MATTIA BUCCI AND SCUDERIA BEST LAP WILL STILL BE TOGETHER FOR THIS YEAR’S ITALIAN GT ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

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The partnership is renewed for the 2025 season, Bucci will drive the new Ferrari 296 Challenge

Mattia Bucci will continue his Grand Touring racing career with Scuderia Best Lap for the 2025 season. After the good results achieved in 2024, with two podiums in the bag, the pair will tackle the Italian GT Endurance Championship in “GT Cup” class.

The racing driver from Pescara will drive the new Ferrari 296 Challenge, which will debut in the kermesse organized by the sporting division of “Automobile Club Italia”.

Unlike the “Sprint” series format, the Championship will host a 3 hours race on Sunday in which all drivers will be involved in several stints.

The calendar is structured like this:
– Round 1: Misano, May 4th;
– Round 2: Monza, June 22nd;
– Round 3: Imola, August 3rd;
– Round 4: Mugello, September 14th.

Mattia Bucci: “I’m very happy to announce that i’ll be back on track with Scuderia Best Lap in this new sport adventure in the Endurance Championship. I can’t wait to get back driving and give my best to bring home the best possible results. I want to thank Giovanni Minardi and Minardi Management for the work they’ve done, the Best Lap team for renewing their trust in me, my sponsors for their support, my family, my staff and Walter Marini together with his guys.”

Giovanni Minardi: “I am extremely happy to have closed for the 2025 season with Scuderia Best Lap and Mattia for the Italian GT Endurance Championship with the Ferrari 296 Challenge. I thank the Team for the help they gave us to close this deal. Mattia will be able to count on the continuity and knowledge of the team and I am sure he will be able to achieve excellent results and aim for the title in his category. I can’t wait to see him in the car.”

Matteo Gaudieri
Mattia Bucci’s Press Office

BALDASSARRI RETURNS TO THE ACADEMY MINI CHALLENGE ITALY

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Thomas Baldassarri will once again compete in the Academy Mini Challenge Italy at the wheel of the Mini JCW. The young driver, born in 2008, will be driving the Mini for the second consecutive year. Last year, his journey was cut short during the races at Mugello due to a serious accident that forced him to stop for several months.

This year, fortunately, he will have the opportunity to redeem himself and get back on track in this competition.

The Academy Mini Challenge is a competition dedicated to emerging drivers, like Thomas, offering them the chance to compete against high-level rivals. Last season, Baldassarri achieved excellent results, and this year, he will have a great opportunity to improve and fight for victory.

Giovanni Minardi: “I am extremely happy to announce that Thomas will be back on track after the accident at Mugello last season, where he unfortunately broke two ribs, keeping him out of action for a couple of months. Now that he has put everything behind him, he will return to the track with his Mini Cooper No. 7, and I am sure that, with his great determination for redemption, he will have an excellent championship and fight for victory.”

Thomas Baldassarri: “I am very happy to take part in the Mini Challenge Academy again this year because I have always loved the Mini JCW, and I am convinced that this season we have the potential to do a great job and fight for the top of the standings.”

PREPARATION WEEKEND: GREAT RESULTS AHEAD OF THE FUTURE

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The past weekend saw our drivers achieve excellent results, thanks to outstanding performances. Benjamin Westwood and Nilas Malik took advantage of this weekend to carry out tests and fine-tune their setups in preparation for the IAME Euro Series.

Zack Zhu, competing in the FFSA French Championship, secured an excellent fifth place, once again confirming his consistency among the top five. Meanwhile, Julia Angelard delivered another impressive performance, finishing twelfth at Franciacorta in the ROK Italy Series.

Julia Angelard – P12 in the ROK Cup Italy at Franciacorta, Junior Category
One of the standout drivers of the weekend was Julia Angelard. The young talent impressed with her strong performances, culminating in a twelfth-place finish in the final. Despite facing several setbacks in the last race, which forced her to restart from the back of the field, Julia showed great determination, recovering 20 positions and securing a very positive result.
Her progress continues in the best possible way. Each weekend, Angelard demonstrates remarkable growth compared to the previous one. She is developing at an impressive pace, and important results are sure to come soon.

