2022-2023 SEASON REVIEW: OUR TEAM PRINCIPAL TALKS

During the summer break, we took the opportunity to have a chat with our Team Principal, Paolo Necchi, to discuss the past season and the plans for the future.

Interviewer: How do you consider the results of the last season?

Paolo Necchi (PN): Not winning any races was certainly disappointing, but securing third place in the championship with Reaan (Dharmadasa) in the Mini category was a good achievement. Undoubtedly, we could have done better and at least finished in second position, but some incidents heavily influenced the final outcome. Nevertheless, it was a season of learning, and the experience gained will be very helpful in the upcoming season.

Interviewer: This season, as in the past, you also debuted some drivers from the academy.

PN: Yes, this remains one of our main objectives. We want to have fast and experienced drivers in the team, but we also want to bring in less experienced pilots who demonstrate the skills to perform well in competitions. This year, Riccardo, Jeffrey, and Lujza made their debut, and they did well in their first races, improving with each event.

Interviewer: At the end of the season, you had an experienced driver like Tom Bale, a former IAME World Champion, competing in the DD2 category. What was the significance of using the British driver?

PN: It was a decision that matured towards the end of the season when we knew we were technically prepared to field a PRO driver like Tom. Drivers like him make a difference, and it’s a pleasure to watch them drive. We are also pleased with the contribution he made as a test driver/coach, providing excellent references for us and our drivers in terms of setup and driving. Our goal is to continue working with him in the next season, with his role yet to be defined.

Interviewer: What are your plans for the next season?

PN: We will definitely confirm our presence in the RMC UAE, where we aim to have at least 5 or 6 drivers for the entire season, as well as some who will participate in specific championship or non-championship races. Last year, we also debuted in the IAME Series USAE, and we would like to continue and participate in some events next season as well. Of course, during the season, we will continue our academy activities with our trainers, with the conviction of soon bringing more drivers to competitive debut.

Interviewer: What was the best and worst moment of the season?

PN: There wasn’t an absolute best moment, but there were several highlights, such as Reaan’s many good results and Tom’s strong performances towards the end of the season. The worst moment was undoubtedly Reaan’s disqualification at Al Forsan, where we had achieved a well-deserved victory that was taken away due to a trivial technical non-compliance.

Interviewer: Will there be any novelties regarding the academy?

PN: The academy project is working very well, and not long ago, we surpassed 100 clients in our 3 years of activity. We intend to develop the driving/training part with simulators and keep our rental kart fleet up-to-date. Shortly, we will also announce some new collaborations that will enhance the services offered to our customers.

Interviewer: How do you view the karting landscape in the UAE?

PN: It definitely seems to be a thriving market. The number of drivers is growing, and their level of skill is improving year by year. We are still far from European standards, but the gap is narrowing. There is certainly much work to be done in terms of professionalism among many involved in the industry, as some lack the necessary sports background for certain roles. However, I am confident that the situation will improve, and everyone will benefit. There is also a lot to do in terms of promoting the races, as it is currently insufficient compared to the number of participants. Promoting the sport will attract potential investors and, consequently, generate more business in the market.

Good luck for the upcoming season!