The FIA Karting landscape oriented towards F1 gains a prominent new partner, the global technology multinational Lenovo. The freshly signed agreement with Kalì Kart and the CRG group was presented during the inauguration of “Spazio Lenovo” in Milan, during Monza GP week, in the presence of well-known Motorsport figures like Pecco Bagnaia and Ducati MotoGP team leaders, alongside former Ferrari F1 drivers Ivan Capelli and Eddie Irvine.
This is not just about a livery; it is a project that will involve Lenovo in karting at all levels, through a genuine partnership with the Desenzano-based company: “Besides migrating all company IT systems and production management onto Lenovo platforms,” explains Marco Angeletti, Marketing Director of CRG, “the company intends to carry forward, through the historic Kalì Kart brand, an Academy project that is somewhat different from the usual – immersive for very young drivers at all levels, not only on the track. The hardware and software made available to the youngsters will allow them to leverage technology on the track for data analysis, but even more importantly, off the track – through coaching, remote learning programs, and a communication structure that is none other than the same that supports the MotoGP program with Ducati and the global partnership with F1, thus fully integrated into the world of professional Motorsport. Within this context, the drivers in the program, which covers the three main training categories and has an age limit of 16 years, will be equipped to handle the transition to car racing with the proper experience behind them. This path today is no longer based just on pure driving talent, but on how the athlete manages the entire package, including physical and mental preparation, relations with media and social platforms, and technology – in other words, the world in which Lenovo operates with its products and solutions. Last but not least, the huge value Lenovo brings to CRG as a new technological and sporting partner includes its IT know-how, which we are integrating into both hardware and software design and production processes.”
In fact, the new combination of technology and karting marks an innovation in Academy fields, traditionally tied primarily to specific F1 Teams rather than multinational corporations. Lenovo is a brand that does not sponsor a specific F1 Team but supports the Championship’s organization, while in MotoGP it is a direct partner of a Team: “The know-how acquired on both fronts – alongside the organizer of an F1 World Championship and a Team competing at the highest level in MotoGP – allowed us to develop a working method, acquire data, and develop dedicated technology, in addition to our existing production base. We believe transferring these skills into karting can greatly enhance the synergy between us and Kalì Kart on the track and with the wider CRG group,” explained Alberto Spinelli, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Marketing Activities for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Lenovo. “Our contribution to the young drivers in the Academy aims at making them better athletes through both physical and mental preparation for the track as well as contextual training that young drivers need: data, data analysis, tools for working, and last but not least, expanding the use of simulators, which are becoming increasingly important, combined with karting, in the development of drivers aspiring to become professionals,” concluded Spinelli.
The calendar for the brand-new Lenovo-Kalì Kart team, which will feature special liveries on the karts, suits, and hospitality areas, includes its first official outing at the OK-N World Championship in Cremona from September 25th to 28th, under the technical guidance of Mariano De Faveri. Meanwhile, preparations for the 2026 line-up are underway, with a preview possibly appearing on track during the WSK races concluding this season.
This is not just about a livery; it is a project that will involve Lenovo in karting at all levels, through a genuine partnership with the Desenzano-based company: “Besides migrating all company IT systems and production management onto Lenovo platforms,” explains Marco Angeletti, Marketing Director of CRG, “the company intends to carry forward, through the historic Kalì Kart brand, an Academy project that is somewhat different from the usual – immersive for very young drivers at all levels, not only on the track. The hardware and software made available to the youngsters will allow them to leverage technology on the track for data analysis, but even more importantly, off the track – through coaching, remote learning programs, and a communication structure that is none other than the same that supports the MotoGP program with Ducati and the global partnership with F1, thus fully integrated into the world of professional Motorsport. Within this context, the drivers in the program, which covers the three main training categories and has an age limit of 16 years, will be equipped to handle the transition to car racing with the proper experience behind them. This path today is no longer based just on pure driving talent, but on how the athlete manages the entire package, including physical and mental preparation, relations with media and social platforms, and technology – in other words, the world in which Lenovo operates with its products and solutions. Last but not least, the huge value Lenovo brings to CRG as a new technological and sporting partner includes its IT know-how, which we are integrating into both hardware and software design and production processes.”
In fact, the new combination of technology and karting marks an innovation in Academy fields, traditionally tied primarily to specific F1 Teams rather than multinational corporations. Lenovo is a brand that does not sponsor a specific F1 Team but supports the Championship’s organization, while in MotoGP it is a direct partner of a Team: “The know-how acquired on both fronts – alongside the organizer of an F1 World Championship and a Team competing at the highest level in MotoGP – allowed us to develop a working method, acquire data, and develop dedicated technology, in addition to our existing production base. We believe transferring these skills into karting can greatly enhance the synergy between us and Kalì Kart on the track and with the wider CRG group,” explained Alberto Spinelli, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Marketing Activities for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Lenovo. “Our contribution to the young drivers in the Academy aims at making them better athletes through both physical and mental preparation for the track as well as contextual training that young drivers need: data, data analysis, tools for working, and last but not least, expanding the use of simulators, which are becoming increasingly important, combined with karting, in the development of drivers aspiring to become professionals,” concluded Spinelli.
The calendar for the brand-new Lenovo-Kalì Kart team, which will feature special liveries on the karts, suits, and hospitality areas, includes its first official outing at the OK-N World Championship in Cremona from September 25th to 28th, under the technical guidance of Mariano De Faveri. Meanwhile, preparations for the 2026 line-up are underway, with a preview possibly appearing on track during the WSK races concluding this season.
