from CIK-FIA
For the Piccinis, kart racing is part of the family DNA.
At the age of 54, Alessandro is still very involved in the sport after an incredible career as a Driver for over 30 years. Triple World Champion, European Champion, and multiple Italian Champion, his record wins respect.
His technical talents always make him a sought-after technician in the field. However, we now see him in the factory Tony Kart awning as a mechanic for his son Alessio.
HOW DID YOU PASS ON YOUR PASSION TO YOUR SON?
Karting is an important part of our family life. Gianna, my wife, has always shared the passion for racing by joining me at all the circuits of Europe and the whole world. The birth of Alessio did not change our habits, he naturally followed us to the races. I remember him, a newborn baby, sleeping quietly in the Ugento grandstand while the karts were running. I cannot say that I passed on my passion to him, he lived it with us and that influenced him of course.
DID YOU ENCOURAGE HIM TO BECOME A KARTING DRIVER?
As I said, we live for Karting. It was only natural for him to drive a kart at age four, a CRG Puffo, and start racing in Mini at age eight. I did not push him, it was natural for him to drive. Mr. Robazzi allowed him to race in KF3 with Tony Kart. In addition to driving, he learned to take care of his kart with help from the mechanics. He enjoyed the whole technical part. He quickly moved to 125cc gearbox, the category in which I made my career.
HAVE YOU RACED TOGETHER?
It happened once, in Las Vegas in 2012 in KZ2. I think it’s a rare example of a father and a son competing on the track. He was a little faster than me and in the Final I did not know it was him coming up behind me. I thought he was a competitor like any other, so I closed the doors a bit and he touched the barriers. And then I saw his mother making big signs from the stands and I understood. He could not overtake me, but I never wanted this situation to happen again, it was too dangerous!
YOU SEEM TO SHARE MORE AS A FAMILY THAN A PASSION. IS THAT HOW YOU SEE THINGS?
Certainly. Competition is for us a way of life first and foremost. This allows us to stay very close and have a beautiful father / son relationship. I am happy to be able to share my experience with Alessio. My wife Gianna is an essential part of this amazing story. All three of us find our balance by travelling from circuit to circuit all year round, even though his mother is more attentive to her son’s races than to her husband’s!
Alessio currently races in KZ2 and is able to place well in the international top 10. He is looking for a big win. We never dreamed that he could move into single-seaters, the budgets are too high. But in a while, he may be able to face the best in KZ, with his father as a mechanic.