EU: Ficichella MSI confirms Bianchini for 2008

Fisichella Motor Sport International is pleased to confirm it has signed Pedro Bianchini as part of its driver line-up for the 2008 Formula BMW International Championship. 16-year-old Brazilian Bianchini will be driving alongside previously announced Ollie Millroy.

Pedro began karting in 1999 and had a successful seven year career in his native Brazil. He was four times Sao Paulo State Karting Champion, three times Brazil Cup Karting Champion and four times South of Brazil Karting Champion. He won the 2001 Golden Helmet Award for Best Newcomer of the Year, a prestigious accolade in the awards. He capped a great karting career with overall victory in the 2006 Panamerican Sudam Championship ICC Junior.

He moved to Europe in 2007 as part of the Red Bull Junior Team and embarked on Formula BMW ADAC and took part in the Formula BMW World Final. Competing in the 2008 Formula BMW Championship will mark the next stage of Pedro's single-seater racing career, and he is aiming for a top three championship finish with GP2 race winners FMSI.

The Formula BMW International Championship will kick off in Barcelona, Spain on 27 April.

Pedro Bianchini: "I obviously know FMSI from its success in GP2 and F3000 and it will be a fantastic experience to work with such a professional team. I will begin testing in January to work with the team and engineers and that will be an important preparation for the season. I am aiming for a top three position in the championship and I think I am with a team that can help me achieve that. The Formula BMW International Championship is going to be great for me. We will be racing on some great tracks together with GP2 and F1 and I am very much looking forward to it."

Paolo Coloni, Team Principal: "We met with Pedro in Nurbrugring and I knew him from his karting successes - he is one of the best young drivers in the world. To succeed Pedro needs a strong team with a strong technical package and FMSI can offer just that."

Giancarlo Fisichella: "Pedro has won every major karting event and title in Brazil and he is now counting on FMSI to take him successfully to the competitive world of the open wheel formula. Our experience in international motor racing will help him to achieve his target and we are very happy to welcome him to our family in 2008."

-credit: fisichellamotorsport.com