PREMA Team Principal René Rosin said the Italian team are joining IndyCar to challenge at the sharp end of the field as they join the series in 2025.
PREMA have swept all before them on the road to Formula 1, with teams in Formula 2 down to F4.
Rosin said to Pit Debrief and other media outlets on Wednesday: “We want to be a protagonist. “We want to be part of when we are ready to do something. 2024 to 2025 was the right moment for us in terms of structures, in terms of all the other programme that we are doing to setting up a new adventure here in the US.”
PREMA led Mick Schumacher and Oscar Piastri to the FIA F2 title in 2020 and 2021; both drivers went on to race in Formula 1.
The Italian added: “It’s something that expands our business opportunity to another level, to another continent.
“We wanted to get out of Europe because, of course, we reach every possible category within the ladder of motorsport, apart from Formula One in Europe, from karting till Formula 2.
“We have a technical partnership in the World Endurance Championship and as well in IMSA LMDH. This is something that we were looking to expand our boundaries to make sure that we can create a global group within our entity.”
PREMA will run two full-time cars in 2025 with Chevrolet engines, taking the list of entries up to 29 next season.
The team’s IndyCar CEO Piers Philips explained why they are choosing to run two cars during their debut season.
“It’s to concentrate the effort more than anything else. There’s a huge amount for PREMA to understand.
“The core of the team will have experience, and we’re really comfortable. I am really comfortable with the individuals that we have in line for that.”
The ovals on the calendar provide an extra layer of complexity for PREMA as they adjust to IndyCar, an aspect that is rarely part of championships the Italian team races in.
“But I always tell people the IndyCar is probably the most challenging series in the world. The diversity of the tracks, the street courses, the ovals.
“Every street course is different, every oval is different, every road course is different. We need to really hone in and concentrate our efforts and put a competitive programme together as quickly as possible.”
Rosin warned that it will be a long road to success for IndyCar’s newest team but is confident PREMA can deliver good results.
“It’s a great challenge to have because it means that we are at the top level of motorsport worldwide.
“There will be some tough times ahead of us in terms of organisation, planning, and engineering. But with the passion and determination of everybody within the team, I think that we can succeed.”
