2016 CIK-FIA Best-Of: Maik Siebecke: the young tuner of Modena Engines

Under the spotlight thanks to the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship won by Fabian Federer, also 2nd in the CIK-FIA International Super Cup for KZ2 at Kristianstad (SWE), the Italian engine manufacturer Modena Engines relied on the SRP Racing team if Maik Siebecke to take its first win at this level. The 25-year-old German has followed […]

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2016 CIK-FIA Best-Of: Maik Siebecke: the young tuner of Modena Engines

Maik, can we start with your career as a Driver?

– I raced for ten years. I quickly moved to KZ2 after two years in Junior. I was fast, but also very often unlucky, so my prize list is not very full! I did two years in the European Championship, I was 3rd at Wackersdorf, and I won three of my four heats at Kristianstad. I finished 6th in the Championship in 2014 and 10th last year.

How did you start your own very young team?

– I created SRP, Siebecke Racing Parts, based in Germany in Hanover, at 18. The team immediately attracted increasingly numerous drivers. Always using CRG, I was convinced by the Modena engines during a test at Lonato. I started working with Modena Engines as support in Germany before becoming the official importer of the brand for Germany, the Netherlands and Russia, where we won the national championship with Maxim Martynyuk. SRP provides a full rental service for racing engines which represents a significant part of our business.

Who supervises the preparation of KZ engines?

– I manage this area myself. I spend more than half of my time in engine development. I learned the basics of the craft very young, at 16 with my father and one of his friends, an experienced motorcycle tuner. I managed to prepare my own KZ engines. Apparently it worked as we won the European Championship this year, and a 2nd place in the International Super Cup. This is a great reward for a private team!

Was it hard to give up driving yourself?

– I resolved to give up my racing career to develop the team this year because I had exceeded the limit of my ability in leading the two areas. Fabian Federer is a longtime friend and we had often talked jokingly of an opportunity to race with my team. But this winter, we considered this possibility more seriously. Giancarlo Tinini gave his agreement and that’s how Fabian is now at SRP as a driver, and also responsible for our Italian customers.

What is the future for SRP?

– I am delighted with our performance this year and hope to have results as good next year, but you know, in karting, the years aren’t necessarily alike because the competition is very tight. KZ2 remains our priority, but we have started working in Junior and Mini to gradually expand our offer.

Best-of CIK-FIA 2016 / © Photo KSP

Publié le 21/12/2016