Rodolfo Gonzalez will drive for Trident Racing in 2011, the Italian GP2 team have announced. The Venezuelan will partner Stefano Coletti at the team for both the Asia and Main Series campaigns.
Gonzalez has raced for Trident on one previous occasion – a one-off appearance for the team at the Nurburgring in 2009. After racing full-time for Arden International in 2010, Gonzalez returned to Trident for the final day of the end-of-season tests at Abu Dhabi in November.
The 24-year-old, who is backed by the PDVSA oil company, is pleased to be racing for Trident in 2011. “I’m really happy to have become part of the Trident Racing family,” he said. “I was persuaded this was the right choice since last season, but circumstances prevented us from being able to work together. I was really happy to see how much the team wanted me to be part of them, and that’s been a key element in reaching the agreement. Having a team that trust you it’s even more important than a great car.
“Both me and all the members of Trident Racing have a huge determination in being clear candidates for some great results. Since last November’s test at Abu Dhabi, the feedback has been greatly encouraging, as we clocked the 5th fastest laps of the whole four days. My dream is to end the 2011 season into the top-5 in points. I know it won’t be easy, but a really motivated team-driver combination can always lead to some surprise. That’s what I hope for.”
Team boss Maurizio Salvadori commented on his team's driver lineup for the coming season. “I’m really satisfied to have with us a driver like Rodolfo, who proved, during the latest winter test he entered with our team, to have huge determination, and a strong will to emerge at the top. This kind of determination in chasing some great results clearly fits with our expectations for this year. I believe that the Gonzalez/Coletti duo will constitute an ideal combination for our team. We’ll be able to count on a really motivated racer with a one-year experience in the championship, plus a really focused rookie who proved extremely fast in any championship he entered. I’m really confident and optimist by looking forward to the upcoming challenges we’re going to face, and I want to take this occasion to thank all the components of my team for the great job done lately. I want to wish them the best possible results for this season.”