Zack Zhu – P5 in the FFSA Championship at La Hague, Junior Category
Zack Zhu was in action in the FFSA Championship over the weekend, securing an excellent fifth-place finish despite some challenges. The young French driver consistently fought for fourth and fifth place, showing great determination, although he was unable to break into the battle for the podium.
Zack has everything it takes to take the next step and compete for the top three positions, despite the challenges of the championship. From the next race onwards, Zhu will push to fight at the front, relying on his tenacity and strong will to achieve even more prestigious results.

Nilas Malik – P17 in the IAME Open Games at Cremona, X30 Junior Category
Nilas had a highly productive weekend, making the most of the opportunity to test and experiment ahead of the upcoming IAME Euro Series.
Next weekend will be crucial, as it marks the first round of the IAME Euro Series. The experience gained over the past few days, including on-track battles and technical tests, will allow Nilas to arrive well-prepared and determined to fight for top positions.

Benjamin Westwood – P12 in the IAME Open Games at Cremona, X30 Junior Category
Benjamin’s weekend was very similar to that of his teammate Nilas. Westwood will also compete in the IAME Euro Series, and as a result, he used this weekend to carry out several tests. In the final, he delivered a remarkable comeback, climbing up to twelfth place.

The next event will be crucial for him as well. The results achieved over the past few days are promising ahead of the IAME Euro Series. We are confident that Benjamin, like Nilas, will give his all to aim for the best possible result.

JULIA ANGELARD WITH A SPRINT IN THE FINAL OF THE FIRST ROUND OF THE ROK CUP ITALIA

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  • The first round of the ROK Cup Italia on the Franciacorta track turned out to be an intense mix of joy and hardship for Julia Angelard.
  • The 13-year-old Pole finished her qualifying session in 11th place, only to encounter some difficulties not only in the subsequent heats, but also at the start of the final race.
  • As a result, the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing driver presented the fans with a spectacular sprint in the final, breaking from 36th place to a high 12th place.
  • The WSK Super Master Series also ended last weekend. Despite competing in only two rounds, Julia Angelard was ultimately classified as 27th out of 72 drivers in the OKN-Junior category, being the highest placed female driver in the table and ahead of, among others, the Iron Dames representatives.

After the first round of the ROK Cup Italia, Julia Angelard can have both reasons to be proud and a sense of dissatisfaction. The Minardi Management protégé showed strong pace during Saturday’s qualifying session after training runs, taking 11th place out of 54 competitors in the Junior ROK category. Everything indicated that the next heats, thanks to starts from the 7th and 8th starting positions, would bring more good results. Unfortunately, reality decided to verify the expectations of the competitor and her team.

Difficult conditions and the finale of redemption
There was no shortage of satisfaction with the result in the qualifications – the result clearly emphasized that the competitor has the potential to improve her position in the races. Unfortunately, she encountered bad luck in the first heat. She was pushed off the track by one of her rivals, which resulted in losing not only valuable seconds, but also places in the grid. Despite her efforts, Julia was unable to return to a good position, what’s more – this was not the end of the problems. In the second race, her rival, who lost control of his vehicle, crashed into her, giving her no chance to avoid a collision. This impact destroyed her chances for a good position, and she finished the race with a damaged kart.

The finale that everyone was waiting for was supposed to be a chance for redemption for Julia Angelard, but bad luck again did not leave the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor. Just a moment before leaving for the track, the engine of her vehicle simply refused to obey and would not start, which is why Julia was unable to go out on the formation lap on time. As a result, she had to start from 36th place, which definitely made it difficult for her to continue fighting. Despite such circumstances, accompanying her throughout the weekend, the 13-year-old Pole did not give up. Thanks to the excellent pace that she managed to maintain throughout the final race, she pushed ahead and eventually finished the competition in a sensational, 12th position.

Ambitions were much higher
“From the beginning of the weekend I had solid pace, which resulted in 11th place in qualifications. Unfortunately, in the first heat I was pushed off the track, and in the second one my rival, who had lost control of his vehicle himself, hit me, leaving me with zero chance of avoiding contact. In the final, bad luck did not let up – just before entering the track, the engine gave out, which forced me to start from P36. Despite this, thanks to great pace, I made it all the way to P12. This is a good result, but ambitions were much higher,” emphasizes Julia Angelard.

