JULIA AND VANESA WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE IRON DAMES YOUNG TALENT PROGRAM

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We are extremely happy to be able to announce that two of our female drivers, Julia Angelard and Vanesa Silkunaite, have been chosen to participate at the Iron Dames Young Talent Program from 29 to 30 July on the Franciacorta track.

Giovanni Minardi: “First of all I want to thank the Iron Dames Program Manager, Cathy Muller, for this opportunity she is giving to my girls. These two days will be an important experience for both of them, but above all it could be the beginning of a collaboration that can help them continue their dreams. Now it’s up to Julia and Vanessa to give it their all. I am sure that both will make an excellent impression.”

Julia Angelard: “I was chosen for the Iron Dames Young Talent Program event, which I am really looking forward to. I am very happy to be part of this special gathering with inspiring women in motorsport. I am grateful to have been chosen, and I see how much I can learn here. Full of enthusiasm, I look forward to new experiences and connections.”

Vanesa Silkunaite: “I am Vanesa, 13 yrs old Lithuanian driver and I am thrilled to be selected for the event of the Iron Dames Young Talent Program, which is happening very soon! My heart is pounding just thinking about it. I’ve been practicing sooo hard, you wouldn’t even believe. My mom and dad have been super supportive, taking me to all my races and cheering me on like crazy. I will try my best to stay focused, stay cool, and totally crush it. Plus, I’m so stoked to meet other racers from around the world. Maybe I’ll make some new friends who are just as into racing as I am! So yeah, wish me luck guys.”

DEVEN GRABKO WILL REPRESENT TEAM USA AT THE 2024 FIA MOTORSPORT GAMES IN VALENCIA, SPAIN

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12 year old Swedish-American racing talent, Deven Grabko, has been selected to represent the USA at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games to be held in Valencia, Spain during the 3rd week of October.

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 in the WSK Final Cup at the hallowed South Garda Karting Circuit in Lonato, Italy, last November.

The news of his nomination to represent the USA at the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, dubbed the Olympics of Motorsport, comes on the back of not only his very strong debut in the international junior karting categories, OK Junior and X30 Junior, but also continued positive results during the beginning of the 2024 season, confirmation of his quality.

Grabko currently races with his team AD Motorsport, who are based in Helsingborg, Sweden. Together with his team, he has enjoyed a very successful start to his first full season of junior karting, scoring two race wins, three podiums, and several additional top 5 and top 10 finishes in the first half of the season, which also included debuts in the IAME Euro Series Winter Cup in Valencia, Spain, and the IAME Series Italy Open Games in Lonato. Deven now leads the drivers championship in Sweden’s largest and most prestigious karting championship, the South Sweden Kart Champions Cup, in the Junior Open 125cc class going into the Summer break.

Deven will not be resting this Summer, however. The young pilot will make his Champions of the Future Euro Series and FIA Karting European Championship debuts this month, the two biggest karting series in the world. The Åsum Ring International Karting Circuit in Kristianstad, Sweden will host the 4th rounds of these distinguished competitions July 17-20 and August 1-4, respectively.

The young racing talent continues to show great strides in development, and Giovanni Minardi, his manager, believes he is ready to take the next step in his career, and represent his country on the world stage.

Deven is ecstatic about the news, “This feels amazing! What a huge honour to represent the USA, how many people get to say that!? I can hardly believe it is true – it is almost like a dream! I will do whatever it takes to prepare well so I can make my country proud! I want to thank everyone who has ever supported me for helping to make this possible – all the sponsors, my team, Giovanni, Alex, Kevin, Hugo, Danny, Maximus, of course my family, and all the rest – this is why we do this!”

Giovanni Minardi was confident about Deven’s prospects. “This is a well deserved appointment for Deven, and a fitting next step for him on his journey. I have always known he was an extremely fast and talented driver, otherwise we would not have signed him. I am very sure he will be fighting near the front and do us and his country very proud.”

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
• FIA Motorsport Games: https://www.fiamotorsportgames.com/

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.»

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!»

SWEDISH GIRL MILLA SJÖSTRAND JOINS MINARDI MANAGEMENT

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We are pleased to announce that the Swedish driver born in 2008, Milla Sjöstrand, becomes part of the large Minardi Management family.
Milla has participated in various Championships in Sweden up until this year and finally in 2024, she will participate in a Championship outside of Sweden.
We decided together with her to participate at the Rotax Dutch Championship, divided into 8 weekends between Holland, Belgium and Germany, and then in 2025 take part in an even more international Championship, in preparation for the car debut in the 2026 season. Moreover, another fact which makes us really proud to have her on board is, that she was selected three times to participate at the FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars, both in the category Junior and Senior. An evidence that she is on fire!

Giovanni Minardi: “I am very happy that Milla is joining our Agency and that we are adding another pink quote to the team.
Milla has shown on several occasions that she is a very fast girl and with the program we are building I hope we can show it to everyone very soon. Milla has a beautiful attitude on and off track and she presents a very interesting package for the female world of Motorsport”.

