These past few weeks have been very busy for me, and not only because of the lift in restrictions imposed in Italy after the Covid-19 pandemic.

I’m about to finish my MBA program at the Bologna Business School, which means that my return to “normal life” is getting closer and closer. It has been nice to go back to studying for a year, and it has definitely been a welcome break from the routine of working and travelling around Europe.

The final part of the MBA is supposed to be an internship, ideally in one of the companies that sponsors the program. As our focus has been on supercars and motorsport, the usual suspects are the ones that can be found in the so-called Italian Motor Valley: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Dallara, Alpha Tauri, etc.

It is not an easy time for people looking for a new professional opportunity. Especially in the automotive industry, times are tough, and they will be for a while. These times, however, also offer opportunities for those who are willing to take a risk.

I’ve been developing an idea of a racing team over the last two-three weeks. The goal is to contest the 2021 FIA Italian Formula 4 championship, with at least one car. To say that it will be a difficult endeavor is a great understatement. There is a small team of people, however, who are ready to get behind this idea, and will give their best shot at making it happen.

The sheer amount of things to consider can be overwhelming, especially when one does not have previous experience in car racing. I’m confident though that we will be able to make up for it with talent, grit, and an innovative mindset.

Over the past few days I’ve been thinking that effectively I’ve been working as a “mini Team Principal” for an infant team. This has been already a very fulfilling experience, even if everything is still on paper at the moment. Even if this entrepreneurial project does not eventually take off, I will still feel enriched by the experience.

There are a lot of people that I’ve been talking to over the phone during these last two weeks, ranging from potential sponsors, to suppliers, and staff from my business school. Many of them have been very helpful and available, which I really appreciate.

What happens day after day now is usually a mixture of traditional business plan writing, networking, impostor syndrome and emotional rollercoaster. Massive respect for all the real entrepreneurs out there, who start from nothing and have to gather by themselves all that’s necessary to start their business. It’s not easy.

It is, however, extremely motivating. This is the spark that I’ve felt I missed in the last years. I don’t think I’ve ever worked with so much passion on something, without caring about the time of the day, or if it’s a weekend or not.

Surely this initial “thrust” will eventually die, and other types of feelings will kick in. I will need to understand how to balance this venture with my current work commitments. This is now my best chance at entering the world of motorsport, and do it from the front door.

Sure, it will not be the glamorous Formula 1 experience that I was dreaming of when I signed up for this MBA. It will be something that I personally will be able to create, though, and that means much more to me than just boasting a famous name on my CV.

I’m looking forward to the challenge, and hope that I’ll be able to post more and more about this over the following months.

The helmet visor is down, we’re on the starting grid.