The 16th Winter Cup opens the international season in Lonato from 11th to 13th February

Lonato (Brescia – Italy) 24th January 2011. According to the tradition, the opening race of the international karting season is the “Winter Cup” of Lonato, one of the most prestigious races in the world that has reached its 16th edition. The race is due from next 11th to 13th February 2011 on the South Garda Karting circuit of Lonato. The race is on the International CIK-FIA calendar, all the major teams and constructors are looking forward to this appointment for a first challenge just ahead of the next racing season; an important occasion to get prime rate indications about the technical  novelties but also about the potentialities of the teams, given that many of them have gone through several changes. There are 256 entrants to the event in the three categories: KF3, KF2 e KZ2.
 
KF3. In KF3, with 108 entrants, the presence of the Canadian Lance Stroll is outstanding. He is a little older than 12 but despite his young age he is already a real promise of the international motor racing; he is already in the “Ferrari Driver Academy” programme. Stroll is at his debut in KF3 and he is racing for the Chiesa Corse (Zanardi-Parilla) Team; so far he has been racing mainly in Canada in the Rotax Trophy and in the Rok Cup, where he won all the races he took part in. Among the favourites also the Russian driver Nikita Sitnikov (Birel), who has made himself conspicuous in many international competitions, Max Verstappen (CRG), successful in the WSK World and Euro Series, Charles Leclerc (Sodi) from Monaco, winner of the Monaco Cup, without leaving aside the two major protagonists of the recent race of Macao, the English Matthew Graham and the Italian Luca Corberi.
 
KF2. Much crowded the KF2 too, with 96 drivers. At their debut in this category there are the English Alexander Albon (Intrepid), winner of the KF3 world cup, and the Russian Egor Orudzhev, winner of last season Winter Cup in KF3. Also the Danish Nicolaj Moller Madsen (Energy), KF2 European champion and the other Danish driver Jacob Nortoft, winner of the Andrea Margutti Trophy in 2010 are also present. Andrea Dalè, protagonist in several international races in the past, is racing for CRG again.
 
KZ2. The most professional category , the KZ2 has 52 drivers ad most of them are top drivers such as the Dutch world champion Nyck De Vries (Zanardi) at his debut in this category with gear-shift. The CRG Official Team lines up its best drivers: the world champions Jonathan Thonon, Arnaud Kozlinski, Davide Forè sided by Mirko Torsellini. Tony Kart can boast an exceptional team too thanks to the world champions  Marco Ardigò and Alessandro Piccini, the English Gary Catt, the Belgian Rick Dreezen, while the strong French Armand Coinvers races for Kosmic. Sodikart lines up the French Anthony Abbasse, while the team Formula K - of the four-time champion of the world with Maserati Andrea Bertolini - has the Belgian Yannick De Brabander at his debut. Other sure protagonists in this category are Sauro Cesetti (Birel) and the English Ben Hanley (Maranello).
 
More information and the full list of the drivers  are available on the website www.southgardakarting.it
 
The programme of the event starts on Thursday 10th February with the free practice. Friday 11th February there are the time trials (h 10.40am) and the first qualifying heats (h 01.15am). The qualifying heats continue on Saturday from 10.00am. On Sunday the second chance heats (h 10.40am) , the drivers’ presentation (h 12.30pm), then the pre-finals and the finals starting from 01.30pm. The prize-giving ceremony is due at 05.15pm.
 
Press Office
South Garda Karting