Banbury, UK
Tuesday 19 February 2013, 14.00hrs GMT
Marussia Manor Racing GP3, part of the Marussia F1 Team Young Driver Programme, is pleased to confirm the first announcement regarding its 2013 driver line-up.
20 year old Anglo-Italian Dino Zamparelli has signed for the GP3 squad and will begin testing with effect from the start of the first pre-season event in Estoril tomorrow.
Pete Sliwinski, Team Principal, Marussia Manor Racing GP3
“We are very pleased to welcome the first of our drivers for the 2013 GP3 season and as a British team it will be nice to have a British driver in the fold. Dino is an exciting young talent who has demonstrated in Formula Renault the commitment and determination we need to help us fight for wins again this season.”
Dino Zamparelli
"I am very excited and proud to be competing in the GP3 Series with Marussia Manor Racing. We have been working extremely hard over the winter to achieve the seat and this is a dream come true to be able to get everything off the ground with the help of my Bristol based investors. GP3 has proved to be a very strong feeder series and a perfect proving ground for drivers looking to work their way up the ladder towards Formula 1.
“I'm very excited to be getting in the car at Estoril for testing and of course at the first round of the championship in Barcelona. Everything will be new for me, but I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and attacking the challenge head-on.
"Marussia Manor Racing have a great foundation which they have been building on for the last few years in GP3 and I'm looking forward to helping to maintain that momentum. I'm sure with the team we can develop a car that will be fast enough to challenge for wins.
“For the first time in my career, I'll actually have a proper pre-season testing programme and I will have time to develop with the car and the team - so I can't wait! I go into every championship with the title as my main focus; and that's exactly what I'll be targeting.”