Tinini: "in 2026 we'll be everywhere"

We kick off with a review of the 2025 racing season.
In the one-make categories, we started with fairly young drivers who matured over the year, like Bottaro and Nouguèyrede. Viktor (Gustavsson) stepped up for some OK rounds, delivering superb setup work with the team that fueled solid chassis development. All in all, we're pleased with the monomarca campaign despite no wins—as with the KZ podium at Franciacorta.

How do results translate into sales? In what way do presence and victories in the highest-level Championships relate to the commercial success of a brand like yours on the market?
Sure, some brands racked up wins in certain categories without massive spending—but for a driver, cash doesn't guarantee victory. You don't win just because you've got money, though teams backed by engine makers naturally draw more family investment. For us at CRG, we're committed to the top FIA tiers—it's who we are. KZ and OK are the benchmarks everyone watches, but globally, our monobrands footprint is expanding as prime development turf, still representing a huge chunk of the worldwide karting base. We just want people talking kart, be it Rotax or other one-makes. For 2026, we're backing at least a couple of key European monomarca teams, sharing our FIA-honed expertise. In South America, where we're thriving, OK-N is surging after 30 years of Sudam dominance—proof the package works in a tough market, poised for the growth we anticipated.

In 2026, the race team shifts gears: the Lenovo partnership launches a medium-term project with a high-profile ally beyond the usual "Academy" playbook.
On "Academy," a quick caveat: the term screams school to me—like a military academy. You learn, you train. But in racing, it's more fad than real education. What do kids actually pick up technically beyond basics? Even the FIA Academy Trophy claims to prep for senior classes, yet it runs Dell'Orto carburetors while FIA OK demands membrane setups where carb tuning is key—it's all a bit vague. Our Lenovo tie-up pairs us with a motorsport heavyweight already in MotoGP with Ducati and as an F1 World Championship partner. In karting, we're guiding young talents from the ground up, blending our track know-how with their comms muscle and cutting-edge tech infrastructure. Lenovo's our tech and marketing ally, and it'll be exciting to watch the brand—fused with our Kalì squad—claim its slice of elite karting: Mini to OK for now, higher classes TBD. Picture this: in a few years, an F1 grid featuring a Lenovo-karting alum. They'll reap today's investments, potentially opening doors for other giants to boost visibility for karting—motorsport's best-kept secret.

With Lenovo, CRG-Kalì Kart kicks off an unprecedented partnership between corporations and karting, potentially paving the way for other big companies to invest in the sport just like in other Motorsports

Now, a hot-button issue from the past year, with plenty said and speculated: Cremona's anti-launch system and the FIA's push to dictate go-kart design—eroding the sport's essence.
First off, safety is non-negotiable for me—no debate. My son raced karts; my grandkids likely will too. But this goes further. It rewires how kids learn to race, favoring aggression over clean lines. The anti-launch? An abomination—unwatchable. And how does it prep them for open-wheel formulas? Simpler fixes could've boosted safety without this mess; expect trackside plastic carnage next year. Then there's the daft spoiler rule: a lead driver brake-checking to punish the chaser, or a stalled KZ start leading to unavoidable contact—what's the logic? Racers rage over this stuff; I've done my share, but I'm resigning myself. Fighting solo for sanity isn't worth it. Informal FIA chats? They nod, say "you're right," then steamroll ahead, ignoring lifers like us.

Will there ever be a clash with the Federation on the regulations?
Back in the Buser era, we CRG folks—with Gianiberti—sued in Paris over Imola in the '90s and won. We alone signed off on the "disobedience." Today? United manufacturer pushback on FIA's solo calls feels unlikely. Take Bahrain's World Championship: we ran one there in 2016—how many karts did it sell us locally? The 2026 edition wasn't a joint FIA-manufacturer call, and with no TV rights like other sports, it's all outlay for us. A January 18th FIA meeting will reveal if they offset costs or ease that haul—watch this space.

The strictly connected theme is that of the World Championship in single round…
You're preaching to the choir. I've long argued for four or five-round Karting Worlds. Invoke the three-continent rule? Fine—do one in Bahrain, one in the Americas, rest in Europe. Real market growth demands proper promotion: multi-round, making long hauls worthwhile investments. A one-shot like next year? Pure expense, zero promo payoff.

Promoting the Briggs & Stratton Championship, CRG stays at the forefront of promotional karting, offering in Italy and in some other European Countries a less demanding racing format for drivers and families yet rewarding, structured just like the major events

CRG is very committed to promoting karting through its Rental events, 24-hour races, and above all with the Briggs & Stratton series. What kind of effort is it, how remunerative is it and in what way could the Federations be of help and support, in substance: who makes you do it?
Rental gets everyday folks on competition karts who'd never otherwise try. Next step: Briggs—affordable entry, but it's more than price. No need to "live for karting" like in pro classes: minimal training, no school skips, arrive race-day, enjoy, back to life tomorrow. I fell for it stateside, where grids hit 400—people lump 'em with lawnmowers due to engine roots, but the vibe and pace are electric! It's not just cheap; also million-dollar car owners race it casually in the US. Trailer home Sunday, hitch up two weeks later sans practice—pure fun. Federations? National level risks manufacturer clashes. International promo could work, but small clubs are the real play: more 700-800m gems worldwide (Italy included) than FIA venues, many at risk as focus shifts to Worlds like Franciacorta or Lonato. Federation backing could revive grassroots via Briggs—drivers rave about the fun matching OK/OK-J. If you're grinning on-track, mission accomplished.