However, the Minardi Management protégé may have reasons to be happy after last weekend. At the same time, the WSK Super Master Series ended. Despite starting in only two rounds, Julia Angelard was ultimately classified as 27th out of 72 competitors in the OKN-Junior category. This made her the highest placed female competitor in the table, ahead of, among others, Iron Dames representatives and female drivers covered by junior programs of Formula 1 teams.

The JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor now has a 3-week break. The next races of the 13-year-old Pole can be followed on 03-06.04.2025, when she will appear on the 7 Laghi track in Italy during the second round of the ROK Cup Italia.

TARIQ SOOFI WILL MAKE HIS DEBUT IN ROK CUP ITALY WITH LA MOTORSPORT

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Tariq Soofi will race in the Rok Cup Italy with LA Motorsport. The young driver, winner of the Rotax Max Challenge championship, will put himself to the test with a challenge as complicated as it is important. Tariq will be competing in two races at Cremona and Franciacorta, under different conditions from those he is used to. This will be a very important opportunity for him to showcase his already well-known talent in other categories.

Giovanni Minardi: “After the excellent victory in the Rotax Max Challenge Championship in Bahrain, I can’t wait to see Tariq race here in Italy. We have reached a great agreement with LA Motorsport to compete in the two races at Cremona (00/07) and Franciacorta (00/07). I am glad that Tariq is coming to have this experience and see a different category from what he has competed in so far, but above all to get to know new tracks, which will be important for his future.”

Tariq Soofi: “The ROK championship will be a novelty for me. I will work hard to prepare myself to be one of the leaders in the upcoming races. The most important thing for me is to learn, grow, and enjoy the racing experience.”

Author: Gabriele Bovio

MAYA WEUG HITS THE GROUND RUNNING IN F1 ACADEMY TESTING IN SHANGHAI WITH MP

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The Ferrari driver carried out a perfect testing program with her new team. Now it’s all about hitting the track in Shanghai at the end of the month for the first F1 Academy round of the season.

Day 1
In the morning Maya sent a clear message about her intentions for the 2025 season, setting the benchmark in 2:03.680.
She improved in the afternoon by another 5 tenths, ending the day with 59 laps completed.

Day 2
Like the day before, Maya set the time first, eventually finishing as the fastest of the day. Her name stayed at the top of the leaderboard for almost the entire day and the 207 km covered allowed the team to collect valuable data.

Day 3
Once again Maya sets the benchmark to beat at 2:04.520 and ends the morning in third position, after Chambers and Felbermayr ran with more grip.
In the afternoon she made up for it by setting the fastest time of the day in 2:03.204.

Conclusions
Maya concluded the testing with 162 laps (the equivalent of 12 races) and a very promising speed. The new all-Orange combination seems to be a winning one, so she will undoubtedly be among the protagonists of the F1 Academy 2025 championship.

JULIA ANGELARD READY TO COMPETE IN ROK CUP ITALIA

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  • This coming weekend, 13-year-old Julia Angelard will start competing in the ROK Cup Italia, one of the most competitive karting series in Europe.
  • The Pole has eight rounds ahead of her, including a night competition on the South Garda Karting track in Lonato, which she knows very well.
  • Julia spent the past weekend on the Franciacorta track, as part of the fourth round of the WSK Super Master Series, preparing for the best possible start to the ROK Cup Italia season on the same karting track.

While Formula 1 drivers rarely have three consecutive race weekends, and the whole world admires their determination and will to fight when a triple header of this type takes place, this situation happens all too often for karting drivers. Julia Angelard found out for herself when she gets behind the wheel of her kart for the third time in a row this coming weekend, interestingly – competing in three different racing series. After a full training session in the first round of the Champions of the Future Academy in Portimão, the 13-year-old JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing driver spent the past weekend at the Franciacorta track, using the WSK Super Master Series round taking place there as excellent training before the start of the Italian ROK.

Eight rounds and night driving
This year’s ROK Cup Italia season includes eight rounds, starting with the competition at the Franciacorta track starting this weekend, and ending with the September round in Lonato, which crowns the competition. An interesting fact is certainly the fifth round of the season, planned at the South Garda Karting track as a night competition, which will undoubtedly provide an extraordinary spectacle for the fans, and will allow the drivers to test themselves in different than usual conditions, under the artificial lighting of the track.

