Photo: ACI Sport
Formula Regional European Chamionship points leader Gianluca Petecof has ensured he will be able to contest the second half of the season with the arrival of new sponsorship.
The Ferrari and Shell-backed Brazilian had previously told Formula Scout that he was unsure he would be able to race in all eight rounds of the FREC season with the dominant Prema team without finding additional budget.
In the first nine races of the season he has won four times and claimed five pole positions, having stepped up the championship after two years in Formula 4 where he was the title runner-up in the Italian championship.
“I’m happy to welcome two new partners for the rest of my 2020 season: Matrix Energy and Americanet,” Petecof said to Formula Scout.
“Thankfully it all worked out well for us and I’m looking forward to giving it all on the chase for the title this year!”
Petecof leads fellow Ferrari junior and Prema team-mate Arthur Leclerc by 22 points, with Oliver Rasmussen a further 22 points back in the third of Prema’s cars.
One of Petecof’s expected title threats was Juri Vips, but the Estonian missed the most recent FREC round due to a clashing Formula 2 commitment, and had a troublesome start to the season that dented his hopes of earning FIA superlicence points via the series.
Vips has spoken to Formula Scout about his FREC plans, and if he is unable to make it to Japan for the last four dates of the Super Formula season then he may return to the regional Formula 3 series with KIC Motorsport.