The ups and downs of Mugello will welcome PREMA Racing this weekend, and with a solid run so far in the series, featuring multiple wins and plenty of good performances, the team is competing at the Tuscan venue eager to keep and further increase its momentum.
A circuit steeped in motorsport history, Mugello is famous for its medium and high-speed corners flowing in quick succession, making it a tricky challenge especially for newcomers.
Having mastered it in the past, PREMA will field a six-strong lineup in round 4 of the Italian Formula 4 Championship, headlined by series leader Kean Nakamura-Berta. A six-time winner, the Japanese-Slovakian had a strong season so far and is trailed in points by teammate Sebastian Wheldon, who secured three brilliant wins. Both drivers have won in each of the three events held so far. On the other hand, Colombian Salim Hanna experienced a similar prominence in the rookie championship with six class wins and P1 in class, while he also holds fourth in the overall driver championship.
Fellow rookies Zhenrui Chi and Oleksandr Bondarev not only achieved class wins, but have also expressed great potential. On one hand, the Chinese cruised to a spectacular overall win - his first in the series - at Monza, while the Ukrainian delivered positive qualifying runs and has made remarkable steps. Having recently joined the PREMA Racing F4 crew, Frenchman Andrea Dupé will be making his first start with the team in the competitive Italian series with the goal of gaining chemistry and collecting his first points in the championship.
The Mugello weekend will feature a traditional schedule with three races, as the circuit has the capacity to welcome the series’ 40-car grid.
ANGELO ROSIN - Team Founder
"We are heading towards the mid-point of the championship, and with the results we have so far, we are definitely in a good position. However, Mugello is a tricky circuit to get right straight away, and as we saw at Monza, mistakes can always be costly. With three races per weekend, it doesn’t take much to change the balance of the season. So we hope to continue performing with all cars, relative to their specific goals, and be as consistent as possible."