Milla Sjöstrand: “I am happy to announce that I am working together with Minardi Management. Minardi Management is working on giving me the best conditions, both now and for the future. I am excited for what lies ahead and and sure we will find the right route towards my dream of racing at the highest level. This year I am racing in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium with Team Kartstore Benelux supported by MP Motorsport. It’s a big challenge to race there against drivers who have grown up on those tracks, but I enjoy a good challenge. I am sure what I learn this year will be a big asset to me in the future, and Minardi management is an important part of it”.

THE KOSMOPOULOS FAMILY JOINS MINARDI MANAGEMENT FAMILY

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Minardi Management and the Kosmopoulos family begin a collaboration of management for their two children Jason and Nefeli.
Jason will participate in 2024 in the WSK Championships and the Italian Championship in the Mini category, and we are extremely excited to see him already racing in January here in Italy! Regarding Nefeli, we are deciding at the moment together with her parents beside her commitment at school the possibility to race internationally and at which races and championships she will participate in 2024.

Giovanni Minardi: “For me it is a huge honour to collaborate with the entire Kosmopoulos family. They are a family that live for motorsport by managing a karting team, a karting academy and soon a brand new karting track in Greece. I felt from the first time very familiar with them and with the same ideas and visions in my mind. Jason, I noted the first time last year at the end of the season here in Italy on track and I was immediately impressed by his performance, his excellent attitude and his natural driving ability. I am sure, that this young man from Greece will rock the Mini category this year in the WSK and Italian Championship. Instead regarding Nefeli, I am extremely excited to start working also with her this year. Nefeli will be the third karting girl in our agency and I strongly believe that we can collect many successes together. We as a management believe strongly in the girls power on track and are very happy about the last developments regarding girls and women in the world of Motorsport. We together with Nefeli will try to equilibrate this sport one more time.”

Jason & Nefeli Kosmopoulos: “We are very happy to start a collaboration with Minardi Management for the season 2024 in Mini Gr.3 and OKJ, and we are sure that we can obtain fantastic results together.”

BENJAMIN WESTWOOD CONTINUES WITH GP RACING KARTS IN 2024

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We are pleased to announce that our Maltese driver Benjamin Westwood will continue in 2024 with the GP Racing Karts team.
Benjamin’s main program for the 2024 season will be the ROK Italy Series Championship with the Winter Trophy, ROK Trophy and ROK Superfinal, but probably you will see him also at some WSK appointments. Keep fingers crossed!

Giovanni Minardi: “I thank Gian Cavaciuti for the magnificent proposal that made us keep Benji in his team. I am sure that this year Benji will be one of the protagonists of the Mini ROK world. We will aim to be on the podium every race weekend and above all we will aim to obtain an excellent result in the Superfinal in October.”

Benjamin Westwood: “I’m happy to be driving with GP Racing as a team driver for the ROK Cup Championship in 2024. I believe this year can be a very strong year especially since we have a team of mini drivers all pushing together. I feel super pumped to start the year. Looking forward to seeing everyone on track.”

Gian Cavaciuti: “It will be a pleasure to continue the collaboration with Benji Westwood for the 2024 season. I am convinced that, with our support and the recent partnership with Minardi Management, we will achieve excellent results. Benji will give his all in the Italian ROK Championship and in selected international races.”

PIETRO BAGUTTI SIGNS WITH MINARDI MANAGEMENT

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Minardi Management is proud to announce that the driver from Piacenza, Pietro Bagutti, has become part of our family.
Pietro in 2024, will jump from Mini where he achieved excellent successes in the OKNJ category racing in the WSK Championships and in the Italian ACI Karting Championship, together with his team Gamoto of Salvatore and Vincenzo Gatto.

Giovanni Minardi: “We are extremely happy that another Italian talent is joining our agency; I have been chasing Pietro for years and now I have finally managed to close an agreement with him. I am sure that even if this year he begins a new adventure in the OKNJ category, he will immediately be competitive and equally certain that he will bring home many excellent results.”

Pietro Bagutti: “An extreme honor to start my “first year” and I hope an important path in the next OKNj category with Minardi Management and Team Gamoto, all extremely important figures in the world of Motorsport with the prospect and ambitions of being able to maximize my potential and above all my passion that Motorsport has been my priority for years, even though study and school are another fundamental goal in life because knowledge of the world is fundamental.”

MARKAS SIGNS WITH CRG FACTORY TEAM FOR 2024

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We are pleased to announce a change of jersey for Markas Silkunas, he leaves Gamoto to join CRG Factory Team. After an excellent 2023 with a 3rd place in the FIA Academy and the victory of the Lithuanian Championship, Markas has finally earned entry into a factory team where he will participate in all of the most important Championships, such as the WSK, Champions of the Future, CIK FIA European and CIK FIA World Championship.

Giovanni Minardi: “I am very happy to have managed to bring Markas to CRG, because they have great material for the OK category where he will compete, as well as having very experienced and fast drivers who will be able to help him grow quickly. I’m sure we can do great things.”

Markas Silkunas: “I am very happy that i have this great opportunity to join CRG factory team. I hope i will have a great relationship with all staff and teammates, which will help me to achieve great results with the new chassis. Thank you for all support from my family and Minardi Management. I will do my best!”

Giancarlo Tinini: “We welcome Markas to the team. We are ready to integrate him into our team, where the exchange between our champions is constant. We had the opportunity to observe him and follow his career, we are happy to participate in the project of his growth and we are sure that we can work well together!”