you!”

Giovanni Minardi had this to say, “Deven is incredibly talented and we are so proud of him, his dedication to his craft is admirable, and he deserves every accolade. He has shown himself to be a true champion.”

Deven Grabko is a Swedish American racing driver born in Trollhättan, Sweden, and raised in both Trollhättan as well as San Diego, California. He attends school in year 7 at Paradisskolan’s English Speaking Curriculum in Trollhättan.
• Web: www.grabkogp.com
• Instagram: @grabkogp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grabkogp
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GrabkoGP

Minardi Management is a well reputed Italian Driver Management Agency run by the same family legacy from the Minardi Formula One team in the 2000’s and have been an active and influential name in motorsports throughout the years. They are known to bring their drivers from a young age through the kart racing categories and into single seater formula racing.
• Web: www.minardimanagment.com
• Instagram: @minardi_management
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minardimanagement

IAME Series Sweden: https://www.iameseriesnortherneurope.com/results-sweden/
IAME World Finals: https://www.iame-motorsport.com/iwf/iwf24
FIA Motorsport Games: https://www.fiamotorsportgames.com/

PROMISING FINNISH FORMULA4 DRIVER FACES A MONTH-LONG RECOVERY

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Luka Sammalisto, the 16-year-old Formula 4 driver from Finland, was injured last Friday morning during the free practice session of the F4 Italian Championship series in Mugello.

What initially seemed like a minor incident turned out to have serious consequences for the tenacious young Finn. Sammalisto was transferred to a hospital where imaging studies revealed fractures in three vertebrae. While the fractures are stable, eliminating the most critical risks, the injury has necessitated a month-long rehabilitation period.

Since Friday, Sammalisto has been recuperating in a local hospital, eagerly awaiting the green light to return home. Due to his condition, he will be absent from the upcoming F4 Italian Championship -weekend in Paul Richard, scheduled for just over a week from now.

At the Mugello hospital, Sammalisto has been strictly confined to bed rest. Throughout this challenging period, he has been surrounded by an incredible support system.

Sammalisto’s manager, Giovanni Minardi, has been presence at the hospital. With Minardi’s Italian heritage, communication with the medical team has been seamless. Minardi’s support extends beyond logistics, providing invaluable emotional strength to Sammalisto during his recovery. Juuso-Matti Pajuranta, Sammalisto’s driving coach, has played a pivotal role as well.

“Both Giovanni’s and Juuso-Matti’s help and support have been incredible. Me and my parents are immensely grateful for them.”

“I have received an incredible amount of support from various people. It’s really comforting to know I’m not alone and that there are so many caring people around. I want to say a big heartfelt thanks to everyone!”

“This Friday, I’ll be back in Finland. The anticipation is building, and I can’t wait to be home! During the following weeks, it’s crucial to avoid all kinds of back bending and twisting movements. I will be using back extension braces to keep my back in the correct position. The most important thing is to initiate the healing process properly. Getting home plays a significant role in that recovery. Having family and friends around is invaluable. Plus, I get to enjoy homemade food made by my mom!”

Despite this setback, the resilient driver is determined to make a full recovery and return to the track stronger than ever.
Sammalisto is expected to make a comeback for the Barcelona race weekend, scheduled for September 27-29, 2024

LUKA SAMMALISTO AND A CHALLENGING WEEKEND AT VALLELUNGA

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The third race weekend for a Finnish F4 driver Luka Sammalisto (16) in the F4 Italian Championship series at Vallelunga, Italy, was fraught with challenges.

Preparations for the race weekend began on a high note for the young Finn. During Friday’s free practice, Sammalisto showcased competitive speed, clocking the second fastest lap time among 36 drivers in the morning session. The R-ace GP team, which Sammalisto represents, dedicated the afternoon to final testing and fine-tuning to ensure optimal equipment settings for Saturday’s qualifyings. Despite the preparations, the qualifying session did not unfold as planned. Nevertheless, Sammalisto’s consistent performance secured him 16th, 12th, and 10th place.

Saturday’s first race start quickly turned problematic. On the very first lap, a teammate collided with Sammalisto’s car, dropping him to 24th place. The race took a dramatic turn a few laps before the checkered flag when three drivers ahead of Sammalisto crashed, blocking the entire track. With no clear path, Sammalisto swerved into the sand area, where his car became stuck, ending his race prematurely.

During the second race start on Saturday, another incident transpired. After several laps, an unforeseen maneuver by a fellow competitor dashed Sammalisto’s hopes for a strong performance and points, as he was positioned in a promising 10th place at the time.

Sunday continued the pattern of misfortune. In the third race of the weekend, Sammalisto was derailed off the track due to a delayed braking maneuver by the driver behind him. This incident resulted in a damaged car and a 22nd place finish for Sammalisto.

– When at every race during the weekend, your race is ruined for reasons other than self-inflicted, it’s frustrating. When things happen that you can’t influence on your own, it eats away at a man. Disappointing in terms of sportsmanship.

– Concentration or skillful overtaking won’t suffice if a fellow racer veers into your path, or if a collision from the driver behind causes damage to your car. Setbacks are an inherent part of a motorsport. Navigating through such challenges is not always mentally easy, particularly on weekends like this.

