Lonato, April 24th, 2026. The 2026 ACI Karting Italian Championship has made an extraordinary start at South Garda Karting in Lonato. As the first of five rounds in the Italian Championship, the event immediately set a staggering record with 353 verified drivers out of 360 entries across the MINI U10, MINI Gr.3, OK-NJ, OK-N, and KZ2 categories, representing 48 nationalities from all five continents.
This exceptional result confirms the current strength of both national and international karting, particularly within the mid-to-high competitive tiers. Team participation was equally impressive, with 116 teams confirmed after sporting scrutineering, including several international outfits.
While experienced drivers asserted their dominance early on, the weekend’s opening qualifying sessions also delivered a few surprises, bringing fresh names into the spotlight at Lonato.
The satisfaction of Raffaele Giammaria
ACI Sport expressed great pride in the turnout, with director Raffaele Giammaria present for the season opener: "We are truly satisfied because this absolute record of entries is a testament to the extensive work ACI Sport has done to promote a championship that attracts so many Italian and foreign drivers. We are seeing top-tier teams and manufacturers returning to the Italian championship scene. Set against the backdrop of Lonato—one of the most historic tracks in Italian karting—I believe the expectations for this event are really high."
The partnership with Cetilar is confirmed
"A big thank you goes to our partner Cetilar," Giammaria continued, "who is present here with a staff dedicated to supporting the young drivers. Special thanks also go to the race officials, the karting secretariat, and the Research and Training sector with Professor Glenda Cappello and Professor Lucio Tonello, who will also be working to provide assistance services to the drivers".
Qualifying practice of day one
KZ2 – Pezzucchi surprises
The first surprise of the day came in the KZ2 category, featuring 64 drivers. Massimiliano Pezzucchi (VZeta Racing – Birelart/TM Kart/Vega) set the fastest time in Group 1 and the overall pole position with a 45.912s. Meanwhile, defending champion Riccardo Longhi (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame) topped Group 2 with a time of 45.977s. Other strong performances included Andrea Dalè (Dalè – CRG/TM Kart) in Group 1, just 0.108s behind Pezzucchi, and Alessandro Zallocco (KCS Racing – Birelart/TM Kart) at 0.119s. In Group 2, Samuele Leopardi (Vemmekart – EKS/TM Kart) finished a mere 4 thousandths of a second behind Longhi, followed by Daniel Vasile (Federico Racing – Maranello/TM Kart) at 47 thousandths. In KZ2 Master, Angelo Lombardo (Maranello Kart – Maranello/TM Kart) led the category with a 46.230s, while the fastest KZ2 Under 18 driver was China’s Houzai Jiang (LA Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart) in 46.055s.
KZ2 Quali Gr-1: Massimiliano Pezzucchi (VZeta Racing) – 45.912s
KZ2 Quali Gr-2: Riccardo Longhi (Birelart Racing) – 45.977s
OK-N – Scognamiglio to the fore
In the OK-N category, which saw 101 drivers divided into three groups, Manuel Scognamiglio (Pantano by DAM – Pantano/Iame/MG) immediately set the pace in Group 1. His time of 47.689s proved to be the fastest overall across all three sessions. In Group 2, Bartosz Grzywacz (Team Driver – KR/Iame) came out on top with a 47.849s, while Federico Rossi (AKM Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart) led Group 3 in 47.765s. Among the other frontrunners, Andrea Giudice (Tony Kart Racing Team) confirmed his competitive form in Group 1, finishing just 44 thousandths behind Scognamiglio. Cristian Tonalini (Tona Racing Kart – Sodi/TM Kart) performed well in Group 2, 45 thousandths off Grzywacz, as did Riccardo Frigerio (Marra 61 – KR/Iame), who was 0.161s behind Rossi.
OK-N Quali Gr-1: Manuel Scognamiglio (Pantano by DAM) – 47.698s
OK-N Quali Gr-2: Bartosz Grzywacz (Team Driver) – 47.849s
OK-N Quali Gr-3: Federico Rossi (AKM Motorsport) – 47.765s
OK-NJ – Carrer claims pole in Group 2
With 76 drivers on track, OK-NJ was also split into three qualifying groups. Luigi D’Ascoli (Modena Kart – Parolin/TM Kart/MG) was the first to set a benchmark in Group 1 with a 48.459s. However, Gioele Carrer (Emme Racing – EKS Kart/Modena Engines) went even faster in Group 2 with a 48.295s —a time that remained unbeaten even by the Group 3 drivers, where Patrick Bissa (Power Competition – EKS/Modena Engines) was fastest at 48.439s. Trailing the leaders were Lorenzo Leopardi (Monster K Factory) in Group 1 (92 thousandths behind D'Ascoli), Enea Daniele Pezzuto (Team Driver) in Group 2 (0.187s behind Carrer), and Radu Basescu-Pricop (Modena Kart) in Group 3, who essentially equaled Bissa’s time, falling short by just a single thousandth.
