Dear Drivers, Teams and Organisers,

As you all know, I have always been a karting supporter, a discipline that taught me the basics of motor sport driving and helped me to build exceptional experience, before a long and exciting career in car racing.

Today, the launch of GRANDS PRIX OPEN Karting FFSA marks the creation of a modern vision of your favourite sport, conceived by Thierry Germanovitch and the organising team, 13ème Avenue. A vision that I share, that I support and that, I hope, will allow most of you to experience some unforgettable moments, and some of you to get ready for a brilliant career in car racing.

For these reasons, but also because karting is, most of all, an extraordinary school of life, I have been pleased to accept to support the launch of the new GRANDS PRIX OPEN Karting FFSA 2009.

I wish you an excellent season and I hope to see you soon on the tracks of the GPOs!