The former karting driver and multiple-time World Champion has been involved in RC model racing for years, participating in numerous competitions where he applies his extensive experience in fine-tuning, gained during his karting career. And yes—radio-controlled model racing is motorsport, according to a World Champion. (fm)
Gianluca Beggio’s journey into RC model racing began over thirty years ago, back when he was still racing in the 100 Cadetti class. It all started through a friend of his father, who decided to trade some karting equipment so his own children could race, offering Gianluca’s father his first RC car along with everything needed to get started. "I was immediately hooked, especially because of the setup aspect: I was essentially applying, in miniature, what I was doing on the karting track. Surprisingly, an RC car is much more complex: it has suspension, springs, torsion bars, and differentials—all elements that are not present in a kart. It’s a real racing machine, just in miniature."
Is RC model racing comparable to Motorsport?
"Absolutely. RC racing is motorsport, especially from an engineering perspective. For someone who is already a driver, practicing RC racing allows you to fully understand and combine the two main aspects of racing: fine-tuning (sometimes even designing) and performance—how the car behaves during testing and competition. It provides a complete motorsport experience in every way."
The thrill of competition
"As I got older and turned 18, I started acquiring more professional equipment, made friends at the track, and began competing. I won my first Italian Championship in 1995 in the 1:10 Touring class—the same year I won my first World Championship in karting."
Beggio, a Birel factory driver in the '90s, remains an icon for every karting fanatic. Throughout his career, he raced against—and defeated—several F1 World Champions, including Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
How did you manage to balance both commitments back in the days?
"Keep in mind that karting back then wasn’t what it is today. As factory drivers, we had about 7-8 races per year, and the rest was testing—more than today but not as demanding as racing practically every week. In that scenario, having free weekends and a life outside karting was normal. For me, RC racing became a great way to unwind, and I always found time for it."
How does competitive RC racing work?
"AMSCI (Auto Model Sport Club Italiano) is the main organizer of races in Italy. Your results determine whether you can compete at higher levels. For example, you can’t just pay a fee and sign up for the European Championship. If you win the Italian Championship, you qualify for the European Championship the following year, and potentially the World Championship. Winning the national title also moves you up to the next category within the country. It’s a merit-based system: you don’t get in by paying €10,000—you either earn your spot by winning, or you don’t race. However, there are plenty of opportunities to compete and improve at all skill levels."
Beggio was the Italian national Champion in 2024 and will compete in the European Championship this year
What’s the budget to start and progress in RC racing?
"For casual fun, you can start with under €500. If you want to drive on a track and compete, you’ll need a bit more. A competitive car for national and international races costs about €800 for the kit, €350 for the engine, €300 for steering, brake, and throttle servos, and €700-800 for the remote control. So, around €2,000 to start. Of course, like in karting, you also need spare parts, tires, and possibly a backup engine. But unlike karting, money alone doesn’t dominate: you won’t see someone with unlimited funds changing tires every session to gain an unfair advantage. Most races operate under a parc fermé system, and the €100 entry fee usually includes three sets of tires."
Compared to karting, the costs are on a different level.
[Laughs] "You know what also makes a huge difference? Logistics. With RC racing, everything fits in a car trunk—no need for vans, tents, or all the gear required for karting. You can manage everything on your own, which is a big advantage. Plus, spending more doesn’t necessarily mean better results, since the progression system is merit-based, not equipment-based."
Nitro or Electric? Which is more popular today?
"Like in other areas, purists resist electric, which is why some classes still run nitro. However, electric is gaining ground, especially in the 1:10 Touring class for indoor racing or winter competitions, where noise and exhaust fumes are concerns. If you want to race in winter or bad weather, electric is the way to go."
A mini racetrack: nothing to envy compared to a full-scale circuit
Given your background, what are the similarities and differences between RC racing and karting?
"The main similarity is in setup, where I apply my years of karting experience—things like engine tuning, which behaves similarly in RC cars. As a former driver, I can interpret what’s happening on track, manage racing lines, and even race strategy. The event format is similar to karting, with heats and finals, but in RC racing, finals last 45 minutes plus one lap, requiring pit stops—something karting doesn’t have. Regarding driving itself, nitro-powered RC cars have a two-speed gearbox, similar to the Rotax DD2, but gear shifts are controlled automatically by servos, as are braking and throttle. RC racing helps drivers develop patience and control, which are valuable in karting, where reaction times are faster, and the sense of speed is much greater."
Many F1 drivers have been into RC racing—can it be a training tool?
"Ayrton Senna, the greatest, never missed a chance to pick up a remote control—whether for training or fun, he loved it. More recently, Lewis Hamilton and his brother have been involved in RC racing, and Oscar Piastri is said to have developed his calmness and control from RC racing before karting.
You have to get past the idea that this is just ‘playing.’ Sure, it’s a hobby, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of—it's a legitimate motorsport discipline that teaches and develops skills, whether you’re young or an adult. Did you know that when you buy an RC car, it comes in a box the size of a shoebox? It’s entirely disassembled, with hundreds of tiny parts—you have to build it, make it work. In a time when kids spend all day staring at screens, developing hands-on skills and getting your hands dirty is valuable. RC racing is a great way to do that."
Ayrton Senna was a great enthusiast and active practitioner of radio-controlled model racing
One last question—any chance of seeing you back in a kart seat, maybe in KZ Master?
"Absolutely not. Karting at my age, without proper physical preparation, is brutal. I did just ten laps recently, and it took me a month to recover—I was wrecked. My mind remembers what to do, but without fitness, especially in KZ, you’ll get hurt. Just when I started getting into the groove, I realized it wasn’t a good idea. I still have work to do—I can’t afford injuries!"
After his experiences as a chassis manufacturer with Spirit and as a technical and sporting director at Praga and Birel, Gianluca Beggio is now a Driver Coach—an essential role in today’s vastly different karting world compared to when he raced. Next time you see him at the track, ask him about RC racing—he’s planning to compete in all four rounds of the Italian Championship, the European Championship in Germany, and possibly a World Championship in Chile in November.
If you think you would be interested in trying this out, there is a local on-road racing club here in Calgary. Check out: https://www.carcarcalgary.ca
Current kart club members racing there now are: John Kwong, Joe Chan, Mark Hillier and Jay Poirier.
