Photo: Prema
Conrad Laursen, the 2020 Danish Formula 4 champion, will remain at Prema for a second season in the Italian F4 championship.
The 15-year-old joined the team last year for a European F4 programme that focused on Italy, and after a rocky start to his season with an injury he was able to finish ninth in the standings there and took fastest lap in the final race of the year.
He also made two ADAC F4 appearances, with a return of one point, then did the support race to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which marked the competition debut of the new Tatuus T-421 car being introduced to Italian F4 and other series in 2022.
“Very excited to continue my journey with Prema,” said Laursen.
“The first year was absolutely amazing. I learned a lot even though the results were not the ones I wanted, and I felt part of a great family with the team, so it was a very enjoyable experience.”
The Dane, whose father Johnny has raced a Ferrari GT car at the Le Mans 24 Hours, expects “to compete for the championship” this year and he will gain additional experience of the T-421 car by doing the final two rounds of F4 United Arab Emirates next month with Abu Dhabi Racing by Prema.
“The team is delighted to continue working with Conrad, and we are determined to help him to express his best potential in the season ahead,” said Prema team principal Angelo Rosin.
“He is also an extremely valuable asset for Prema because he has speed and a remarkable amount of experience for the age. Having the chance to start the season so early is a bonus, so we will be able to maximise everything and gain good chemistry with the new car.”
Prema’s Italian F4 line-up, which currently consists of Laursen, Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari juniors Rafael Camara and James Wharton, are set to appear in another European F4 series part-time during 2022.