from CIKFIA
Davide Fore’ is a great personality in the karting world. Four-time World Champion between 1998 and 2006, several times the World Cup winner in 100cc and KF1 in Japan or in Super ICC, he has shown an incredible commitment to karting.
Having been team manager for Birel ART for more than a year and now a driver coach, he continues to race whenever he has the opportunity.
Despite his 45 years of age, he didn’t want to miss the 2019 KZ World Championship in Lonato, a stone’s throw from his home.
TAKING PART IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR WAS PARTICULARLY CLOSE TO YOUR HEART, WASN’T IT?
As soon as I was informed of the 2019 FIA Karting calendar, I immediately thought about participating in this competition. I had just started karting when the South Garda Karting circuit was created in the late 1980s in the Brescia region, where I live. I raced on the track a lot, I spent an incredible amount of time there, and I saw the evolution of the site. I never imagined I would experience the return of a World Championship to Lonato without taking part as a driver. I had participated in the previous one, in 1996!
HOW WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION ORGANISED?
It was not necessarily easy, as I no longer belong to a particular team since I left my position as team manager with the Birel ART Racing Team. Initially, I was thinking of racing with TK Racing. But for various reasons, the project suddenly ended. I was able to reach an agreement with the Intrepid team and the TM factory for the engines. I thank them for that, as well as all the people who supported me and enabled this participation.
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UNFORTUNATELY, THE RESULT WAS NOT UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
The standard was still incredibly high this year. I realised that it was very difficult to join a team for such a competition, without having been able to race together in other events to start the preparatory work. I didn’t have a sufficient understanding of the equipment to compete with the most well practiced. I would have needed to achieve a time in the top 10 in timed practice to aim for a better place. On several occasions, I was still able to get within two-tenths of the fastest. I gained seven places in the Final to join the top 20 on Sunday. This presence as a driver will remain a great feeling. My family came, I met many friends and I thank the Corberi family for the tribute they paid to Marco Ardigo and myself during the drivers’ presentation.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE PHYSICALLY FOR THIS GREAT EVENT?
I already play sports regularly. I never stopped training, even when I wasn’t racing. Having a good physique is essential for me. I often run and complete my preparation with various fitness sessions. I’m not 20 anymore and if I want to stay at the front throughout a competition and a Final, I have no choice.
IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE COMPETITION IN LONATO, WE COULD SEE THAT THIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WAS NOT YOUR LAST RACE.
Exactly! Exactly! I didn’t forget about racing. Racing is a big part of my life and I don’t want it to stop, at least not now. Today, I am still competitive, I have the motivation and the desire. So I will take part in competitions as long as I have the opportunity. At the end of the 2019 season, I had the opportunity to step on to the podium in Malaysia on the Langkawi circuit and take part in a race in Macau. However, I must admit that my professional future remains my priority from now on.
WHAT IS YOUR NEW JOB?
I work with drivers to help them progress. The younger ones want to go fast and climb the ladder quickly, but they lack experience and find their ascent limited. I am here to help them understand all the subtleties of karting so that they can perform better on the track, so that they can better assimilate the technical aspect of the discipline, so that they understand the importance of good physical fitness and so that they are able to manage the entire race. Being a coach is not for everyone but I think I have enough reference points to do my job well. Recently, I was with the Moroccan Suleiman Zanfari when he became Swedish Champion and the American Connor Zilisch when he finished 2nd in the Supernationals in Las Vegas.
IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF YOUR CAREER, IF YOU HAD TO KEEP ONLY ONE OF YOUR MANY TROPHIES, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?
Difficult question, I’ve had so many great moments! The emotions are different depending on the team around you, the circuit where you win, the conditions in which you mount the top step of the podium. But I remain very proud of my first World Championship. It was in 1998 in Ugento in the top category of the time, Formula Super A.
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