Just a few weeks to go to 2012 season start-off and Birel management have officialised the long list of drivers who will represent Birel Motorsport, the racing department of the Lissone-based builder. As customary over the last 4 years, plans include two separated technical structures whose aim is to rationalize and enhance Birel brand presence in all competitive classes and leading championships: the main team and the junior team.  Both organisations will manage Birel official drivers within substantially different programmes and categories.
Technically speaking, Junior Team will be coordinated by Alessandro Villa and primarily focus on junior categories (60 Mini included) and national championships. Instead, Mariano De Faveri will be technical manager for the main team, which will not only be in involved in KF3 and KF2 but also concentrate on KZ1 and KF1 top classes, racing all the most outstanding International competitions. Following the first official announcements regarding drives, all clearly stressing the great determination to be back in KZ spotlight - see  Roberto Toninelli and Paolo De Conto’s engagement -,  all categories have been defined in the last few days, bringing both confirmations and news.   Among established drivers, Max Klinkby Silver, now upgraded to KF1, to race in CIK-FIA Championship and in Euro Series WSK with Japanese Kazuya Ishii, whereas Karol Basz will still sport RK colours in the new official team managed by Wolfagan Berr. Confirmation also for Kevin Rossel in KF2. Same category for Gianni Vigorito, another familiar name, as well as for Mattia Vita (great Birel protagonist in 2011’s 2nd part) and for just engaged Nicola Marcon. KF3 will boast an amazing 10 official drivers (considering both structures): evidence of how strategic Birel deems junior classes.
The main team, to race WSK Master and Euro Series, plus all CIK-FIA (European Championship and World Cup) appointments, will rely on Gerard Barrabeig’s brother, Aleix, as well as on Brazilian Giuliano Raucci, Frank Merilaht from Estonia and Dane Peter Bollingtoft. On the other hand, the Junior Team will mainly deal with drivers from the junior programmes connected to Easykart Trophy, lining up  Mauricio Baiz from Venezuela, Spaniard Mikel Mostajo and Britons Will Stowell and Tom Thickpenny in WSK Master, for both the  Italian and European Championship. Also Vincenzo Paparo will be with the Lissone-based builder Junior Team, racing a full KF3 programme; the same for freshman Antonio D'Angelo. The host of 2012 Birel official drivers will be completed by the juniors of 60 Mini Kart (Sebastian Fernandez, Lukas Podobsky, Lorenzo Colombo), supervised by the  Junior Team throughout a racing schedule including WSK Master and the Italian Championship.
Ronni Sala, Birel Chairman, introduced 2012 team as follows:  "There is no doubt our racing department is rationally organised and set to provide all top categories with the best management ever, marketing and racing wise, especially when it comes to prestigious competition. The fact we have engaged two drivers among the best on the market is evidence that we are determined to excel throughout KZ season, sure we can also rely on our highly competitive new 32mm tube chassis and on BMB engines. Talking about KZ, let me thank Sauro Cesetti who greatly contributed to the development of our engine in  last season, doing a great job, just like he  always did over all the years he spent collaborating with us. Unfortunately, the scenario has changed for 2012 and our relationship has come to an end. Yet, I am sure our mutual trust will not be affected.  On the eve of the upcoming racing season, we are extremely optimistic also about KF classes schedule, as we can count on both the standing of the drivers who will represent us and on our technical potential. 
Over 20 drivers and as many as two logistical structures, involving roughly 40 operators, give a clear picture of all the effort our company dedicates to the racing department and of all the benefits for our standard production in all categories. Concerning this, I must mention that we have reorganised RK official team and enhanced its effectiveness thanks to Wolfang Berr’s partnership  and  that we have recently outlined an agreement with Drumel Kart for organising  a First brand official team too." 
 
2012 OFFICIAL DRIVERS

Birel Motorsport

KZ1: Roberto Toninelli, Paolo De Conto
KF1: Kazuya Ishii, Maximillian Klinkby Silver
KF2: Kevin Rossel, Mattia Vita
KF3: Peter Bollingtoft, Frank Merilaht, Giuliano Raucci, Aleix Barrabeig

Junior Team

KF2: Gianni Vigorito, Nicola Marcon
KF3: Vincenzo Paparo, Will Stowell, Tom Thickpenny, Mauricio Baiz, Mikel Mostajo, Antonio D'Angelo
60 MINI: Sebastian Fernandez, Lukas Podobski, Lorenzo Colombo