The rumors had been around for a while, and now it’s official PREMA Racing will join the NTT IndyCar Series from 2025. The Italian team is regarded as one of the premiere teams in the FIA Junior Series ladder. Developing talents like Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon.
PREMA Racing will join the NTT IndyCar Series with a full-time two car line-up. While the team usually operates from their headquarters in Vicenza, Italy the IndyCar project will be operated out of Indiana. Team Chevy will supply the new 2.2-litre twin turbocharged V6 hybrid power units. This exciting news is something IndyCar needed after several misfires over the last few months. Having a prestigious team like PREMA join the series shows the interest from the motorsport world.
The next challenge is around the corner!#PREMARacing will make its #INDYCAR debut as a two-car operation in 2025.
Bring it! 🇺🇸👊 pic.twitter.com/NgJUfBSK2X— PREMA (@PREMA_Team) April 9, 2024
Important Step
Therefor, it’s an important moment for the series. If PREMA proves successful in IndyCar it could be a launching pad for other big European motorsport organizations to make the jump. For drivers, it could also be important. In recent years, IndyCar has seen an influx of former FIA Junior Series drop-outs. Drivers like Callum Illot, Marcus Armstrong, Christian Lundgaard have all proven themselves worthy of an IndyCar seat. Crucially, with PREMA joining it could become a new bridge between the FIA Junior Series and IndyCar.
IndyCar President Jay Frye is happy with PREMA’s entry.
“PREMA Racing, with their global reach and extraordinary presence in open-wheel racing, will be a great addition to our growing and highly competitive paddock. We look forward to seeing Rene and PREMA on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES grid in 2025.”
PREMA Racing links with IndyCar
The Italian team will be new, but there are many well known IndyCar names with a PREMA Racing background.
“With its dedicated approach to young drivers, it produced talents like F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve and INDYCAR SERIES racers like Ryan Briscoe, Felix Rosenqvist, Marcus Armstrong and Callum Ilott.”
The last few names are especially important. Drivers who for whatever reason couldn’t get a chance in Formula 1, despite showing their talent. IndyCar needs to keep proving to be a great option for drivers like this. While it’s still too early to speculate on which drivers PREMA Racing will choose, it would not be surprising to see them select a driver they’ve already worked with in other racing categories.
Perfect time to join?
The IndyCar Series will switch to a new engine formula this season. This gives the opportunity to new teams to join the series without having a massive historical disadvantage. Nobody knows how the new regulations will shape out. Regardless of the fact that there are still some issues that need to be solved. This news marks a great moment for IndyCar. PREMA Racing is a prestigious team with a lot of racing knowledge.
Combined with the potential bridge it could form between European based motorsports and IndyCar there are some great ingredients for success. However, as recent years have shown. IndyCar still needs to find the correct recipe to fully establish their Michelin-Star racing quality.