OK-NJ Quali Gr-1: Luigi D’Ascoli (Modena Kart) – 48.459s
OK-NJ Quali Gr-2: Gioele Carrer (Emme Racing) – 48.295s
OK-NJ Quali Gr-3: Patrick Bissa (Power Competition) – 48.439s
MINI Gr.3 – Lockhart Lenox wins by a few thousandths
The surprise in MINI Gr.3 came from Bahamian driver Gabriel Lockhart Lenox (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/MG), who set the overall fastest time in Group 1 with a 53.892s. He was followed closely by two MP Academy Gamoto drivers: Theo Steindal (at 13 thousandths) and Guido Ebergenyi (at 59 thousandths). In Group 2, the Maltese driver Zane Pace (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex) came out on top with a 54.281s, followed 46 thousandths later by Adam Pirvu (CRG Racing Team – T-Group/TM Kart) and 54 thousandths by teammate David Johanne Aagten.
MINI Gr.3 Quali Gr-1: Gabriel Lockhart Lenox (Parolin Motorsport) – 53.892s
MINI Gr.3 Quali Gr-2: Zane Pace (Tony Kart Racing Team) – 54.281s
MINI U10 – Burgess on top
The American Zayne Burgess (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/MG) dominated the Under 10 category with the fastest time in Group 1 (54.439s), which remained the benchmark against Group 2. In the second group, Jack Wolff (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame) posted the best performance with a 54.666s. Behind Burgess in Group 1 were Max Zvarich (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame) at 36 thousandths and teammate Giovanni Venturino at 64 thousandths. In Group 2, the second-fastest time went to Rodrigues Weytjens (Team Driver – KR/Iame) at 0.130s, followed by Ferdinando Torchia (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame) at 0.314s.
MINI U10 Quali Gr-1: Zayne Burgess (Parolin Motorsport) – 54.439s
MINI U10 Quali Gr-2: Jack Wolff (KR Motorsport) – 54.666s
Friday's Opening Heats
The first heats took place at the close of the day.
KZ2: The first winners were Michael Ider (Heats B-C) and Samuele Leopardi (A-D).
OK-N: Early heat victories went to Lamberto Ferrari (E-F), Andrea Giudice (C-D and B-D), Manuel Scognamiglio (A-B and A-E), and Bartosz Grzywacz (C-F).
OK-NJ: First heat wins for Enea Pezzuto (D-E), Luigi D’Ascoli (B-C), Gioele Carrer (A-E), and Platon Kovtunenko (B-D).
MINI Gr.3: The first two heats were won by Zane Pace (B-C) and Wynn Godshalk (A-D).
MINI U10: Sasha Miras Y Munoz (B-C) won the only heat held.
The program continues Saturday with the conclusion of the heats, followed by the final phase on Sunday, April 26, featuring Prefinals and Finals.
THE PROGRAM IN LONATO
Saturday, April 25: 8:00 Warm-up; 9:40 Heats.
Sunday, April 26: 8:00 Warm-up; Live TV Coverage of Pre-finals A and B from 9:45; all Finals from 14:00 (14:00 KZ2, 14:50 OK-N, 15:35 OK-NJ, 16:20 MINI U10, 17:00 MINI Gr.3).
Complete Program, Live Timing, and Results:
https://www.acisport.it/campionati/CIK/
Photo Gallery:
https://archiviofotografico.acisport.it/Campionato-Italiano-ACI-Karting
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ITALIAN ACI KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Categories: MINI Gr.3 U10, MINI Gr.3, OK-NJ, OK-N, KZ2, KZ2 Master.
April 24/26 2026: South Garda Karting Circuit - Lonato (BS)
May 29/31 2026: International Circuit La Conca - Muro Leccese (LE)
June 26/28 2026: International Circuit Napoli - Sarno (SA)
July 24/26 2026: Pista Val Vibrata - Sant’Egidio alla Vibrata (TE)
September 25/27 2026: Leopard Circuit Viterbo - Viterbo (VT)
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