The Swiss driver announces his deal with Kessel Racing at the Casinò di Lugano
“Double or quits?", asked Italian TV’s great Mike Bongiorno. And the answer of the best competitors was: “I’ll double, of course!” And this is in fact the big news announced at Alex Fontana’s 2015 season presentation at Lugano’s Casinò.
> Photogallery (Foto Suissesport, Fotopucci, Roberto Albizzati)
The Swiss driver revealed that in 2015, alongside the GP3 Series programme in which he will be competing with the Anglo-Canadian team Status Grand Prix, he will also be taking to the track in the GT championship at the wheel of a Ferrari entered by his home-town team Kessel Racing.
News that will undoubtedly delight the Canton Ticino’s many motorsport fans.
A programme has been defined with the Kessel team that will allow Alex to get to know the GT category, prepare to best effect during the season and make his race debut some time in 2015.
Nowadays, in fact, it cannot be taken for granted that drivers will switch easily from open- to covered-wheel cars. They are two very different types of car and very different forms of racing. While through to the 1980s it was the rule to see professional drivers jumping from one car to another, it is now no longer the case. And it is even rare to see it during the course of the same season.
Alex and the Kessel family are old friends who have known one another since Alex took his first steps in the Puffo karting category. Loris was one of the first to believe in Alex, helping him of his own accord when in 2009 he made the leap from karts to single-seater cars and also supporting him over the following years. Today Alex is joining Kessel Racing and is doing so, naturally, thinking about the great Loris, Ronnie’s father and an icon of Swiss and Ticino motorsport.
Ronnie Kessel – Kessel Racing
“I’ve known Alex since we were kids. We share sincere respect and friendship. Today he’s joining Kessel Racing and, above all, he’s doing so as young professional driver at the peak of his powers. I think this is a very significant fact. Our’s is a union that I’m sure will please all Ticino motorsport fans. A union that I’m convinced will endure over time and will provide both parties with great satisfaction.”
Ronnie’s objective is that of preparing the driver and having him make his race debut in 2015. This will have to fit in with the Lugano-born driver's commitments to the GP3 Series, which naturally remains his principal programme and which in recent years has seen Alex establish himself as one of the most combative and aggressive drivers in the field.
Thursday saw the conclusion of the official group tests held firstly in Portugal on the Estoril circuit and then in Spain, at Valencia and Barcelona. Alex flew back from Catalonia overnight so as to meet the press and fans on the occasion of the presentation of his 2015 racing season.
The team with which Alex will be racing and which brought its Dallara, directly from testing in Spain, to display in Lugano's Casino, is headed by Teddy Yip Jr. whose father once backed another of Ticino's great sportsmen, Clay Regazzoni. In 1997, in fact, Clay competed in the Indianapolis 500 thanks to the interest and support of the Macao magnate, Teddy Yip Sr. 38 years later, this last's son, Team Manager of Status Grand Prix and co-owner of the team with David Kennedy and March Gallagher, has signed Alex Fontana who as destiny would have it has for years been an official representative of the Clay Regazzoni Memorial Room.
Teddy Yip Jr - Team Principal Status GP
After many years of contacts, we have finally brought Alex into our team. We will do everything we can to take Alex to victory and to fight for this year’s drivers’ title.
David Kennedy - Managing Director Status GP
“We are delighted to have Alex with us this year. He has shown himself to be a very quick driver and I sincerely believe we will be able to give him a team and a car that will allow him to obtain the results he deserves. Alex is a very professional lad with the sort of experience you need to aspire to success in GP3.”
The hundreds of enthusiasts present at Lugano were able to admire both the cars Alex Fontana will be driving this year, Status Grand Prix’s Dallara GP3 and Kessel Racing’s Ferrari 458 GT3. Two very different but incredibly fascinating technological jewels that attracted the attention of the fans who were quick to photograph, to have themselves photographed with and to admire at first hand.
As ever, we would like to thank the substantial group of Ticino sponsors who support Alex’s career. An essential bond with the Ticino region that accompanies Fontana around the world, allowing him to always feel the warmth and affection of his local community.
Alex Fontana
“2015 is going to be a terribly important season. But then, in their own way, all seasons are important. This year I’ll be racing in GP3 with the Status Grand Prix team. The initial contacts with Status actually date back to four years ago. For one reason or another, we’ve never managed to seal a deal until now. I’m delighted and I hope that our relationship will develop over time, perhaps even in a higher category. And of course I’m also really happy to be working with Kessel Racing. This is a team from the Canton Ticino, and they are very, very good. Loris was one of the first to help me, I’m friends with Ronnie and I’ve known all the mechanics and engineers for some time. For the first time in my career I’ll be tackling a dual schedule. This in itself is a great novelty. On the basis of my commitments to the GP3 Series, which have priority, I’ll be following a GT development programme with the objective of making my race debut in 2015”.