Francesco Giuseppe Tovo

This is the last kart race I‘ve done for the 2012 season.

Saturday 17/11/2012: early morning at Ala in this time of the year it is not so hot, the thermometer at nine o’clock in the morning is measuring just 6°C, but no fear, cold is not scaring me. At h. 09.40 I’ve to enter for the first free practice session, my mechanic is preparing the kart for the motor pre-heating, poor guy he is mumbling because of the cold, but just after few minutes he recovers. I enter and in the first round I end up spinning twice, I’ve to pay attention, the circuit is slippery at this time. I notice my kart has difficulty to fit in curve, so talking to my mechanic, we decide to change the front arrangement and in  fact my cart is behaving very well from now on. It is in the session at h. 14.30 that me and my kart are giving the best shot, thanks also to my team friends Luca and Danny that always followed and encouraged me. I finish the session with the fastest time of 1’4,09”, we are forced to skip the last session because it is already dark and there are technical problems in the circuit lighting system.

Sunday 18/11/2012: the climatic conditions has not changed today, on the contrary, it is more cloudy and the wind is very cold and annoying, but there is a pleasant surprise. I meet with Devon Rita Guglielmi a “driver lady”, that has done with me the Green Karting School course in July. We prepare the kart and I enter for the warm up at h. 09.40, on the strength of my experience yesterday I go very well. At h. 11.00 I get the time trials and I ‘m placed third to start grid for Round 1. At h. 13.00 Round 1 begins and I start from third position and I maintain it ‘till the end. At h. 14.00 Round 2 begins and I start from ninth position behind Devon Rita Guglielmi (number 46). We start for the launching lap, here we are, I’m on the straight stretch waiting for the red light to turn off to hit the gas… but, but, but what is going on? Blue flag!!! The adrenalinic nervousness  brought us to a false start. The launching lap and the starting have to be repeated. Ok I’m concentrated, going back to my position, here we are again, we are arriving on the straight stretch under the lights, slow, slow, slow, the red lights are turning off, right foot all the way down. I jump inside and I overtake Devon at the first curve, then at the end of the straight stretch downhill the big hairpin is waiting for me, here I am recovering two position from the inside. I’m in sixth position and in front of me Rafael Eduardo Carbaillo (number 59), Venezuelan driver, with patience I turn around him, my kart responds well, at the exit from the wood hairpin I arrive fast and overtake Rafael externally, before the uphill chicane, I’m fifth now!! I go for it and push my kart to maximum and at the last lap just near the finishing line I finish Round 2  in fourth position just for half a kart. It was a great week-end!!!