Karting news turned its attention to the Franciacorta circuit where the Winter Series took place, a preparatory event for the Champions of the Future by RGMMC, supported by the manufacturers. The newest Italian track showed its particularities to the competitors of the FIA Karting categories. The compact and deep 1300m track ensures both good visibility and excellent safety for spectators. It enables a sustained rhythm without any major breaks for the drivers, as overtaking is possible by sneaking onto the edge of several corners. The races saw numerous collisions, with some incidents that were not serious enough to cause injuries to the drivers. On the other hand, the supply of homogeneous tyres seems to be as complex as ever for various reasons.
Also in Italy, the automobile federation, CSAI, is doing its utmost to ensure that the events initially planned in Adria can be postponed to another Italian circuit. The decision should be taken very soon.
On a more general level, the bellicose attitude of Russia towards Ukraine is occupying people’s minds. Everyone agrees that the world of karting is likely to be affected. The Russian Federation is the second most represented nation after the host country in the early season competitions organised in Italy. Among the measures taken against Russia by the international community, sport is directly concerned. The International Olympic Committee is urging all sports federations to stop allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate. The FIA will hold an emergency meeting to adapt its policy to the new situation.
The first financial consequences of the Russian invasion are already being felt with a significant fall in the rouble and an upward trend in the price of raw materials including oil, while European stock markets closed lower at the beginning of the week. Even though an increase in crypto-currency transactions was also recorded, the movement of funds will become more complicated for Russian nationals. On another front, air travel is almost impossible operationally and greatly reduced to and from the countries involved in the conflict.
A rapid diplomatic resolution of this anachronistic crisis is to be hoped for the good of everyone directly and indirectly concerned.
