AUTO SPORT ACADEMY

18/12 - Tony Kart drivers at the Academy

On December 9th 2009, the Tony Kart drivers, Team managed by Roberto Robazzi, came to Auto Sport Academy for one trial day aboard the single-seater of the Federal training centre, on the Bugatti Circuit drenched by the rain.

Accompanied by Ange Pasquali, founder of "Toyota Drivers Academy" and today Manager of Quadra Sports (agency in sports management), the six Tony Kart drivers: the Italian Marco Ardigò, Flavio Camponeschi, Ignazio D'Agosto, the Japanese Yu Kanamaru, the Englishman Gary Catt and the Frenchman Armand Convers had to arrive beforehand for the moulding of their bucket seats before stepping into the famous car. The following day, amongst fog and several showers, they finally discovered the Formula Renault 1.6, born Formula Academy. "This is more like a F3 than a typical training car!" exclaimed Gary Catt. After a quick briefing, the 6 drivers were able to carry out some acceleration, braking and track layout exercises. Not such an easy thing to do seeing that the track was soaking wet and that this session was the very first aboard a single-seater for Armand Convers, Yu Kanamaru and Ignazio D'Agosto. Thanks to the advice of the Academy’s instructors, Julien Poncelet and Mathieu Zangarelli, the drivers were able to finish the morning with some very good lap times. "It’s rather difficult, especially in these conditions and everything is just so different from go-karting but the sensations are breathtaking! Throughout the sessions, I have progressed and I’m looking forward to this afternoon so that I can improve my lap time. This test is really formative, I am learning plenty of things on driving, the instructors are extremely good advisors and I love it! This school definitely seems to be an evidence if I one day decide to change to car racing." declared Yu Kanamaru. Ignazio D'Agosto was also delighted with this first experience: "The behaviour of the car is excellent and I am more and more at ease. This single-seater is perfect for learning and it really has a great look! What a shame that the weather seems to be against us... As far as I’m concerned, I shall be thinking of Auto Sport Academy in the future - the organisation is perfect and the training seems to be very complete." "I’m too 'old' to join Auto Sport Academy... what a pity, I really had a lovely time at the steering wheel of this car," answered Armand Convers, member of the 2009 French Go-kart Team.

"It’s really a lovely single-seater to drive and I am surprised by its performances. Throughout the laps, I am getting more and more used to this car, I correct myself and I try to understand its functioning. For a driver who wishes to begin in single-seater, this school is perfect! Not only do you learn the bases of racing but also all practical things to know about becoming a professional driver : physical preparation, English, communication… No need to hesitate any longer, Auto Sport Academy is the best option for beginning in motorsport !" the double World Champion, Marco Ardigò was conquered ! Same report from Gary Catt who regrets being too old to join the Academy but who will not hesitate in speaking to the young drivers he sees about the merits of the Federal Institution.

Compared to Ardigò and Catt, Flavio Camponeschi had already driven a single-seater: "Compared to my companions, I only made a test in a Formula BMW. I must say I am very satisfied with this day. I learnt plenty of things and this single-seater is just lovely to drive. Unfortunately, the nice weather wasn’t with us...”.

“Roberto Robazzi, Manager of Tony Kart, and Laurent Sénéchal, Executive Director of Auto Sport Academy, had the idea to create a synergy around their structure. For the first, the aim was to present this unique training centre to his young drivers. This way, if they one day decide to go to single-seater car-racing, they will know that this school possesses numerous assets to begin one’s career in motorsport. I also wanted the more experimented drivers such as Marco Ardigò or Gary Catt, to test this training tool it uses. Quadra Sports regularly intervenes with the Tony Kart drivers to advise them and our agency knows this excellent training centre very well which is Auto Sport Academy. It was therefore logical for me to accompany them, even more so that Roberto Robazzi was not able to release himself today. In any case, the drivers were delighted of this session and totally seduced by Auto Sport Academy! " declared Angel Pasquali.

Laurent Sénéchal, Executive Director of Auto Sport Academy: "That drivers of a very high level - who represent an official team as prestigious as Tony Kart - choose Auto Sport Academy is an honour. It is also a guarantee of credibility for Auto Sport Academy. I would like this kind of operation to open perspectives for young drivers throughout the world of high-level go-kart, wanting to pass to car-racing. It is indeed necessary to remind the genesis of this category which is to make the passage of go-kart to single-seater racing easier. "

To see the photos of this day, please click here.