But will both of it’s Bowtie’ entries make the
Show?
Those of Y’all following IndyCar closely, will
already know of this year’s newest IndyCar team’s extensive, and impressive
pedigree. As Prema Racing is an European powerhouse in the various Feeder Series,
reportedly having fielded 28 drivers in nine championships for 2023.
Prema is the reigning Teams Champion in the
FIA’s Formula 3 championship, where it fields three entries. The Nos. 1-3 for
Italy’s Brando Badoer, Mexico’s Noel Leon and the totally unheard of Yank’ Ugo
Ugochukwu.
As Brando’s name was instantly familiar to
Mwah. As yes, His father is former F1 driver Luca Badoer. Whilst I’m
Arse-sumeing that Montoyer’ feller’s surname below needs no explanation, Ci?
Prema also has Sebastian Montoya and Gabriele
Mini racing for them in Formula 2. The FIA’s final rung on it’s ladder to thee
pinnacle ‘O motorsports, aka Formula 1.
Prema has won far too many championships to
bother typing all of them here. But to note just some of the accomplished
driving talent over the years, here’s some that stand out to me.
Current Prema Racing IndyCar Sporting Director
Ryan Briscoe won the 2001 Italian Formula Renault and 2003 Formula 3 Euro
Series titles. K-Squared’, aka Kamui Kobayashi claimed the 2005 Italian Formula
Renault and Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championships.
Esteban Ocon, Felix Rosenqvist, Lance Stroll
and Mick Schumacher won the 2014-2015-2016-2018 FIA Formula 3 European
Championship crown respectively.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli won both the 2022 Italian
and ADAC Formula 4 titles. And Stroll
and Marcus Armstrong won the Italian F4 title with Prema in 2014 and 2017
respectively.
Pierre Gasly won the 2016 GP2 title, today’s
Formula 2 Championship. Which the former Italian “Powerteam” has also won with
Charles Leclerc in 2017, Mick Schumacher in 2020 and Oscar Piastri in 2021.
Yet cynics will be quick to point out that
European Feeder Series success doesn’t guarantee you anything in IndyCar, with
Carlin’s quick demise being the catalyst to this point. Remember then Y’all
with Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball?
While I won’t lament over the legendous’
engineer Michael Cannon’s hasty exodus prior to the season’s start after
signing on as Prema’s Head of Engineering.
Prema secured what appears for now to be the
final two IndyCar engine leases with Chevrolet, even though they’re currently
the only non charter team in IndyCar. Having inked two of it’s former ladder
drivers to race for them Stateside. Presumably on de riggour multi-year
contracts…
Callum Ilott is the team leader, since we all
know about His struggles with Juncos Hollinger Racing, (JHR) where Ilott made
His IndyCar debut at season’s end in 2021 with a three race “warm-up” on the
West coast.
Ilott finished fourth overall for Prema
Powerteam in the 2017 Formula 3 European championship with six wins and six
podium finishes. He was also a Ferrari Driver Academy member between 2017-2021.
Along with being both Scuderia Ferrari and Alfa Romeo Racin’s reserve driver in
Formula 1. Making His (Free Practice) FP1 debut at the 2021 Portuguese Grand
Prix for Alfa Romeo.
Ilott finished Vice Champion, Err runner-up to
that year’s Formula 2 Champion, Mick Schumacher in 2020. Before gravitating to
IndyCar, making His debut for JHR at Portland late 2021.
It all went pear-shaped for Ilott at JHR in
April, 2023 at the IMS open test, where the team didn’t believe the Englishman
telling them the chassis had a major, diabolical flaw. Which the team finally
relented and reluctantly built Him another Dallara DW12 chassis, with Ilott
vindicating Himself with a 12th place finish in that year’s Indianapolis 500.
As Ilott has contested three races at Mother
Speedway, with a best finish of 11th last year at Arrow Mclaren. And teamed
with His former JHR race engineer, will hopefully shepherd both Prema cars into
this year’s Indy 500.
Israeli born Russian driver Robert Shwartzman
is the team’s rookie driver, who first raced for Prema in the 2018 Formula 3
European Championship. The following year, Shwartzman claimed the inaugural FIA
Formula 3 Championship title driving for the Prema Powerteam, before graduating
to Formula 2.
Shwartzman was paired with the next two year
Formula 2 Championship winners, i.e.; Mick Schumacher and Oscar Piastri at
Prema, before the FIA banned Russian drivers from participating in 2022.
Shwartzman, a la Ilott was a Ferrari Driver Academy
member, also between 2017-2022, before being dismissed in 2023. Continued to
serve as a Ferrari F1 reserve driver that year, before moving to Sports Cars
for 2024. Driving the third AF Corse Ferrari 499P Hypercar entry.
As the two Prema Racing IndyCar drivers were
part of the Ferrari Driver Academy’s 2017 class, which included Enzo Fittipaldi
and Marcus Armstrong.
Ironically, Shwartzman competed against Ilott
in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) last season. With Ilott scoring
Porsche’s first, and only to date privateer victory at thee Mighty Spa, aka Six
Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. With Ilott driving for Hertz Team Jota last year,
which has become the factory Cadillac effort this season in WEC, where le
Hamburgular’, aka Sealmeister B’, nee Sebastien Bourdais has replaced Him…
Thus, it will be fascinating to see how Prema Racing fares at this year’s 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. If both cars qualify and how their Month of May pans out. For which I hope both drivers make the “Show” and have a successful race outing.
