The performances of Benjamin Lessennes among the world elite in the KF-Junior category in 2014 did not go unnoticed. After receiving several interesting proposals, the Belgian kart driver decided to chase his destiny with the Zanardi Strakka Racing Team. At 15 years of age, the driver wearing the Coyote and Motorhomes STX colours will officially represent the Italian factory, European champions in the KF category. It is a new challenge which “Benji” is impatient to tackle!
Constantly among the leaders in the KF-Junior category over the past year, Benjamin Lessennes left a fine impression. And although sad misfortune robbed the young lad from Charleroi of other good results, this strapping young man of 15 still succeeded in becoming one of the noteworthies in the paddock. For his first full season in the KF category, for Seniors, Benjamin and his entourage had an embarrassment of choice. However, after a conclusive test, it was to Zanardi Strakka Racing that the driver opted to turn.
“It’s a new phase in my career,” said a delighted Benjamin. “I thank the VDK Racing team most sincerely, for helping me a great deal in my apprenticeship and for being so actively involved in my performances last year. But I can’t miss this great opportunity! Strakka Racing is the team which officially represents Zanardi in international competitions. As I realized during the post-season tests I carried out with them, this is an extremely professional outfit with the means to achieve its ambitions. It is not by chance that they were world champions in 2013, with Tom Joyner, and European champions last year, with Callum Ilott!“
Having matured considerably over the 2014 season, Benjamin Lessennes will commence this new campaign with his head screwed tightly on. “I still have a lot to learn and I think that this arrangement will be ideal. Dino Chiesa, the Team Principal, is a leading light in the world of karting. Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Nyck De Vries have often stressed the vital role he played in their careers when he was in charge of their team. Rickard Franchini from Sweden, who is Sporting Director, also has enormous experience. And then my team-mate will be British driver Tom Joyner, KF world champion in 2013. What more could you ask? Being able to compare myself with him will certainly help me to progress, both in my driving and in my approach to racing.“
Also extremely active in other forms of motor sport (single-seater racing, endurance and so on), the Strakka Racing set-up will offer Benjamin some attractive future prospects. “With my manager, Pascal Courrier, we said this would be the icing on the cake. But the primary objective will of course be to achieve good results on the track. I just want the season to begin!“
For the Belgian driver, the 2015 campaign will include some fifteen international races, culminating with the European Championship and three rounds of the World Championship, contested over a single weekend on the Italian circuit at La Conca. The programme will include the majority of the races organized by WSK Promotion, particularly the Vega International Winter Trophy, to be held in mid-January at Adria. In brief, 2015 is only just round the corner!
Info Benjamin Lessennes / © Photo KSP