If Formula 1 had talent scouts searching for the Champions of the future, they should be at Franciacorta this weekend, but that is another story. Although we will hear Max Verstappen endlessly mentioned as the 2013 KZ World Champion (unless you mute the commentary), all the KZ World Champions from 2014 until today can be found in the paddock here at Franciacorta: some as team managers, some as coaches, others still as active drivers. Formula 1, as we say in Italy, has only seen it on a postcard.

The logic behind Motorsport is now well known and only sounds crazy when we try to describe it through a metaphor: it is like going to kindergartens and elementary schools to find the scientists of the future instead of prestigious universities. But it is obvious that a karting system transforming into an asset for private equity funds needs customers more than talents — but that’s how it is.

Coming to the track, in the premier class, the top drivers showed in the preparatory race how a battle at around 150 km/h can hold surprises until the very end. As always, the two powerhouse teams Sodi (Van Walstijn, Nomblot, Renaudin, and Spirgel in particular) and Birel Art (Hiltbrand, Longhi, and Bertuca) are the special ones being watched and the “most likely” to lift the most coveted trophy on Sunday afternoon. Another sure protagonist to keep an eye on is the reigning World Champion Palomba, more determined than ever for a double World Championship that would give a historic victory to Team Maranello, and for this ‘added value’ a small bet on this very fast Neapolitan would be worth the risk. Other World Champions on track not to be underestimated include Ippolito, Gustavsson, and Kremers, as well as the tireless and versatile Travisanutto (already KZ2 Champion), who whenever he takes the wheel occasionally manages to carve out a spot among the leaders. It is practically impossible to exclude from the running the absolutely high-quality field that rightly includes Albanese, Vasile, Viganò, Leuillet, Trefilov, Denner, Spirgel, Piccini, and the veteran Camplese.

In KZ2, paradoxically, the odds seem to favor Orlov, who has been practically unbeatable throughout the season. However, since this is the junior category, the competition from emerging young drivers should not make life easy for the European Champion. In particular, Schleimer, Wolfe, Tani, and the two fierce youngsters arriving from the 2023 and 2024 Rotax Finals, Jungling and Thien, stand out. Finally, in KZ Master, there is a great opportunity for Italian drivers over 35 to dream of a World Championship showcase on Sunday, given their strong familiarity with a circuit that for the first time hosts the most prestigious competition of the gear-shift categories. Among these are certainly multiple Champion Forè, the fresh Italian Champion Angelo Lombardo, as well as the former European Champion Nalon and the current European Champion Piccioni.