Towards the tail end of last season, Formula One superstar Robert Kubica, decided to set up his own kart racing team as a way of putting something back into the sport that has given him so much. Robert who established a highly successful career in karting has gathered a series of partnerships, who he has been working closely with over the winter months to bring to fruition his dream of RK Racing. Alpinestars is one of those partners, providing technical suits, boots, gloves and protection to his drivers.

Over the weekend of the 6th February 2009 the drivers of Robert’s new team took their first few steps into the unknown in the opening round of the season at the La Conca track based in Italy. The KF2 championship is notoriously competitive, so running at the front in their debut meeting would be an ambitious target, but one that the team achieved, with both Kevin Ceccon and Karol Basz progressing smoothly through to the final with some impressive results as they acclimatized to their new machinery in the KF2 class.

Achieving victories in the heats and pre final is all well and good but at the end of the day everybody wants to win the final and the two members of team RK were no different. Unfortunately for Kevin Ceccon his final didn’t last long, as he crashed out in a crowded first corner, but his team mate ran strongly with the front group and maintained a challenge into the final lap.

High drama unfolded on the last lap, after a bold move from Brandon Maisano pushed the leader of the race, Matteo Vigano, down through the order to fourth. Karol Basz managed to force his way through and chased Brandon to the flag finishing an impressive second in his opening championship round, or so he thought.

After a stewards enquiry, Brandon Maisano’s last lap maneuver on Matteo was adjudged to be dangerous and therefore he was a given a ten second penalty, promoting Karol Basz and the RK team to the top step of the podium.

It was the perfect start to the project for Robert Kubica who was clearly delighted with Karol’s performance, explaining that it was the best race he could have hoped for “The project is very new so it hasn’t been easy, but Karol was very strong and completed every lap despite problems in the heats.”

It turned out to be a successful day for Alpinestars athletes in general, with four drivers making it to the Super KF final. Antonio Piccioni, another member of the RK Kart team managed to finish in 7th one place ahead of Robert Foster-Jones after 32 laps of racing. Miki Weckstrom finished a respectable 17th in what was a very hard fought final just 27 seconds behind the leader. Unfortunately Aaro Vainio didn’t make it to the checkered flag on his debut in the Super KF class after his kart broke, forcing him to retire after 20 of the 32 laps.

One race into the new season, Karol Basz leads the way in the KF2 class as the field head into the second round of the championship due to take place in Sarno in Italy on March 6th 2009.

KF2
1. Karol Basz (PL) RK/Parilla
2. Ben Cooper (GB ) Tony/Vortex +0,327
3. Matteo Vigano (I) Birel/Parilla +1,216
4. Stoffel Vandoorne (B ) CRG/Maxter +1,687
5. Yu Kanamaru (J) Tony/Vortex +1,952
6. Mackenzie Taylor (GB ) FA Kart/Vortex +3,446

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
1. Basz 54
2. Cooper 45
3. Vigano 40
4. Vandoorne 23
5. Taylor 14
5. Brandon 14