Francesco Dracone has joined Auto GP for the 2011 season, together with the Emmebi Motorsport team.
The Italian driver raced in two rounds of the IndyCar Series in 2010, competing at the Mid-Ohio and Infineon road courses for Conquest Racing. For 2011 he returns to Europe and a series that he raced in during its previous guise of Euroseries 3000, between 2006 and 2009.
For the latter two years of that stint he drove for Emmebi Motorsport, finishing seventh in the 2009 drivers' standings. The Massimo Beacco-run team and Dracone are now reunited for their return to the Enzo Coloni-run series.
“The 20 days to Monza will feel very long,” said Dracone. “I would like the Championship to start tomorrow, as I want to feel the huge power of the Zytek engine again. Looking to the season I’m sure that I can do well and that together with Massimo Beacco and his technical staff we will do a very good job. I know them from a very long time, and this gives me a lot of confidence.”
Beacco said: “I am really looking forward to racing in Auto GP. The car, the engine and the organization are the cream of the crop, and so is the TV coverage thanks to Eurosport. When together with Francesco we decided to commit to high level motorsport for 2011, we had different options including another season in USA, but we immediately felt that Auto GP was the way to go.”
Coloni commented: “I’m happy to welcome again into the championship a tight-knit pair as Dracone and Emmebi Motorsport. I saw Francesco racing and improving a lot in 2008 and 2009, so I’m very curious to see what impact the American experience had on his growth as an all-round racer and on his driving style. Looking at the team, I know Massimo Beacco very well and I’m sure that the team will provide a top-notch job, giving Dracone a very good car.”