Italian Formula 4 regulars Federico Malvestiti and Petr Ptacek will both graduate to the Formula Renault Eurocup this year with debuting team BhaiTech Racing.
Malvestiti, 18, had a breakthrough season in Italian F4 last year, taking his first win after 61 attempts. He was on the podium a further free times, took two poles and was sixth in the standings in his fourth year in the championship.
The Jenzer Motorsport driver had a taste of more powerful machinery during the final-ever GP3 test at Abu Dhabi last December, but has elected to join BhaiTech for the Italian team?s first taste of single-seaters outside of F4.
New team-mate Ptacek is sticking with the team that powered him to the Italian F4 Rookie Cup title last year, in a maiden season of car racing which warranted six overall podiums and 11 class wins.
The 16-year-old is currently competing in the Toyota Racing Series with Giles Motorsport ? securing his first podium at the most recent Hampton Downs round ? in a bid to expand his knowledge ahead of the 2019 season. He has also been competing in the MRF Challenge, securing a podium at the opening round at Dubai, in order to gain more track time over the European winter.
BhaiTech?s third driver is yet to be announced, while it has already hired Umberto Laganella for its Italian F4 squad.