French-Italian star Edoardo Mortara aims to maintain his championship lead at round two of the Formula 3 Euroseries, which takes place at Mugello in Italy this weekend.

Mortara is once more driving for the Bourges-based Signature team, with which he won the rookie title, taking two overall wins, last year. This season, the team is using Volkswagen power for the first time on the 20-race calendar, matched to the latest Dallara chassis.

After two podium finishes at the opening round in Hockenheim, Edoardo is currently in the joint lead of the championship. His objective is to come away from the latest round in Mugello holding onto an advantage if possible.

Mugello, close to Florence, is a technical circuit that is well-known for Formula 1 testing, particularly with Ferrari. There are 15 corners and a long straight, making it a venue that tests the traction and handling of the cars in particular.

It’s also a circuit that Edoardo knows quite well through his days in the Italian Formula Renault Championship two years ago, where he also finished as top rookie. However, with the incredibly competitive state of the Formula 3 Euroseries, nothing can be taken for granted. Although testing and the first race has gone extremely well for the Signature team, the opposition will be out for revenge. It is also still early days for the Volkswagen engine that powers the Signature team: although Volkswagen has a long and distinguished history in Formula 3 racing, this is the new engine’s first full season and there are many things to learn.

“We expect our rivals to be extremely strong, as they were in Germany,” said Edoardo. “If we could get another podium it would be a truly fantastic result, although this is really aiming high. For me, the most important thing will be to try and capitalise upon the good start we have made to the season and consolidate our results. As always, it will be essential to do a good job in qualifying to get the weekend off to the best possible start.”

The weekend will start with a one-hour practice session and a half-hour qualifying session on Friday, to determine the grid for Saturday’s race one. The grid for race two on Sunday is decided by the result of the race on Saturday – but with the top eight grid positions reversed.

For more information please contact:
media@quadrasports.com
www.edoardomortara.com