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Michael Patrizi To Race In 2007 F3 Euroseries With Prema Powerteam PDF Print E-mail
Wednesday, 07 March 2007
Australian international racing star Michael Patrizi has today announced the most significant move of his young motorsport career by signing with championship-winning Prema Powerteam for the 2007 F3 Euro Series Championship.

The 22-year-old West Australian will drive for the Prema Powerteam, one of only two squads to ever win the prestigious F3 Euro Series crown, the most competitive Formula 3 championship in the world.

Italian-based Prema Powerteam won the inaugural F3 Euro Series Championship in 2003 with Australian Ryan Briscoe. Dutch driver Renger Van der Zande will join Patrizi at Prema this season.

The championship is regarded as the stepping stone to Formula 1, with 2005 Euro Series champion Lewis Hamilton going on to win the 2006 GP2 championship and will race for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team in the FIA Formula One World Championship this season.

Patrizi will drive the F306 Mercedes-Dallara of Prema Powerteam, importantly becoming the first Australian to drive a Mercedes-powered Formula 3 car. The Mercedes-HWA engine is widely regarded as the most powerful in international Formula 3 racing, making it a vital ingredient to any championship challenge.

The F3 Euro Series is held on some of the premier international circuit in Europe, including the Formula One venues of Hockenheim and Nurburgring in Germany, Barcelona in Spain and Magny-Cours in France.

Patrizi carries strong momentum into season 2007 having kept up a busy schedule of international testing and racing in the second half of last year. Patrizi finished eighth in the Formula BMW UK Championship, starred on his Champ Car Atlantic debut with Team Australia, became the first Australian to drive a GP2 car at Paul Ricard in France and impressed with quick times in World Series by Renault testing.

One of Patrizi’s main rivals in this year’s F3 Euro Series Championship will be ASM Formule 3 driver Nico Hulkenberg, who currently leads the A1 Grand Prix series for Germany.

Michael Patrizi – Prema Powerteam Mercedes-Dallara F306

“I am really excited about the opportunity to be driving for a championship-winning team in Prema in the world’s most competitive F3 Championship,” said Patrizi.

“Angelo Rosin at Prema has been fantastic to deal with and they have shown their interest in me since my World Series by Renault test at Paul Ricard in France back in November.

“I will be doing everything I possibly can to make my first year in Formula 3 the best year of my career to date.

“Together with the great relationship I have with my new team, Prema has with the best engine manufacturer in Formula 3 in Mercedes Benz. So horsepower won’t be an issue.

“I am looking forward to the start of the season with our first test coming next week at Hockenheim. I can’t wait to get into the car and start working with the crew at Prema.”

Angelo Rosin – Prema Powerteam Team Principal

“For Prema, the arrival of Michael Patrizi will give us the chance to work with a young and ambitious driver who has demonstrated potential in the junior championships in which he learnt his trade,” said Rosin.

“We will do everything possible to give him the best chance to learn and obtain the results that we both hope for.

“With Michael Patrizi we’ve signed a driver who already succeeded in proving his skills in the lower categories.”

MICHAEL PATRIZI – FAST FACTS

Date of Birth: 4th May 1984
Place of Birth: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Lives:Perth, Western Australia
Occupation: Professional Racing Driver
Hobbies: Karting, cricket, wakeboarding, following all forms of motorsport and training and keeping fit.

2006
- First Australian to ever drive a GP2 Series car, testing for David Price Racing at Paul Ricard in France
- Fastest Australasian driver in World Series by Renault testing at Paul Ricard in France, driving for Victory Engineering
- Eighth on Champ Car Atlantic Championship debut with Team Australia in Montreal, Canada
- Eighth in Formula BMW UK Championship, driving on fully-funded deal with BMW Motorsport (third at Croft round)

2005
- Rookie Champion and overall runner-up Formula BMW Asia Championship (eight podiums)
- Fifth at debut event for Team Australia’s Formula BMW USA team in Denver, Colorado

2004
- Victorian and NSW State Formula Ford Championships (winner at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit)

2003
- Official Factory Driver for Birel Motorsport in CIK-FIA Karting World Championships

2002
- Australian Karting Champion
- West Australian Karting Champion
- Runner-Up in CIK-FIA World Cup in Suzuka, Japan (Intercontinental A)

2007 F3 Euro Series Schedule
Round 1/2 April 22 Hockenheim, Germany
Round 3/4 June 10 Brands Hatch, Great Britain
Round 5/6 June 24 Norisring, Germany
Round 7/8 July 1 Magny-Cours, France
Round 9/10 July 15 Mugello, Italy
Round 11/12 July 29 Zandvoort, Holland
Round 13/14 September 2 Nurburgring, Germany
Round 15/16 September 23 Barcelona, Spain
Round 17/18 September 30 Nogaro, France
Round 19/20 October 28 Hockenheim, Germany

FIA Intercontinental Cup – Macau F3 Grand Prix
November 15-18 Macau, China

Previous F3 Euro Series Champions:
2006 – Paul di Resta (ASM Formule 3)
2005 – Lewis Hamilton (ASM Formule 3)
2004 – Jamie Green (ASM Formule 3)
2003 – Ryan Briscoe (Prema Powerteam)

F3 Euro Series Car Specifications:
Prema Powerteam uses Dallara F306 chassis and Mercedes-HWA engines in the Formula 3 Euro Series. The Dallara and Mercedes chassis-engine package is widely regarded as the best combination in Formula 3 racing anywhere in the world.

Prema Powerteam Mercedes Dallara F306

Wheelbase: 2710mm
Front Track: 1580mm
Rear Track: 1465mm
Overall Length: 4188mm
Overall Width: 1825mm
Overall Height: 950mm
Weight: 550 kilograms including driver
Front Suspension: Pushrod twin damper system
Rear Suspension: Pushrod twin damper system
Chassis: Carbon sandwich with AL/Nomex honeycomb
Bodywork: Class fibre composite with Nomex honeycomb
Composites: Hexcel-Delta pre-preg
Gearbox: Hewland sequential six forward gears plus reverse
Gearbox Internals: Hewland gears and differential
Springs: Eibach 3”/36mm ID
Dampers: Koni 2812 bump and rebound adjustable
Fuel Cell: Premier – FT3
Extinguisher: Lifeline (electric operated)
Steering Wheel: Sparco
Quick Release: SPA-Desing
Filters: FIAAM/Dallara
Wheels: 9” front & 10.5” rear
Brakes: Brembo
Battery: Deka
Seat ! belts: TRW-Sabelt
Engine: Mercedes-HWA
Horsepower: Approximately 230hp
 
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