Photo: Renault Sport/DPPI
International Draco Racing are set to retain Nico Muller and Andre Negrao as their drivers for the 2013 season of Formula Renault 3.5.
Negrao has confirmed that the Italian-based team, owned by his father Guto, will continue to provide him with a seat.
A statement on behalf of the Brazilian driver revealed that he had the choice between FR3.5 and GP2, in the end settling for the former due to the differences in car speed, tyres and necessary funding.
Negrao, 20, will contest his third season of Formula Renault 3.5, having finished the previous two in 20th and 15th respectively. His maiden podium in the series came in 2012 at Nurburgring, where he finished the second race of the weekend in third. His overall points tally last year amounted to 36.
“I have to do a much better season than 2012,” he admitted. “[I had many] electrical problems with my car and the end result ended up not reflecting the potential of both mine and the team’s. In the later part of the calendar, we identified and solved the defects. A tendency therefore is marked evolution. I think that staying in the top five is an achievable goal.
“Our car is so fast, maybe a little more, as the GP2. Moreover, the GP2 tyres are complicated, because the loss of performance is huge. And you can not leave out the other, no less important: Formula Renault 3.5 costing one million euros less.”
While not officially confirmed, Muller’s contract extension is painted as the most likely option for the team.
“He is a very good driver and our relationship is great,” said Negrao about his Swiss teammate. “I brought him to Brazil to spend the holidays at the beach with us.”
Muller, also 20, finished his rookie season of FR3.5 in ninth, recording a second-place finish in the first race at Nurburgring and scoring 78 points overall.
International Draco Racing placed eighth in the Teams’ Standings in 2012.