Italian racer David Fumanelli will continue racing in GP3 in 2013, having signed a contract with Trident.
In his previous single-seater career, the 20-year-old Fumanelli spent three years racing in European F3 Open (finishing eighth, third and second in the standings) before finally graduating to GP3. In 2012, he was part of the MW Arden lineup, alongside eventual champion Mitch Evans and Matias Laine, and scored a maiden podium at Valencia on his way to eleventh in the standings. He impressed in post-season testing with Arden – even setting a new track record for GP3 at Estoril during the final day of the testing – but was not re-signed by the team.
“It hasn’t been an easy winter because I struggled to put the strings together?for a 2013 programme,” Fumanelli admitted. “The turning point has been a visit to the Trident headquarters. I’ve been very impressed by the facilities and met highly motivated staff. In addition to that, the investment made in terms of developing the new car has been huge.
“I already started to work with the simulator, luckily I live very close to the team ‘s base and I’m sure that we’ll be performing great this season. We’ll be on-track with a new car, but the experience made last year will be useful too. I can say I’m expecting a top-notch season. I want to be a contender in all races and reap the benefits at the end of the season in order to be at the front end of the charts.”
Fumanelli is the second driver to be confirmed by Trident, after the team announced the signing of Formula Abarth graduate Emanuele Zonzini a week ago. In 2012, Trident Racing finished the GP3 season ninth in the teams’ standings.