Interview: Alessandro Sferrella

from CIK-FIA

European Champion in Intercontinental C in 2001, the Italian Alessandro Sferrella had the opportunity to return to the podium in an FIA Karting event at Sarno in 2019, but this time as a team manager alongside Lorenzo Camplese. It was certainly a great reward for this great enthusiast of karting and engines, who is now 41 years old.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY IN KARTING?

I started as a seven-year-old Mini driver in 1986, a long time ago now! I then raced in Junior, but I quickly became interested in 125cc gearbox karts. I ended up winning the ICC European Championship in 2001 driving a Top Kart-Pavesi. I showed perseverance, having finished 2nd in this competition three times! I also won several titles at the national level in Italy and I ended my career in Super ICC with the best drivers in the discipline. I must take this opportunity to thank Olivier Liegeois, my engine builder at the time, who passed on a lot of his knowledge to me. Today, we are still working together!

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RACING IN CARS?

No, I was already old and, anyway, karting is my big passion, it’s my whole life. As soon as I hung up my helmet, I started working with Lorenzo Camplese.  He lives in the same area as me, near Pescara, and we have become very close. I followed him from year to year and I still support him more than 10 years later with my team SC Performance. The “S” comes from Sferrella and the “C” from Camplese. It must be said that in my private life, Lorenzo’s sister, Arianna, became my wife!

HAS TURNING YOUR PASSION INTO A PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY ALWAYS BEEN YOUR GOAL?

Yes, I always liked the mechanics of karting. I am a perfectionist, I always try to improve the settings of the equipment. I leave nothing to chance. When I was driving, I was already looking for new technical solutions with my team. That’s why I was interested in every part of a kart, including the engine. The seat is also a very important element of a chassis and I ended up creating my own brand to go even further at this level. It’s name is Greyhound Racing Seats and the  name was chosen with reference to Ayrton Senna as Greyhound was the model of the DAP chassis he used. Also I started racing with this brand! In 2018, Victor Bernier became Junior World Champion with the VDK Racing team and a Greyhound seat.



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IN 2019, WERE YOU WORRIED ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THE FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – KZ AS A PRIVATE TEAM?

I’m lucky to have Lorenzo Camplese in my team. He is one of the benchmark drivers in the category. Then, for the equipment, I collaborated closely with Tony Kart and Vortex. In the past, I have already had the opportunity to work with these two parts of the OTK group and I know Roberto Robazzi, the head of the factory. He is a very demanding person and I know he is doing everything he can to make his products perform well. Not only for the drivers in the factory team, but for all customers. He has contributed a lot. After that, I bring my personal touch and strong technical abilities.

DID YOU EXPECT SUCH A GOOD RESULT IN SARNO?

Since the beginning of the season, we have often demonstrated our level of performance. I trust Lorenzo. He is fast and he is also a very combative driver, who does not let anything go. Getting pole position gave him confidence.  He loves Sarno, and he already finished 2nd in the CIK-FIA International Super Cup – KZ2 here in 2014. Thanks to his victory in the Final in front of all the official drivers, he managed to become FIA Karting European Vice-Champion – KZ. For a team like SC Performance, it’s great. However, KZ is only part of our business. We also win races in KZ2 in Italy at national and regional level.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?

Simply to continue to run the SC Performance team and allow all the drivers in our team to obtain the best possible results. And, of course, I wish Lorenzo Camplese all the best at the highest level. 



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