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Zonzini joins Trident for a GP3 campaign in 2013

by Valentin Khorounzhiy

Formula Abarth graduate Emanuele Zonzini has become the first driver announced for Trident Racing in their second year in GP3.

The 18-year-old driver from San Marino has spent his rookie years in Formula Abarth exclusively, achieving fifth in the European standings and third in the Italian standings in 2012, with one win and nine podiums.

Zonzini tested for Lotus and Trident in the post-season GP3 tests and was a touch more impressive with the Italian team.

“2013 is going to?be the most important in my entire career,” stated Zonzini. “I will be on-track in a very demanding championship, and I will face some very talented drivers with previous GP3 experience. I’ll need to familiarise myself?fast with the categorys’ environment, the car, the tracks and I hope to have a great season with Trident in terms of my professional growth and results.”

Trident team boss Maurizio Salvadori added: “We are particularly proud to welcome a talented young driver like Emanuele. He left a very strong impression on the team during last Autumn’s tests, and despite his young age, he showed he has lots of enthusiasm as well as a good professional approach. He’s lucky because his father knows motorsports well and that’s key in a young driver’s growth path. Emanuele still needs to build on?some experience but I’m convinced that, lap after lap, he will improve and start achieving some early satisfactory results?really fast.”

Trident’s rookie year in GP3 was marred by the fact they were the only team consistently wielding two drivers (with three being the norm). Vicky Piria was the only driver in the team to take part in every round, while Antonio Spavone and Giovanni Venturini got part-time campaigns. Despite the efforts of the latter, who scored 31 points in five rounds and finished on the podium twice, Trident ended up ninth and last in the teams’ standings.