The series calendar is as follows:
1. Franciacorta Karting Track (Castrezzato), 16/03/2025
2. 7 Laghi Kart (Castelletto di Branduzzo), 06/04/2025
3. Franciacorta Karting Track (Castrezzato), 27/04/2025
4. Pista Azzurra (Jesolo), 11/05/2025
5. South Garda Karting (Lonato) – night race, 21/06/2025
6. Cremona Karting (Cremona), 20/07/2025
7. Franciacorta Karting Track (Castrezzato), 03/08/2025
8. South Garda Karting (Lonato), 14/09/2025.

Ready and experienced
“I am glad that I had the opportunity to race on the Franciacorta track last weekend as part of WSK. Gaining experience on the track is always good, despite the weather and crowds I gave it my all and I know that I am ready for the upcoming start of the ROK Cup Italia season. As always, I will give it my all and I hope that I will bring a result from Italy that will satisfy not only my fans, but also myself. I hope that the third racing weekend in a row will allow me to get on the track quite quickly and find the best settings to show my true potential,” emphasizes the JSTR by Jastrzębski Racing competitor.

GREAT LEARNING WEEKEND FOR LUKA SAMMALISTO IN BARCELONA

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The Finnish driver took part in the last round of the Formula Winter Series in Barcelona to prepare the Italian F4 Championship campaign. The Barcelona circuit is notoriously demanding for tires, so Luka’s goal was to learn how to drive smooth.

Thursday’s practice was dedicated to finding the feeling with the car (which he hadn’t driven since January), then on Friday he began to study a smoother way to drive: it’s a very difficult process, but once learned it can bring huge benefits.

Qualifying has been very tricky because of rain. In Q1 Luka was the last to leave the pit lane and the numerous red flags made it impossible for him to complete a decent lap. In Q2 instead he managed to get a good lap, over a second faster than the previous one. The US Racing team provided Luka with a competitive car, but he didn’t feel like he’d extracted its full potential yet.

The track dried up in time for Race 1. Luka started P11 and managed to gain a position before turn one. Like everyone else, he drove aggressively in the first part of the race, so he had to manage the tires in the second half. Friday’s training turned out to be useful, but he couldn’t reach higher than P8. A good result, but Luka saw room for improvement.

On Sunday morning the asphalt was wet again for Race 2. He gained a position at the start, then the Safety Car came out. After the restart he made a small mistake at the Caixa and lost positions, which he masterfully regained thanks to his overtaking prowess. He crossed the finish line in the points, but he still didn’t feel perfect.

In the afternoon the sun finally came out and the track dried in time to put on the slicks in Race 3. Starting from P12 he made a great race and crossed the line in P9. Thanks to the set-up of the car, the pace was excellent, and the hard work done since Thursday on his driving certainly contributed.

Luka’s weekend ended with three races out of three in the points and, above all, he achieved his goal of learning to drive smoothly. Now he has an extra weapon to fight for the victory of the Italian F4 Championship.

DANIELE SCHILLACI WILL RACE WITH LA MOTORSPORT

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Daniele Schillaci will compete this season with LA Motorsport in the Trofeo Margutti, the ACI Karting Italian Championship, and the FIA World Cup. In all of these competitions, the young driver will race in the OKN category.

The Trofeo Margutti, in which Daniele will take part, is a prestigious race for young drivers, offering the opportunity to challenge high-level opponents. The 36th edition will take place from March 20th to 23rd at the Lonato’s circuit.

Next, Schillaci will compete in the Italian ACI Karting Championship, a highly significant competition for young Italian karting talents.

Finally, Daniele will compete on track once again with LA Motorsport in the FIA World Cup, the world karting championship. This competition represents the highest international stage for karting, a unique opportunity to showcase his skills on a global level. The competition will be fierce, with highly experienced teams and drivers, but Schillaci can rely on the support of LA Motorsport to face this challenge in the best possible way.

Thus, the driver from Ragusa has a great opportunity to make a name for himself, competing in top-level championships with the backing of a strong team. With his talent and the support of his new team, he will surely achieve great success this season.

Giovanni Minardi: “After a long winter of negotiations, we managed to find the right conditions to sign with LA Motorsport and Luca Nordera. I have to thank Luca for giving us this opportunity, and I am sure Daniele will repay him by delivering excellent results. I strongly believe that the Daniele/LA Motorsport combination will be an explosive mix on track, giving us the chance to fight for every race we compete in.”

