BIREL JUNIOR TEAM OFFICIAL PRESENTATION

THE LISSONE COMPANY HAS ORGANIZED A STRUCTURE DEDICATED TO THE KF3 UNDER THE DIRECT MANAGEMENT OF ITS OWN RACING DEPARTMENT (BIREL MOTORSPORT)

They are continuing the initiatives promoted by Birel management in support of juvenile karting. In this regard, the birth of a new technical structure was made official: the Birel Junior Team. This actually involves an extension of Birel Motorsport.  In fact, the new team will directly depend on the Birel racing department and will be organized within it from the logistical point of view. Technical responsibility for the structure, which will be occupied exclusively with the KF3, was entrusted to Alessandro Villa, already a Birel Motorsport track technician (he won the golden title with Gandolfi in the 125 S.Icc and followed that with the Englishman, Jon Lancaster, in FA) and, during the last two seasons was with Gianluca Beggio's Spirit. Villa then returned to Birel, assuming an important role within the Lissone company's youth project that, in terms of personnel will also take advantage of all of the Birel Motorsport technicians. The Birel Junior Team was mainly set up to support the growth of the drivers from the Easykart breeding ground, selected through the “Easykart Driver Program” project, but to also support other drivers suggested by the Birel dealer network. In 2009 the competitive program will call for participation in the Italian Open Championship and in the main International races in the category: The Sosnova Selection and Zuera European Championship and the World Cup planned at Sarno. The structure will also allow the young drivers to complete many tests, best consolidating their own abilities in this important phase of their career. There will be six drivers selected for the season that will soon be starting, all coming from the Easykart Trophy. Five of these are also enrolled in the Easykart Driver Program, and therefore with a substantial part of the budget covered by Birel; they are Alberto Viberti, Radim Maxa, Kevin Lavelli, Hubert Kalinowski and Riccardo Arone. Along with them will also be Marco Cattaneo, also coming from the Easykart breeding ground where he was successful in the Central South Area Championship in the 100cc class. All of the drivers, except for Arone (who will use VKR engines in the race) will have Iame engines and will be supported by the Birel Motorsport preparer, Frizzi. In any event, the Birel Junior team will be also used to support other possible worthy drivers suggested by the various Birel importers throughout the world as pointed out by Marco Angeletti from Birel Marketing who will coordinate the project: "Our first objective is to directly manage the drivers coming from our promotional Trophy, selected with the Easykart Driver Program initiative, but the structure will certainly also allow us to follow other drivers who strive for a very high standard of service, especially those suggested by our network. During this time, in fact, we are evaluating the possibility of managing an English driver in the European Championship, while we will perform some days of testing with Asian drivers suggested by Birel Pacific.  Every year we seek to improve our presence in the juvenile segment and, with the birth of the Junior team, we put ourselves in the forefront among the top kart builders. A karting driver’s career is relatively brief and to be able to have the know-how of an official company starting with the first International experiences will be of great value for the youths that we are supporting. Moreover, a team that is directly managed also allows us to have the drivers complete many tests under options that we select in the 60cc and 100cc classes in the Easykart Trophy. In this manner we can gradually get them closer to professional karting, best evaluating their profile and potential.  From the technical point of view, on the other hand, we are very satisfied with Alessandro Villa's return to Birel.  With his experience and dedication he will best be able to manage the team. And finally, I must add that the initiative was also granted through collaboration with Iame and Vega who, along with us, share the idea of supporting the youth in this sport.