Piria joins GP3 after two seasons in Formula Abarth in her native Italy - Photo Credit: ACI/CSAI/Formula Abarth
Trident Racing have signed Italian female racer Vicky Piria as the first of their drivers for their new GP3 Series squad.
18-year-old Piria, who was born in Milan to a British mother, has contested the Italian-based Formula Abarth series for the past two seasons – scoring four top ten finishes last year.
Trident have taken over the Addax GP3 entry for this year, and ran another Italian female driver in post-season testing, in the form of Superstars Series race winner Michela Cerruti. Piria will be the first female to race in the GP3 Series, and will drive the car for the first time when pre-season testing gets underway at Estoril next week.
“After ending the 2011 season I had the chance to test a Formula 3 car as I saw that as a possible chance for my open-wheel career,” explained Piria. “When Trident Racing explained me the details of their GP3 Series program though, I immediately knew that it was the right thing to do for me.
“I know that there will be many tough aspects to overcome, especially because there will be a lot of more experienced drivers among my opponents. That said, I feel no pressure. I know I can afford a learning year and I’m aware that my goal for 2012 will be to improve step-by-step every lap. I want to learn the tracks, which are almost unknown to me, and a car that I haven’t tried before.
“I know I can rely on the help of Trident Racing’s engineers. We immediately got in touch with each other and I wasn’t scared at all in signing with a team I never tested with. I’m excited by the idea of racing in the same events of Formula 1, and I believe that every driver aiming at the most prestigious series in the world knows that GP3 and GP2 are some true stepping stones.”
