THE FIRST TIME FOR SEBASTIAN VETTEL IN A KZ KART
It is not a foregone conclusion for a 4-time F1 champion to wish to go karting the day after an F1 Grand Prix (to be precise, the Sochi 2019 event), especially if the result is not good. However, Sebastian Vettel is not just any champion and, on more than one occasion, he really has shown he loves karts and also uses it as a outlet and ... as a time for reflection. This is why those who know him were not surprised when, around 10 am on a warm Monday in late September, Vettel arrived at the South Garda Karting in Lonato, after taking a flight from Sochi the night before, landing in Bologna, to then take a car and drive to Desenzano, where he arrived at 2 am. All this, as always for him, without the support of helpers, assistants, mental trainers or others, but simply ... alone! Hence, three years after the last time, TKART has again had the honour of exclusively experiencing from close up, thanks to Tony Kart, Sebastian Vettel's day racing a kart.
The surprise comes even before greeting the German driver, because in the tent of the Tony Kart Racing Team, there are two Racer 401 R chassis with the number 5 ready for Vettel,: the first in OK configuration (single-speed) with the Vortex DST engine; the second in KZ configuration (shifter) with Vortex RSZ engine. A new situation for him, since he has never driven a kart with gears. The premise for a day worth telling is certainly not lacking.
While the Vortex DST is warming up in the parc fermé, Sebastian starts to get ready, paying particular attention to his rib-knitted bodice. With the kart on the ground, Sebastian tests the driving position of both karts, even if the impression is that he is not convinced to get in the KZ as well. The Tony Kart Racing Team mechanics Lorenzo Abò and Paolo "Paolino" Gobbini make little adjustments to the position of the pedals and Vettel adjusts the seat, applying foam to the sides to improve driving comfort. Thus, finally, Sebastian brings his Tony Kart Racer 401 R powered by the Vortex DST onto the track: for him, a first 20-minute stint with used tyres to regain his feeling with the kart and the Lonato track.
We take the opportunity to analyse Vettel's driving together with the world champion and official Tony Kart driver Marco Ardigò: “When braking at the mechanics hairpin, but generally at every major braking point, Sebastian arrives too long, which is certainly because he brakes late, accustomed as he is to the superior braking power of Formula 1". The OK kart is not easy to drive, because it has a lot of power and it is important for the vehicle to be in the right position when the engine delivers all its power. The German champion returns to the parc fermé and gives his first impressions of the kart's behaviour to the mechanics. The consequence is that a decision is taken to change the setup, tightening the front track to decrease the grip when entering bends. This should allow the chassis to slide more, without badly affecting the rear.
While the mechanics intervene, Sebastian talks with Ardigò with the aim of improving his driving style. A few minutes pass and the Ferrari driver is back on track. The difference can immediately be seen: now the driving is better and the braking points are anticipated, so the kart is in the best condition to unload the power of the Vortex DST engine when exiting bends. After another series of laps, Vettel's face is relaxed and satisfied when he returns to the tent. He smiles a lot and his makes himself as available as possible to the fans, with selfies and autographs. Which is not to be taken for granted, least of all after a Grand Prix that certainly didn't end well, with a withdrawal due to mechanical problems when he was a contender to win the race.
Once he has returned, Sebastian talks to the mechanics and with Roberto Robazzi, owner of the OTK Kart Group, manufacturer of the Tony Kart chassis. Tyre pressures are checked and the telemetry is also given a quick glance: the German champion points out that the newly approved Vortex DST engine has progressed compared to the DDS, tested in the previous test, which he carefully emphasises in an uncommonly sensitive manner. For his third stint on the track, Vettel is accompanied along the track by the official Tony Kart Racing Team driver Joseph Turney, with whom he completes several laps while studying the lines. The improvement compared to the previous lap is considerable: the rust of three years without driving a kart is gone and the times are only 3 - 4 tenths higher than those of a professional kart driver.
The lunch break is definitely deserved, even if the meal at the OTK Kart Group hospitality area together with all the mechanics is soon over. On the way back, Vettel's attention is captured by an old kart in the van of the karting driver Luca Corberi: it is the Tony Kart Extreme with Vortex VLC 100 cc, used on the track in the KFA races reserved for pre-2000 and pre-1995 vehicles. It is the same chassis model with which the German became European Champion in the 100 Junior in 2001, so it is inevitable that Sebastian remains very impressed. More surprising, but not that much, is that he talks at length with Neil Mckernan (Beyond Kart Restoration) on the possibility of making a replica of the kart for him.
However, memories and promises are swept away by the roar of the Vortex RSZ engine which is warmed up on the trolley by Tony Kart mechanics. There is no doubt: it is time for Vettel to try a kart with gears for the first time. The first laps are certainly not easy, since the German champion has to become familiar with the gearbox and the braking system (consisting of two front callipers and one at the rear in KZ karts). On returning to the tent, the exchange of opinions with Marco Ardigò is more intense than usual, complete with a layout of the track. Marco later told us: "Sebastian has never driven a KZ, so he is not sure when to change gear. He trusted his hearing and, to tell you the truth, he didn't make any big mistakes. As an indication, I told him, in particular, that slow hairpins should be taken in second gear, while he was in third”.
An exchange of opinions with Joseph Turney, official driver of the Tony Kart Racing Team
Meanwhile, Vettel is back and Ardigò, in agreement with him, hangs around the penultimate bend of the South Garda Karting circuit. In this way, the German can stop directly on the track to receive Marco's precious advice: "I gave him advice on braking - he explained. In particular on the use of the engine brake, which is fundamental in braking in a KZ. I was amazed at the speed with which he put my advice into practice. After a few laps he perfected his driving style, which with the KZ must be more angular than it is with single-speed karts”. Sebastian gives his all and also completes several stints in the KZ, trying to refine the trajectories and management of the vehicle. The advantage, if you will, is that driving a kart shifter is more like that of a Formula car, thanks to the engine power and greater braking capacity.
In the end, a satisfied Sebastian Vettel gets out of the KZ: "For me it was the first time in a kart with gears: it was fun to understand the differences in driving compared to single-speed karts. The fact of having to manage the gears makes it a little more similar to driving a car: I enjoyed it a lot!". Asked about the difference between OK and KZ, he replied: “the biggest difference is in the trajectory and management of the engine and brakes: it's a different driving style, but it doesn't take much for it to become natural”.
The day seems to be over, but Vettel doesn’t agree and shows his desire to get back on the track again. Who can say no? For the last stint, however, Sebastian returns to the OK kart "so I stop getting confused on trajectories and driving" he says jokingly and with a smile, aimed at the Tony Kart Racing Team staff.
Once back, this time definitively, the German clean the kart with dedication, as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “In general I enjoy myself, cleaning the kart was something I had to do when I was young, otherwise my father got angry! I think it's much nicer when the kart is clean, ready for the next race. And then, the boys, here (referring to the mechanics of Tony Kart – editor’s note) have helped me a lot, today, leaving a clean kart is the least I can do”. A small detail that says a lot about what kind of person Sebastian Vettel is, even if those who know him would have no doubt. We have a doubt, however: when he decides to go back to karting, will he choose a single-speed or a kart with gears? We will just have to wait for the next test on the track to know the answer!
