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At the last count on 19th March there were 250 entered in the "2007 International Open Masters", not including the occasional drivers who are able to sign up on a per-race basis without gaining points towards the championship (at the moment there are 2 such signups for the first heat at Sarno, which brings up to 252 the total number of drivers in the first event).
So once again The Open Masters returns with a full line-up, to tackle another season at breakneck pace, the tenth outing for this Italian-held championship (FIA Authorized Series) which this year also boasts a significant foreign presence, well over 60 %, with drivers from around the world. In the first heat scheduled at Sarno on 25th March, there are no less than 32 countries represented (Italy, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bolivia, Brazil, Switzerland, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Argentina, Indonesia, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Thailand and The United States), in a dizzying whirl of languages and colours that this year will really liven up the paddock area.
Not for nothing has the name of the Championship been changed, starting this year, to “International Open Masters”, now even more of a showcase for all the promising young hopefuls that in a few years we’ll see take centre stage, like Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Robert Kubica, to name just a few of the most recent protagonists in this championship.
Amongst the innovations this year are the new international 125 cc “
“KF-Long Life” engines, which at the moment don’t quite place all the constructors on a level playing field competitively, because of disparities in performance between them. A fact that has caused several changes in various teams plans, amongst them Birel, which has split its team to look for results with the IAME engines while continuing research with its partner of recent years, TM.
In KF3 (ex 100 Junior), with 84 entrants, we will witness the debut of Eduard Cheever, who has the sport in his family, racing with the Swiss Hutless team, and of Giovinazzi, winner of the National 60 Mini Trophy in 2006. Amongst the Italians, the one to follow above all is Camplese (Tony Kart), star of the Italian 100 Junior 2006, and Viganò (Birel) who already made an appearance last year.
In KF2 (ex 100 ICA), with 74 entrants, Turchetto ( Birel), the winner of the italian Junior last year, makes his debut, but there are great hopes also for Camponeschi (F. Alonso) and Tiene (Crg). Other favourites are the Portuguese Da Costa, the Englishman Stevens (Tony Kart), the Czech Groman and the Spaniard Monras, winner of the Junior European (Maranello).
In KF1 (ex FA), with 39 entrants, fighting it out at the top are a good number of challengers for the title, starting with the departing champion, the Dane Bollingtoft (Kosmic), the World Champion Forè (now with Maranello), European ICA Champion Nolè (Crg), the departing European ICA Champion Piccioni, Antonucci (Tony), and the always combative Cesetti (Birel); moreover there’s the strong Belgian Thonon and the French winner of the World Cup, Kozlinski, now with Crg.
In KZ2 (ex 125 Icc), with 53 entrants, the confrontation is between Laudato and Cozzaglio (Birel), the European Champion Ardigo’ (Tony Kart) – that was mistakeny registered in KF1 - the Icc European Champion from Germany Beherens (Brm), Piccini, now with Maranello, and the new Intrepid pair Manetti (2006 Open Masters Champion) and Toninelli (S-Icc European Champion).
