Leonardo Marseglia entered in the 2015 international karting season as one of the favourite drivers in 60 Mini. He knew that he was at his last season in the youngest drivers’ category, because he was aiming to race in Junior class as soon as he would been 13.
The field of action he chose was the international one, a field that, as always, was full of many talented driver: it was not a piece of cake, for those were looking for success. Anyway, Leonardo claimed soon his season’s first win: it happened at the Trofeo Margutti in Lonato, where the Italian driver dominated the race weekend starting from Saturday’s practice and heats, beaten in the Final many strong opponents.
In the following races, Leonardo joined the Giorgio Pantano Junior Team, switching from CRG chassis to Zanardi ones. The former F.1 and Indycar Italian driver became the new coach of Leonardo, who was soon able to win again. This time it happened in Sarno, at the final weekend of the WSK Super Master Series. The young boy from Southern Italy won both Prefinal and Final, fighting into a group of six drivers and climbing in 3rd place in the final WSK standings, thanks to this final victory.
The karting circus was back in Sarno the following month, to race the prestigious race “Coppa del Vesuvio” and, a week later, the 2nd round of the Aci Karting Italian Championship. Leonardo was still in the top, gaining the victory in both events. The Vesuvius Cup gone into his hands after a strong battle: Leonardo did a great recover starting 6th in the Prefinal and beating his strongest opponents in the Final. In the Italian Championship’s weekend, the boy from Ostuni was able to launch his attack since the start of the Prefinal: thanks to his very fast pace, he took the lead in a few laps and won Race 1. Then, in Race 2 Leonardo finished 4th. A new good result that allowed him to occupy the 4th place in the Championship’s provisional standings, too. Finally, at the end of the Italian Championship Marseglia confirmed his 4th position in the standings, thanks to further podium results.
The Trofeo Nazionale Aci Karting was the other field in which Marseglia raced successfully in 2016. In the three season’s event, held in Battipaglia, Castelletto di Branduzzo and Ugento, he won 4 races out of 6, winning in the final standings in the season’s ending event at Pista Salentina, Ugento. Leonardo never lost the leadership in the standings. The crucial moment happened just in the season opener in Battipaglia, when the Apulian driver won twice in Sunday’s races: a double good result that allowed him to climb to the leadership in the standings. Then, thanks to the following two victories in Castelletto and in Ugento, he kept his advantage until the end.
In the last part of the season Leonardo switched team, moving to Evo Kart. He joined the racing team of the Italian manufacturer since the season ending event of the Italian Championship in Siena. Then, it was just in Ugento he gaining his first victory for his new team.
Among the most prestigious events of the season there is the Rok Cup Finals. In 2015 Leonardo Marseglia ended in style his experience with the Mini category, winning the great chellenge of the double Rok event: as an accomplished top driver of his category, he grabbed an amazing victory in both the Italian and the International Finals. Firstly, he did a great hat-trick in Adria. On the North-Eastern Italian track, Leonardo was unbeatable in the Rok Cup Italian Final, since he was the fastest in the timing practice, before he won in the heats. On the event’s last day, he soon launched a strong attack, winning both Prefinal and Final. The Rok Cup International Final (click here to watch the video) had a more thrilling end: Marseglia won the Prefinal and, in the Final, he was fighting once again for the victory. During the decisive last laps, he had a tough duel with Michelotto, whom was penalized after the ceckered flag. So, Leonardo was declared winner: he achieved this way a great double Rok success to add to a very special season.
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