Italia: Francesco Castellacci joins Prema Powerteam

Prema Powerteam F3 Team is today pleased to announce that Francesco Castellacci is to become one of the two Italian squad's official 2009 Driver. The Roman ace will be racing on a Fiat FTP-powered Dallara F308 in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, where the team will be back to repeat the titles won in 1990, 1998 and 1999. Castellacci, born April 4, 1987, is coming back for a second season in the series after taking 4th place in 2008 and scoring 6 podium finishes and two pole positions. He started racing in 2006 by entering Formula Azzurra, where he swept 8th place at the end of the season. He opted to increase his experience in 2007 by switching to the British Formula 3 Championship. Everyone at Prema Powerteam is sure that the arrival of Francesco will be the right way to aim at the top after 10 years of absence.

Angelo Rosin - Team Principal

"We're really excited to have Castellacci on board in 2009. We're also really cool, because his experience will be a great basis to start on. He's extremely focused and professional. Plus, he comes from an high-level 2008 season and he'll be able to provide us with a strong feedback through the year. We expect to be competitive since the beginning. I'm proud that our talks with such a good driver ended soon and positively."

Francesco Castellacci

"I would like to thank the Team Prema for offering me this important opportunity, in a category of important growth such as the Formula 3 Italian Championship. After looking at different solutions during the winter, I decided to remain in Italy in order to capitalize all the experience acquired until now in the Italian and British Championship and finalize in the best way my Formula 3 career. I am confident that Angelo Rosin's structure is the best to continue my professional development and would like to thank all the people who have supported me with the best possible results."

-credit: fc