April 8 2016, 21.18 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
The 15 year old finished 3rd in pre-season testing earlier in March
8th April, 2016, Misano: A big step for a young man, JK Tyre supported Kush Maini makes his car racing debut in the Italian Formula 4 Championship by Abarth that begins this weekend in Misano, Italy. The season will take him to classic Italian tracks like Monza and Imola and the young karting sensation turns out for BVM Racing along with team mate and native Lorenzo Colombo.
Generally considered as the next step to karting, Kush was announced to race in the Spanish F4 and SMP Championship seasons which would mean participating in 45 races including testing throughout the year. Participation in the Italian F4 Championship involves racing at 6 different locations including a return to Imola for the second time in the season in September. The locations include: Misano, Adria, Imola (where the drivers race twice), Mugello, Vallelunga, and Monza.
With car racing posing a whole host of different challenges to karting, young Kush was excited about the prospect of tackling different obstacles in a new environment. "The Italian F4 Championship is a one make championship which means that all the cars are supplied with the same engine. This makes the competition tougher because of the level footing. These are also tracks that I have heard about but never raced on so learning the corners and surprises will be key. But car racing is something that I've dreamed about as a step further and I felt that the Italian F4 championship was a great place to make that start."
The number of participants in the championship are already making waves across racing circles with 41 participants from over 20 different countries already registered, as per the official release from the Italian F4 championship press team. The organisers of the championship have decided to incorporate the new race format that will see drivers distributed into groups for free practice and qualifying sessions. The drivers will then be pitted against each other in a karting style qualifying race in the first three races out of which the best drivers will compete in the final race. The points scored in each race will tally into the following four trophies (as applicable): the Italian F4 Championship trophy; the Trophy for Teams; the Rookie Trophy; and the Woman's Trophy.
It promises to be an enriching and learning experience for Kush as he will take the track alongside Mick Schumacher, the son of the legendary Michael Schumacher along with Manuel Maldonado, cousin of F1 driver Pastor Maldonado.
The first race begins at 2:35pm IST in Misano on Saturday, 9th April, 2016.