Sammalisto also shared his frustration on behalf of his team.
– It’s really sad for the whole R-ace GP team. They have worked hard to close the gap to the top teams. It has been successful and the direction of development is correct.

– If there is something positive to dig out of the weekend, then mental strength and determination will only be strengthened by the experiences of this weekend.

– Every race weekend has its own special spices, and this weekend offered the bitterest of them. The work will continue with the team persistently and determinedly towards Mugello, where in a month’s time the fourth race weekend of the F4 Italian Championship series will take place.

YOUNG FORMULA PROMISE LUKA SAMMALISTO SHOWED HIS SPEED AT THE IMOLA F4 RACE!

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Finnish formula driver Luka Sammalisto is improving his performance as the season progresses in the Italian F4 series. The Imola race offered a lot of positives but also technical challenges, which left Luka from the rookie driver’s podium position just one place short twice.
Earlier this year, Sammalisto also took another step closer to professional motorsport. Luka signed a management contract with the Italian Minardi Management. The company’s owner, Giovanni Minardi, acts as Luka’s manager and handles all contract negotiations. Sammalisto is the first Finnish driver on Minardi’s list, which also includes F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Luka Sammalisto: It was great to become a part of Minardi Management. Giovanni is a true professional and takes care of practically all matters and negotiations related to me. Final decisions are made together, but everything else is handled through the manager. Giovanni always approaches things from the driver’s perspective, which is important for a young driver.

The Imola race weekend began with three collective tests and two official free practice sessions. Sammalisto’s test program included a long list of technical adjustments in preparation for the weekend’s races.

Luka Sammalisto: The collective tests went pretty much according to the program, that was, searching for settings. We tested a lot of different things and didn’t expect any top times at all. However, in the combined times of the three tests, I was in 15th place, which was decent. The Imola track felt good right from the first run.

The official free practices went even better for Luka, with positions of P10 and P8. The car worked well with both old and new tires, and expectations for the qualifying sessions were high.

Luka Sammalisto: The speed improved further in the free practices, and I got a good feeling for the car with both old and new tires. The gap to the top was just a few tenths of a second. But the qualifying sessions did not go as smoothly. The first qualifying session was disrupted by numerous yellow flags, and due to a detached front wing, I only managed to do one fast lap, resulting in a very unsatisfactory P14. In the second qualifying session, technical problems continued, and I ended up in P18.

The weekend’s three races involved a lot of driving behind the safety car but also intense racing and overtaking. Sammalisto showed his speed and fighting spirit, resulting two times P4 among the rookies.

Luka Sammalisto: The first race started well, but crashes in the early laps brought out the safety car. The rest of the race was tough, and I even went off into the gravel briefly, but finished in P12 and P4 among the rookies. The podium was close, Luka says. The second race started also well, and I had climbed to P9 and P3 among the rookies when the safety car came out. At this point, the race director noticed that my rear wing had come loose and flagged me to the pits a lap before the finish. The third race was my best driving of the weekend. A good start, good speed, and good overtakes. I finished P7 and P4 among the rookies, which of course is a bit frustrating.

The Imola weekend did not meet the set goals. Numerous technical problems significantly affected performance and speed. When the car worked, Luka showed his speed and potential.

Luka Sammalisto: I have mixed feelings about Imola. There were many technical challenges that were out of my control. It’s good to remember, though, that without the technical issues, we are fast and competitive, which gives confidence for the future. The next race will be held in Vallelunga in 14.-16.6.

More information about Luka Sammalisto:
www.lukasammalistoracing.com

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.”

JAMES EGOZI JOINS THE RED BULL JUNIOR JUNIOR TEAM

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After the great success of Minardi Management in bringing Andrea Kimi Antonelli into the Mercedes F1 Academy in 2018, we are happy to announce another important achievement of ours. Giovanni Minardi managed to get the driver James Egozi into the Red Bull Junior Team. In 2023 we had already included him in the private PHM Racing Academy, giving him the opportunity to participate in an entire season in the Italian F4 Championship, however in 2024, thanks to the new collaboration just concluded with Red Bull he will have the opportunity to increase his programs to aim for its ultimate goals. Minardi Management and Giovanni Minardi demonstrate once again that they give each driver of their Agency the opportunity to open all possible doors, taking advantage of the excellent network of knowledge and respect towards Giovanni Minardi himself within the world of Motorsport and ensure its drivers a future in this sport.

Giovanni Minardi: “Who would have thought that in just two years of a management contract, we would have managed to get here. Having included him last year at the last moment in the private Academy program of the PHM Racing team and now in Red Bull, which allowed him and will allow him in the future to race like a professional, we believe we have achieved a true sportive miracle according to James Egozi.
Now it’s all in the hands of him and Red Bull to find the right path to reach the final goal, that is, Formula 1.
At this point we believe that there are no longer the conditions to continue our journey together, because it will be impossible to obtain more than what we have achieved in these two years and therefore our paths will separate, but with the awareness on our part of having done an outstanding job for James.”

