04th October 2024: A pair of racing drivers with different but important sporting backgrounds, united by having experienced the many facets of motorsport. Stefano raced with off-road bikes, touring cars and off-road cars right up to Porsche 911s in the GT championship. Kevin on the other hand was a leading racing driver on the Formula racing circuit in Italy and abroad. He also raced Porsche 911s, but in the Carrera Cup. Today Stefano and Kevin are back in the driving seat united by their passion for classic Alfa Romeos racing in the Alfa Revival Cup.
Let’s go and find out more about them, starting with Stefano.
How did your adventure start out in motorsports?
“I started racing motorbikes 49 years ago, first in Audax races and then Regularity rallies with Ancillotti and Gilera bikes. My first experience with a car was in 1975 behind the wheel of an A112 Abarth. After a time away from racing I started off-roading again in 1985, taking part in off-road races until 1992, the year I stopped racing again. Those races lasted several days, usually over a week and they were mainly in Africa. There was no GPS and the only way of knowing where I was going was by using a compass: it was a real adventure. I restarted again in 2000, racing both bikes and cars. In 2001 I started racing successfully in the GT world with a Porsche 911, culminating in 2013 with a victory in the targa tricolore and then I stopped in 2019. Since 2022 I have had a new challenge: the Alfa Revival Cup, the championship that was recommended by Marco from the AMG RS team.”
Would you define your involvement in motorsport as a hobby or a profession?
“Mostly a hobby. There was a time when I was involved in the off-road world where I was a professional driver because I was also racing with Clay Regazzoni in a Mercedes Class G.”
What does racing mean to you?
“Experiencing the sensation of speed and racing against others. It is something that I enjoy and it is important to me as a person.”
What is the best part of a race?
“If it is a Sprint, the start; if it’s an Endurance race, its doing everything to be able to make it to the finish line in one piece.”
What is the most memorable race you have competed in?
“The last race in the GT 2013 calendar in Misano. Winning the race meant winning the title too. It was really special because the championship was decided in that race: before the green light I was second place in the ranking, after the chequered flag I was the champion.”
Why did you choose to race in the Alfa Romeo Revival Cup?
“I was persuaded to take part by the owner of the AMG RS team, also because I like classic cars. It was a natural choice because I believe the GTAm is a real racing car. These cars served as a school for many talented drivers who even made it to Formula 1. I also like the “vintage” driving feeling, having to deal with the brakes, the clutch and the gearbox without electronic aids”
What objectives have you set yourself for this season?
“I want to finish in the “top five” in the overall ranking.”
Now let’s move on to Kevin Giovesi, when did you start racing?
“When I was 8 years old with go-karts, starting with Regional races (100 cc junior) and then I won that championship and moved on to National races. At 15 years old I started racing in the Swiss Formula BMW championship which I won. At 16 years old I was racing in the Italian Formula 3 championship. In my first season I was second among the newcomers, while in the second season I came sixth in the overall championship. I then went to race in Spain still in Formula 3 and I won the championship in 2012. In 2013 I moved to Formula 2, then to Auto GP, winning 3 races. From 2015-16 I raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia. From 2009 to 2014 I was a professional driver, now it’s a hobby where I can have fun.”
What does racing mean to you?
“It gives me the incentive to give my all, to achieve the best possible.”
What is the best part of a race?
“The start, it’s just so thrilling.”
What is the most memorable race you have competed in and why?
“The last race in the Italian Formula 3 season in Monza: I started last and I managed to win the race.”
Why did you choose the Alfa Revival Cup?
“The AMG RS team is based in my hometown, they knew about me and what I had done and invited me to take part in the Alfa Revival Cup. I accepted because I wanted to get back to racing.”
What objectives have you set yourself for the 2024 season?
“To get better together, both myself and Stefano as well as the team.”
Where does your passion for the world of motorsports come from?
“From the fact that I grew up on a farm among tractors and off-road cars: there were always vehicles in motion. One day by chance I tried a go-kart in a carpark and I fell in love with the feeling. I am still a big fan of Formula cars because they are a real thrill and have a great grip on the road.”
