Dino Zamparelli will race in the GP3 Series this season for the Marussia Manor Racing team.
The 20-year-old from Bristol competed in the FIA Formula Two Championship in 2012, finishing eighth overall with two podium finishes.
Prior to that he was the Formula Renault BARC Champion in 2011 and claimed the Ginetta Junior title back in 2008.
Zamparelli is the first driver to be confirmed for the Marussia Manor team for the 2013 campaign, with pre-season testing starting at Estoril tomorrow (Wednesday). Their leading 2012 driver Tio Ellinas tested with them at the end of last year along with Nicolas Costa, Patryk Szczerbinski and Adderley Fong.
“I am very excited and proud to be competing in the GP3 Series with Marussia Manor Racing,” said Zamparelli. “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.”
The GP3 team boss Pete Sliwinski added: “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.”
