Photo: ADAC/Gruppe C Photography
SMP Racing protege Kirill Smal will compete for Prema in selected rounds of the Italian Formula 4 Championship over the rest of 2020, beginning this weekend at Mugello.
Smal, fourth in last year’s Karting World Championship in the OK category, is contesting his maiden single-seater campaign this season following his 15th birthday in May.
So far he has been racing in the ADAC F4 series with R-ace GP – scoring a podium in a rain-hit debut weekend at Lausitz – and sits 11th in the standings after last weekend’s Nurburgring event.
He also raced with the same team in the last Italian F4 round at the Red Bull Ring (scoring a best finish of 18th) but will will drive a fifth Prema car at Mugello alongside fellow single-seater rookies Gabriele Mini, Dino Beganovic, Sebastian Montoya and Gabriel Bortoleto.
“We wish to welcome Kirill to our team and we look forward to working with him at Mugello,” said team boss Angelo Rosin.
“I think our collaboration will help him to make a good step forward, and while fielding five cars for sure will be challenging, there will also be benefits involved so we are confident in our potential ahead of this weekend’s round four.
“It’s great to have SMP Racing on board. They are great partners and we are proud of their involvement.”
Prema already has a relationship with SMP through its F2 racer and 2019 FIA Formula 3 champion Robert Shwartzman.
“I’m happy to line-up for a second racing program this season,” Smal said. “Italian F4 is similar to ADAC F4, but this year it has more participants, so it’s more competitive and that is definitely interesting.
“I’ve taken part in four rounds of the ADAC F4, but there is still a lot to learn and this move will provide me with more experience.
“I’m delighted to drive for Prema Powerteam. It’s a highly-experienced squad and they have been working with SMP Racing for quite a long time. I’m sure that we will get up to speed really quickly.”