The competitive fun of the 500 Miles Kart – 12/24/2023 – Sport

This week the 26th edition of the 500 Miles of Kart took place, a 12-hour race that brings together important names in motorsport. Held last Thursday (21), at the Granja Viana kart track, in the São Paulo city of Cotia, the event brought together new generation drivers and members of the old guard.

Rubens Barrichello, 51, with a long history in F1, and Felipe Giaffione, 48, who raced in Indy Car and is the race organizer, covered the 1,150 m route. Also on the track were Felipe Drugovich, 23, Aston Martin reserve driver in F1, and Gabriel Bortoleto, 19, current F3 champion.

In total, 40 karts took part in the long-distance race. There is a relay of vehicles and a competitive spirit, despite the festive tone of the event. “It’s a celebration, but no one takes it cheap. Everyone wants to win,” Barrichello told Sheet.

Barrichello is the one who has won the most editions of the Kart 500 Miles, with a total of 11 victories. He competed in the first edition, in 1997, sharing a kart with Christian Fittipaldi, Tony Kanaan and Cristiano da Matta. Despite the efforts of the quartet, the winner was Felipe Massa, who at the time was still taking his first steps in motor sport.

With the defeat, Rubinho and his friends committed to planning better for the next edition, with victory in 1998. Since then, Barrichello has been a guaranteed presence on the grid.

Fun today involves the family. This year, Barrichello shared the kart with his sons, Eduardo and Fernando, and his nephew, Felipe Barrichello Bartz. Also on his team were António Félix da Costa, a Portuguese Formula E driver, Matheus Morgatto, Gabriel Gomes and Beto Cavaleiro.

“The other day, I heard my son, Fefo, say: ‘My dream is to win the 500 Miles with you’. He didn’t even say [24 Horas de] Le Mans, he talked about the 500 Miles Kart.”

It was not this time. The winner of the 26th edition of the 500 Miles Kart was the kart from the Americanet/Car Racing/Techspeed team. It was led by young Felipe Drugovich, Gabriel Bortoleto, Enzo Bortoleto, Caio Collet, Clément Novalak and Sérgio Sette Câmara. It was a triumph for the new generation.

“From the start, the objective was to take the lead [quanto] before possible. In the beginning, me and Caio [Collet] we helped each other to open up an advantage over the rest of the drivers. We commanded most of the race, [mesmo com] There were a few problems, but everything went well,” said a smiling Drugovich.

The 12-hour race requires drivers to make six six-minute stops and two 15-minute stops, with permission to change tires and engine and refuel.

The winning kart, number 85, had problems when Gabriel Bortoleto was completing his last session. A touch with an opponent made him go to the pits early.

The current F3 champion thought everything was lost, but the work of the mechanics made victory a possibility again. Collet, who would take over the kart next, was taken by surprise, but was ready for the mission.

“I was calm in the box, [quando] out of nowhere I see the kart coming. The mechanics rebuilt the kart in five minutes, it was unbelievable. They did a job I’ve never seen in my life. In the end, I managed to do a good stint, deliver [o kart] for Drugo and finish first”, said Collet.