Column: Interview

A driver’s sporting and professional career can experience setbacks. Inconsistent results, a sponsor pulling out, or a lack of technical chemistry with a team can all create difficult situations. We take a closer look at how these challenges can be managed and explore how a “tough spell” can be used as an opportunity to reorganise, reset and ultimately come back stronger.

The number of drivers and countries involved in the motorsport ecosystem continues to grow every year. Over the past five years, around twenty new countries have established a consistent presence in top-level FIA karting, while competitive national championships now exist across every continent. How does a driver's country of origin influence the decisions that will shape their path toward becoming a professional?

During our test day at Franciacorta dedicated to discovering the Rotax DD2, we followed the progress of three complete newcomers to the category as they faced off against 2024 Grand Finals winner Xen De Ruwe. The stopwatch delivered some surprising results...(fm)

Incidents in motorsport are always open to debate, especially when they involve teammates and happen in the closing stages of a race, as was the case at Genk. We spoke about the situation — with a cooler head 24 hours later — to the person who arguably has the most difficult role in moments like these: team manager Jeremy Iglesias, himself a former driver.

It's well known that motorsport demands excellent athletic condition, but which body parts are most involved depending on the discipline, and how does physical training adapt to the driver's age? We explore this with DAG Management, who introduced us to two of the partner their driver work: Formula Medicine and Body Clinic.

The young Italian divides his time between Porsche commitments in Asia and a seat in the ELMS series, with the dream of becoming a Porsche Factory Driver. In the meantime, he is making the most of the experience gained across different types of single-seaters and racing categories, with the objective – so far achieved – of racing without having to bring sponsorship budget. (ls)

It's not just about nostalgia; it's a way of living the sport, and above all, promotion, with karting entering small towns, on the streets, and especially among the people. We discussed this with Gaspare Anastasi, who from Sicily sets the pace in organization, even outside the island all over Italy, where street circuits are a karting identifying element. (fm)

Being fast on the track is just the beginning of the work. Once the helmet is off, there's the communication and PR work, perhaps more demanding than that at the wheel. Off the track, communication, reputation, and commercial relationships are managed. (fm)

Beyond all the philosophy on danger, the dramatic accident in which a 48-year-old driver lost his life brings back to the forefront the issue of circuit safety, the true Achilles' heel of karting.