Reigning GP2 Champion joins AC Milan for 2009 Superleague Formula

Giorgio Pantano

Former Grand Prix driver and reigning GP2 Series champion Giorgio Pantano is the latest star driver to join Superleague Formula. The 30-year-old Italian has signed to race for his favorite team AC Milan in this year’s eagerly anticipated championship, which kicks off at Magny-Cours in France on 28 June.

AC Milan was one of the front-runners throughout the inaugural season when Dutchman Robert Doornbos (another man with F1 pedigree now racing in IndyCars) won three races and took the club to third place in the final standings – a result the highly respected and experienced Pantano is hoping to better in 2009.

“I’m not coming just to compete, I’m coming because I want to win races and hopefully the title – I’ve made that very clear to the team and they are determined to support me," said Pantano who is now eager to get behind the wheel of the V12 powered Superleague race car for the first time. “I’m very excited about this new challenge and the car is clearly very exciting with 750 horsepower – I’m really looking forward to racing it. I still need to meet the race team and those at the football club, but I’ve talked to them all on the ’phone and everyone is really up for this. I’m a passionate AC Milan fan, so this is very special for me."

Belgian-based Azerti Race Automotive will manage the AC Milan entry. Azerti is also managing the PSV Eindhoven entry – runner-up in the 2008 Superleague Formula championship.

“I congratulate those at Azerti who have been working very hard to bring Giorgio into Superleague Formula," said Robin Webb, Competitions Director at Superleague Formula. “Giorgio isn’t the first Formula One driver to race in Superleague Formula but, as the reigning GP2 Series champion, he is probably the most significant addition to our grid to date. His presence further underlines Superleague Formula’s escalating position within motor sport as well as its appeal to world class drivers who enjoy not only our unique fan-friendly race formats but also competing in a high-tech single-seater race car powered by a superb V12 engine developing more than 750bhp. Giorgio is a proven winner at the highest level and I’m sure he will do AC Milan proud on and off the track."

PROFILE
Name: Giorgio Pantano
Age: 30 (born 4 February 1979)
Home town: Padua, Italy
Lives: Padua, Italy
Height: 1.66m
Weight: 66kg
Interests: All motor sports, golf, football
Website: www.GiorgioPantano.it