F1 drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, who used to race together for CRG and Dino Chiesa’s team a few years ago, went back on a kart last Friday, both to get some fun and for a small training session for next F1 season. The two drivers met on the ‘South Garda Karting Circuit’, welcomed by their former team manager Dino Chiesa, for a full immersion day in karting.

Both Hamilton and Rosberg, before their debut in car-racing, used to race together for the MBM team (acronym of Mercedes Benz McLaren) in 2000 and 2001, with CRG chassis; in those years they even took part in the Italian Championship Open Masters. With Dino Chiesa and CRG, Hamilton became Formula A European Champion in 2000, with Rosberg crossing the line for second. Hamilton, who turned 25 few days ago and is about to race for McLaren for the 4th season, could test the ‘LH’ chassis, recently developed by CRG thanks to 2008 F1 World Champion’s advice and technical specs.

Rosberg, who is racing for Mercedes this year, raced on a ‘Zanardi’ chassis; he already had the occasion to appreciate it last November, on the very same circuit of Lonato together with Michael Schumacher and the young Dutch star Nyck De Vries. De Vries, who was together with the two F1 drivers on this occasion too, has recently been included in the McLaren young driver development programme. Also Lewis Hamilton’s brother, Nicholas, got on a kart: he had lot of fun testing a CRG-Rotax Max.

Lewis Hamilton concentrated on the driving of his ‘LH’, both in the KF and KZ version with gears and Maxter engine. "I really had lot of fun said Hamilton after racing for almost a whole day. Above all, I enjoyed the kart with gears, which I had never tried before. I’ve always raced on a 100cc without gears, and it’s been hard for me to adjust to the driving style the KZ requires. I need to get the knack of it, but I’ve already seen that it’s total fun. I obviously felt at ease with the KF, quite similar to my old 100cc. Anyway, it was wonderful to meet again with my old team, my brother and all my Italian friends."

Dino Chiesa was very satisfied too: "Meeting again on a track after almost ten years was a great experience. First of all, both Hamilton and Rosberg wanted to have fun, without trying to get first rate performances, even though they raced at full throttle. Nicholas Hamilton had lots of fun too: he didn’t want to get down of the kart. I think he completed almost 200 laps… I hope to repeat this experience in a few months."

By MotorSport

More karting champions and history after the break…

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A Bernie Ecclestone-backed karting series will support Formula One races in Europe beginning in 2010.

Britain-based Formula Kart Stars, formerly the Stars Of Tomorrow series, was launched recently with 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton in attendance.

Organisers said the series could spread to overseas grands prix in the future, and 23-year-old Hamilton is the official patron.

“He has always been supportive of the championship and has remained involved ever since he raced with us more than 10 years ago,” said series director Carolynn Hoy.

By F1STV

FORMULA One world champion Lewis Hamilton revisited his old stomping ground at PF International Karting Circuit, near Brandon, on Wednesday morning. The 24-year-old motor racing sensation was at the circuit to mark the re-launch of its Stars of Tomorrow championship - which will now be called Formula Kart Stars and has the backing of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Lewis arrived at the circuit with his father Anthony in a black Mercedes CL63 AMG and quickly changed into his McLaren-Mercedes racing overalls.

A surprisingly subdued reception greeted the star at his initial appearance in the Stars of Tomorrow trailer.

He met with drivers and teams, both locally and nationally based, and re-aquainted himself with several former rivals who are still plugging away at Brandon and other karting circuits around the country.

Lewis and his father addressed a large crowd of young drivers, team bosses, officials and media assembled in the circuit’s Panorama Room and received rapturous applause on their entrance.

Lewis briefed the room on his gruelling training regime and stressed the importance of having an education to back up his and any burgeoning driver’s racing credentials.

As well as reliving the ups and downs of Lewis’ career, his father Anthony explained how he had this week convinced Bernie Ecclestone that the Formula Kart Stars championship is the best in the UK and potentially in Europe.

Mr Ecclestone is going to send a film crew to cover the championship whenever possible.

He has said the championship will be able to carry the F1 logo and there will be links to it on the F1 website.

By GranthamJournal

Domination of the British karting scene saw York’s Tom Duggan come face-to-face with Lewis Hamilton.

The Formula 1 world champ presented the 18-year-old with his 2008 British Karting Championship trophy at the prestigious Autosport Awards ceremony in London, earlier this month.

The event was attended by all the top Formula 1 drivers and was just reward for Duggan, who clinched the karting crown after an excellent result in the last round at the Shenington circuit in Oxfordshire.

Next season, Duggan will graduate from karts to cars and hopes to compete in the Formula Renault Championship – having his ambitions boosted by sponsorship from SES, the York-based mechanical and electrical contractor where he works.

By ThePress