MATTIA BUCCI CLINCHED HIS MAIDEN CAREER WIN IN SINGLE-SEATERS AT MISANO ADRIATICO

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He stood on the podium twice in this “Formula X Italian Series” round, winning Race 2, which marked his first triumph in car racing

The last race of Mattia Bucci‘s sports season in “Formula X Italian Series”, specifically in the “FX Pro Series” category, is over. The event took place at Misano Adriatico where he achieved the best possible result, conquering his first win in single-seaters and sealing a round that saw him as a protagonist.

Despite uncertain weather conditions on Friday, with rain briefly affecting the circuit, the driver from Abruzzo quickly established himself at the top of the leaderboard: he secured third place in the first Free Practice session and set the fastest time in the second session. During Qualifying, he recorded the third-best lap time of the day after a close battle for Pole Position, which eluded him due to traffic on track.

On Saturday, the young talent from Catignano returned to the podium, finishing third in Race 1. Although he initially secured second place in the early stages of the race, he later lost it. The magic happened in Race 2 on Sunday: starting from the fourth position on the grid, Bucci wasted no time in gaining a crucial second position, which he converted into a victory thanks to a penalty imposed on the driver ahead of him. This triumph was the result of his exemplary performance on the track.

Mattia Bucci expressed his thoughts on this significant result, stating: “This win is very important for me and my family, as it represents the culmination of our sacrifices. I don’t know how to describe this feeling, i’m incredulous! I never expected to achieve such a result in only my third career round in car racing. With a total of three podium finishes in 2023, we established a solid foundation to build upon in 2024. I want to dedicate this success to my family, my manager Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management, Sandro Giuliani and the entire SG Motors team, my staff and sponsors and i want to thank all those who have supported me throughout me journey. I will immediately begin working for next year.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Officer Mattia Bucci

THE LAST RACE OF THE YEAR WILL TAKE PLACE IN MISANO, AND MATTIA BUCCI IS SEEKING REDEMPTION

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The difficulties faced in Magione were part of a learning process that will culminate in Misano Adriatico, the venue for the final round of the “Formula X Italian Series”

The prestigious and historic Misano World Circuit, named in memory of the late Marco Simoncelli, will host in this weekend the final round of the “FX Pro Series”, a prominent championship within the “Formula X Italian Series” landscape.

The SG Motors’ Tatuus F4 T-014 will once again be driven by Mattia Bucci, who is eager to redeem himself after the challenges encountered in Magione. However, those difficulties have been valuable in terms of his learning process as the Abruzzo-born driver approaches his third race weekend in single-seaters.

The event’s schedule has undergone a change compared to what was seen in Varano de’ Melegari and the Umbrian stage: “The Flash” will hit the track from Friday for Free Practice and Qualifying while the races, namely Race 1 and Race 2, will take place on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

“To race on a historic circuit like Misano is an honor for me, it’s another small milestone achieved after so many sacrifices – said Mattia – I am very happy about it and can’t wait to get in the car. I want to thank my family and sponsors for the opportunity they have given me, Giovanni Minardi and the entire Minardi Management for their help and support during this period, Sandro Giuliani and SG Motors for allowing me to continue with them, and all my staff.”

The race will be broadcasted on the Facebook page of “FX Racing Weekend – GT4 Italy” and on the YouTube channel “Formula X Italian Series – GT4Italy.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Press Office Mattia Bucci

MATTIA BUCCI STABLE IN TOP FIVE IN THE MAGIONE ROUND

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wo fifth places are the result with which “The Flash” returns home from the Autodromo dell’Umbria. A different weekend from Varano de’ Melegari but important in the growth process

It was not an easy weekend for Mattia Bucci in Magione for the penultimate round of the “Formula X Italian Series” category “FX Pro Series”. The young Abruzzo representative had to face some unexpected difficulties on the track, which, from the perspective of a debutant, proved useful in expanding his experience for the upcoming events.

The Free Practice sessions on Saturday saw Bucci qualify in fifth position in both sessions, a result that was also replicated in Qualifying: the first sign of how this race in Umbria was different from the story lived in Varano de’ Melegari.

Race 1 started with a red flag due to an accident that fortunately did not involve Mattia; as a result, the race duration was halved and, furthermore, the Race Direction changed the starting procedure to a rolling start. Starting in fifth position, Mattia then crossed the finish line without any changes.

The achieved result allowed him to line up his Tatuus F4 T-014 on the second spot of the starting grid for Race 2. Thanks once again to a good start, Bucci was able to defend his position at the start of the second of the two Sunday races, acquiring the right to attempt an assault on the race leader. Unfortunately, a difficult tyre management then caused a loss of performance that saw the Catignano ace slip to fifth under the checkered flag.

Mattia Bucci commented on this atypical weekend: “It was a very formative weekend for me, even though we didn’t bring home the result we wanted. I am very happy with how the team and I have faced all the difficulties that arose. Now we have a month to work hard for the next race. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management for their support, Sandro Giuliani and the entire SG Motors team who have worked hard to provide me with the best possible package, my athletic trainer Walter Marini and his staff, my staff, my family, and all my sponsors for their constant support.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Ufficio Stampa Mattia Bucci