In the top three right from Qualifying

At the Sarno circuit, which has quite different characteristics to Genk, and significantly higher temperatures in Italy compared to Belgium, the Kart Republic team's technicians faced very different challenges. The work proved complex at times, particularly for the IAME engine specialists tasked with adapting to the fuel used in FIA Karting. Danilo Albanese built up momentum in Free Practice, before setting the 3rd-fastest time in Qualifying, just 1 thousandth of a second behind 2nd place.

Still P3 after the qualifying heats

Once again very fast in the heats, securing promising P2 and P3 positions, the Italian unfortunately had a difficult Super Heat and dropped to 8th on the grid for the Final. In the Final race, the positions settled fairly quickly, with gaps widening between the drivers. Following his podium finish at Genk, Danilo Albanese this time secured points for 8th place at Sarno, making him the 2026 FIA Karting KZ European Vice-Champion.

Comment from Dino Chiesa, head of KR Global Motorsport Company

"I am pleased to see that we are building on the excellent results we have achieved in recent years in FIA Karting's KZ class. Kart Republic fielded just one driver in this category in 2026, and we have managed to add another line to our list of achievements with this European Vice-Champion title secured by Danilo Albanese, whom I congratulate on his performances at Genk and Sarno. In the overall standings, we have two KR chassis in the top four thanks to the expertise of the SP Motorsport team and to Stan Pex, who finished 4th in the Championship."

"In KZ2, Kart Republic was also aiming for a podium finish with Arthur Lehouck following his brilliant performance at Genk. Unfortunately, a puncture during Qualifying prevented him from competing to his full potential, despite setting some of the fastest times in Free Practice."

"What I'll also take away from this European Championship is the frustration felt by our technical team, who had to restrict themselves in their quest for maximum performance. The fuel chosen by the International Federation forces us to operate within a very narrow performance window. The aim for engine manufacturers is no longer to be as competitive as possible, but to avoid breaking the engine. This is not at all in the spirit of the KZ class, which should, on the contrary, push the discipline's technicians to achieve the highest possible level of performance. Of course, the situation is the same for everyone, but I think the KR Motorsport team is not the only one to regret this state of affairs."

About KR Global Motorsport Company

At the end of the 2017 season Dino Chiesa officially presented the new Kart Republic entity and its characteristic logo. The yellow, orange and red colours reflect the colours of the Serenissima Republic which, from 697 to 1797, marked the history of the Padua region, home of the KR brand. The wing refers to those of the lion of St. Mark, the symbol of Venice, the capital of the Venetian Republic.

On 1st January, the KR chassis received CIK-FIA homologation. The success was immediate! In the very first season, the German Hannes Janker became European OK Champion in 2018. A few weeks later, the Italian Lorenzo Travisanutto (KR-IAME) became FIA Karting World Champion. The KR chassis quickly became a reference in the most important international events, as well as in many countries around the world. The successes in FIA Karting followed one another. At the 2022 World Championship in Campillos, less than four years after its launch, KR was the most represented brand in the paddock.

Over the years, the Kart Republic factory has continued to develop, launching the Alonso Kart brand in 2020 and relaunching the famous DAP name in early 2023. The various activities of the Italian company are now grouped under the "KR Global Motorsport Company". The head of the company, Dino Chiesa, is one of the most influential figures in the world of karting. The Italian engineer is also one of the best talent scouts in the world of karting. He has helped the rise of drivers such as Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Nyck De Vries. Many Formula 1 team academies trust him, including those of Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine and Sauber. The famous Prema Racing team has just announced its entry to the world of karting, in partnership with Kart Republic.