IRK IRON1 RND 5 · Race Race⏱ 42 min

The 7 Laghi Kart circuit in Castelletto di Branduzzo (PV) hosted a 41-minute endurance race on 2 August 2026, with 34 drivers taking the start on the 1,256-metre layout. The contest was decided by the finest of margins at the front, while the pure-pace analysis reveals several compelling stories further down the order.

STEFANELLI FEDERICO (kart #32) claimed victory after 40 laps, crossing the line just 0.118 seconds ahead of PELLEGRINO NUNZIO (#25) — one of the tightest finishes of the season. GRANDOLFO MASSIMO (#16) completed the podium 4.699 s back, followed by GRILLI ALESSANDRO (#17, +7.228 s) and PIAZZOLI KEVIN (#26, +7.296 s). All top finishers completed 40 laps and made exactly 2 pit stops.

The fastest lap of the race was set by PIAZZOLI KEVIN in 1:02.431, underlining the outright speed of the #26 kart. In the pure-pace analysis, Stefanelli also led the way with a median race pace of 1:03.192 — the best of the field — which explains how he converted pole position in race pace into the race win. His two stints were both remarkably stable, with an overall consistency of ±0.41 s.

PELLEGRINO NUNZIO, runner-up on the road and 2nd in pure pace (1:03.203 median), ran an excellent first stint — his opening 14-lap relais was his most consistent of the race (±0.13 s). A third short stint of 5 laps closed out his race with an improving trend of 0.38 s/lap, though it ultimately fell 0.118 s short.

The strategic standout was undeniably GRANDOLFO MASSIMO. Ranked only 8th in pure pace (1:03.427 median) yet finishing 3rd on the road, he overperformed by five positions through pit stop management and remarkable consistency — his overall standard deviation of ±0.36 s matched the joint-best regularity in the top 12. His three stints were all marked as stable, a tribute to a measured, calculated race.

GRILLI ALESSANDRO (#17) offered perhaps the most impressive progression of the race: starting cautiously with a 1:04.114 median in his opening stint, he improved steadily to reach a 1:03.160 median in his final 19-lap relais — his 3rd-best pure pace in the field earned him a deserved 4th place finish.

DONADONI ROBERTO (#7, 10th) recorded the 5th-best pure pace (1:03.352) but the highest consistency spread in the top 10 (±0.68 s), illustrating how variability cost him positions. Similarly, GIACHINO MATTIA (#12, 9th) ran the 6th-best median pace with excellent regularity (±0.36 s) across two flawless stints, just missing out on the points places at the front.

At the bottom of the order, OLIVERI GABRIEL (#23) finished one lap down in 32nd, BRANDOLINI DANIELE (#1) — the only driver to make 3 pit stops — was classified 33rd two laps down, and FILIPPONE RICCARDO (#10) did not register a classified result.

Key takeaways for teams: At 7 Laghi Kart, consistent median pace over 41 minutes outweighs raw speed — Stefanelli's victory with the best pure pace and stable stints proves the combination is decisive. Grandolfo's 3rd place from 8th in pace shows that clean pit stop execution and regularity can gain five positions. A third pit stop, as seen with Brandolini, proved costly in a race where 31 of 33 classified drivers managed the same two-stop strategy.