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EASYKART PROJECT

Juan Pablo Montoya F1 Driver

EASYKART DRIVER PROGRAM 2010

THRIVING JUNIOR PROJECT SUPPORTED BY BIREL

EASYKART DRIVER PROGRAM, with 13 pilots under option and 6 under contract with Birel Motorsport, proves to be the best path leading from preparatory to professional classes
Simone Cunati, Diego Bertonelli and Mattia Drudi
Kevin Lavelli

Easykart Driver Program is certainly one of the most successful initiatives among the programs promoting junior karting. Its aim focuses on supporting the best pilots emerged from Easykart promotional Trophy classes on their way to higher ones, both national and international. It has been operative for four years and has already launched Luca Defendi in national motoring (2nd ranking in "Formula Azzurra" last year and longed-for protagonist in national F3 in 2010) as well as official 2009 Birel pilot Riccardo Agostini who will soon make his debut in Formula Abarth.
The initiative selects the candidates as early as in 60 and 100 Easykart classes by means of an option, a kind of mutual commitment between Birel and the pilots to undertake a collaborative path towards higher classes. The best drivers to pass this selection, which involves around 20 from different countries, have the chance to join Birel Motorsport team, the racing division of the Lissone based company, if their results fulfil expectations. A good example is Kevin Lavelli, who trained in Easykart classes and last year upgraded to the first KF3 season becoming Open's great protagonist with Birel team. Birel official team will have 6 new drivers in 2010: three for KF3 and three junior pilots for 60 Mini, the category in which some of the very young complete their experience before going on to 100 Easykart and then KF3. Lavelli himself is expected to be the best in Easykart Driver Program.
He will race in KF3 in the Open championship, in the European Championship and in WSK Master Series. He will be flanked by Easykart 100 International champion Nicolò Balsamo and Brasilian Erik Gasparini from Birel Sudam. Whereas, for 60 Mini, Birel colours will rely on 60 Easykart multiple champion Robert Shwartzman, Easykart European Final winner Sitnikov and continental vice-champion Russian pilot Zhirkov. All these pilots stood out of the crowd in Easykart Trophy: the gateway to the official team.  This is also the objective of the 13 drivers  under option:  Davide Lombardo, Jonathan Cecotto, Josef Havasi, Mauricio Baiz, James Dehavillande and Ronan McKenzie in 60cc class and  Mattia Drudi, Diego Bertonelli, Roberto Roberti, Michael Waldherr, Simone Cunati and Dario Orsini in 100cc.
They will all have the concrete chance to enter international classes through the front door, relying on the assistance of one of the most important teams in the field of karting. And, above all, enjoy substantial financial support budget wise. Furthermore, Easykart Driver Program pilots also benefit of training internships dedicated to physical and psychological preparation, as well as of full assistance for communication issues thanks to the collaboration of Birel press office.  Marco Angeletti highlighted Easykart Driver Project main points at recent 2010’s pilots presentation:
“It is one of the most outstanding initiatives run by our company. It is no secret that we deem all activities involving our breeding ground as strategic, and that we do not spare energies and investments on this issue. Easykart Driver Program stands as the concrete example of such orientation.  Yet, it is also the tangible proof of the training value of Easykart Trophy junior classes, which can in all respects be considered the most authoritative junior karting school for several countries, Italy included.  To such an extent that not only Birel, but also many of the teams connected to the leading builders rely on it for recruiting new pilots.  Each 100 Easykart pilot we give the chance to undergo a test in KF3 always perfectly fits in such category: a pleasant surprise. The positive results achieved in KF3 by drivers such as Lavelli are just further confirmation. Moreover, all candidates tackling 60 Mini always live up to expectations, just think Shwartzman and Zhirkov. We will spend even more energies for Easykart Driver Program in 2010, involving all the selected pilots in physical and psychological internships, as well as greatly broadening the Birel Motorsport test for those under option.  We believe we have enriched this project with a great deal of extremely promising drivers for 2010 and wish to give them a real contribution on the path to professionalism, working on the technical front as well as on physical and mental preparation. With regard to Easykart Trophy, I am glad to stress that not only it makes an amazing breeding ground for professional karting but it has also endowed motoring with over 15 pilots in just few years.  All the ASNs that trusted this project are certainly fully satisfied."

2010 EASYKART DRIVER PROGRAM official pilots

  • Kevin Lavelli (Italy)
  • Nicolò Balsamo (Italy)
  • Dario Orsini (Italy)
  • Simone Cunati (Italy)
  • Diego Bertonelli (Italy)
  • Roberto Roberti (Italy)
  • Michael Waldherr (Germany)
  • Mattia Drudi (Italy)
  • Robert Shwartzman (Russia)
  • Nikita Sitnikov (Russia)
  • Alexander Zhirkov (Russia)
  • Davide Lombardo(Italia)
  • Jonathan Cecotto (Venezuela)
  • Josef Havasi (Hungary)
  • Mauricio Baiz (Venezuela)
  • James DeHavillande (England)
  • Will Stowell (Inghilterra)
  • Ronan McKenzie (England)