Venezuelan karting sensation Diego Borrelli will make his car racing debut with SWR this year in the BRDC Formula 4 Championship after today, Thursday, 27th February, becoming the first 2014 signing for the race winning Oxfordshire team.
The 16-year-old from Caracas, who has won more than half a dozen karting titles throughout his formative career, will arrive in the UK-based BRDC F4 category with an impressive reputation and is determined to develop his skills in single-seaters as quickly as possible.
Having already tested in Formula Renault and Formula 3 cars in Europe, Borrelli – who is managed by former Formula One driver and F1 team owner Adrian Campos – has been working hard to adapt to the demands of open-wheel cars ahead of his debut season in F4.
Last week, Borrelli ran an intensive test schedule with SWR at Valencia in Spain. Having performed strongly, the teenager thoroughly impressed the Chipping Norton-based squad and team owner Sean Walkinshaw is thrilled to have secured the South American’s signature.
“It’s fantastic news we’ve finalised a deal for the new season with Diego”, said Walkinshaw, “He’s very highly rated and is an incredibly determined driver, he’s setting his sights high for his first year in cars and we’re looking forward to helping him progress during the season.
“SWR enjoyed good podium success last year in F4, we took several wins and we’re all focused on building on those results in 2014. It’s a very competitive championship but we’re sure Diego can become one of the real standout drivers this season.”
Borrelli, who celebrated his 16th birthday on the opening day of last week’s test with SWR, started his karting career in 2004 and made an instantaneous impact by winning the Venezuelan FVK National Karting Championship and FKCS Miami-Florida Regional Karting title.
Adding a third success in 2005 with the Venezuelan Summer FVK Karting Championship crown, he went on to claim another title double in 2006 by winning the Venezuelan FVK National Karting Championship and FIA-NACAM Pan-American Championship.
Moving into Rotax Max competition in the USA and South America the following year, Borrelli continued his ascent through the ranks and in 2009 bagged his sixth and seventh championship victories with the Venezuelan Rotax Max Challenge and National Open titles. Soon enough, the youngster graduated into international competition and secured support from ART Grand Prix.
“I am really happy to have signed my deal with SWR for BRDC Formula 4 this year, it’s a strong championship and the team is already proven as a title challenger and race winner”, said Borrelli, “I think we did a good job in testing last week in Valencia, I enjoyed driving the car and worked well with the guys in the team.
“I want to get to the first race with the highest possible concentration and for this we are preparing strongly. We fought very hard to achieve the necessary support to move into cars this year, which is why I want to thank my sponsors, family, manager and friends for making this possible.”
Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in Northamptonshire will host the opening three rounds of the 24-race BRDC Formula 4 Championship on 26th/27th April.
