21/08/2007
NEWS STORY
Following Pastor Maldonado's bicycle accident during training, that cost him a compound fracture of his right collarbone, Trident Racing had to evaluate the best possible solutions to fill the 11 car's seat at Istanbul.
Despite the short time available, the management was able to sign a deal with talented Argentine driver Ricardo Risatti (right). Aged 20, Ricardo has a long open-wheel experience, started in the F.3 SudAm Series in 2001, and continued with the appearances in the Spanish F.3 Championship. Risatti is currently driving in the World Series Renault 3.5.
Ricardo Risatti: "I'm very motivated and excited. This opportunity, which came by surprise, can with no doubt be a decisive turning point in my career. I'll have to do my best on an unknown track, but I'm sure I'll find a professional team that will allow me to concentrate on the driving part. I already tested a GP2 car during this winter, but I'll have to get used to it again, since my current ride is quite different. I can't wait to jump on-track and prove myself in such a though and well-known series."
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Team Principal: "Our first thought goes to Pastor Maldonado, who drove his car in an excellent way until now, handing us an incredible win at Monte Carlo, and showing our value and his abilities. All team members feel sorry for his unfortunate incident, that's preventing him from racing at Istanbul. I'd like to wish him a prompt recovery, and all the team expect him back as soon as possible. In the meantime, looking at this weekend's race, I welcome Ricardo Risatti on-board. I'm glad I had the chance to sign him, since he did very well with Racing Engineering in the winter tests. Anything came very naturally, as Ricardo and his father proved to be extremely fair and professional. Their trust in Trident Racing is a further boost for the team; we'll work hard to give him a chance to score good results immediately"