Daniele Schillaci: “I am very happy to start this new sporting journey with LA Motorsport, as I see it as a great opportunity for me, and I am confident that together we will achieve great success. I can’t wait to hit the track and begin this new adventure—I am extremely motivated and ready to give my best in every situation.
A special thanks to my manager, Giovanni Minardi, for helping me find the best opportunity and allowing me to embark on this new challenge.”

Luca Nordera (LA Motorsport): “We are happy to welcome Daniele to the team for the upcoming OKN Senior season. It will be an exciting season, where he will be joined by three other experienced drivers. Their feedback will be extremely valuable for us as we continue developing our equipment in pursuit of top results.”

BETWEEN FRANCIACORTA AND BARCELONA: OUR DRIVERS’ WEEKEND

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This past weekend, our young drivers gave it their all: some tackled the challenging tracks of the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, while Luka Sammalisto displayed his talent in the Formula 4 Winter Series in Barcelona. Despite some setbacks, performances remained outstanding, and every race served as a valuable learning experience.

Julia Angelard – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK-NJ Category
Julia Angelard faced a challenging weekend in Franciacorta. Struggles in qualifying compromised her performance in the following heat, ultimately preventing her from reaching the finals. However, she made the most of the experience, focusing on personal growth as she prepares for her upcoming category championships, including ROK and COTFAP. Her talent is already well recognized, and we are confident that she will continue to improve, using the lessons from this weekend to achieve even greater results in the future.

Zack Zhu – P9 in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK-NJ Category
Zack Zhu finished the weekend in an excellent ninth place, showing remarkable determination. A minor setback, which led to a penalty in one heat, did not overshadow his consistent commitment.
His performance is promising: if he can capitalize on the positives he has shown so far, a podium finish may be closer than expected, and we are confident he will be ready to fight for it in the next race.

Pietro Peter Bagutti – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OKJ Category
Pietro Bagutti’s weekend was a true test of endurance. Between intense karting tests in preparation for the European Championship and Champions of the Future, he had to start from the back of the grid but fought determinedly, gaining numerous positions.
This weekend surely taught him a lot, and once all the pieces fall into place, we are certain that Bagutti, thanks to his talent, will achieve great performances in the most important championships.

Nilas Malik – DNQ in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OKJ Category
In his first race in the OK Junior category, Nilas Malik immediately noticed the differences between IAME and WSK, yet he showcased exceptional potential right from the start. Malik was fast throughout the weekend, but a subpar qualifying forced him to fight back during the heats, leading to penalties that ultimately prevented him from reaching the final and nullified his impressive recoveries.
Despite it being his debut in the category, Malik displayed his talent. His speed is evident to everyone, and his potential is immense. With the right effort and dedication, we are confident he will prove his worth and stand out in future races.

Vladimir Ivannikov – P19 in the WSK Super Master Series in Franciacorta, OK Category
Vladimir wrapped up his weekend in Franciacorta with a 19th-place finish. The young driver is improving race by race, becoming increasingly competitive. Unfortunately, his recent weekends have often been marred by bad luck. In incidents with other drivers, he frequently ends up at a disadvantage, making it difficult to secure strong results.
Nevertheless, the path taken with Ivannikov seems to be the right one. His performances remain at a very high level, and in key events like the European Championship and Champions of the Future, we are confident he will showcase his full potential. Vladimir’s growth is exponential: beyond his progress on track, he is also maturing professionally. The upcoming races promise to be exciting with him in action.

Luka Sammalisto – Formula Winter Series Round 4 in Barcelona
RACE 1: P8
RACE 2: P10
RACE 3: P9

Despite adverse weather conditions and a qualifying session complicated by heavy rain, Luka Sammalisto demonstrated great consistency, securing valuable points in all three races.
The goal remains to fight for future victories, and Luka will have plenty of time to prepare, thanks to scheduled tests on Italian tracks. The recent races have acted as valuable preparation, allowing Luka to be as ready as possible for the Italian Formula 4 Championship, the highlight of his season.
This weekend’s performances were still very positive, and there is great optimism about Sammalisto’s potential.
Despite the challenges faced, the past weekend was an important testing ground for our young drivers. The experiences gained have strengthened their growth, and they will undoubtedly treasure what they have learned from these races.

Author: Gabriele Bovio