12/02/03 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO TO RETURN TO EUROPE FOR 2012, Official Release

Canadian racer Gianmarco Raimondo will make the move to the F3 European Open Series for 2012 as he enters his third season of European racing

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, returns to his European base this week to begin preparations for his 2012 open wheel racing campaign. On the heels of his maiden season in the F3 Euro Series, Raimondo will make the switch to Formula 3 European Open where he recently signed with RP Motorsport. Teaming with RP Motorsport should place Raimondo high on the list as he makes the move from the highly competitive Euro Series. Raimondo will be driving the new F312 Dallara chassis, equipped with DRS and the updated Toyota engine package. The F3 European Open Series consists of eight double-header race weekends taking place in England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Hungary, Belgium and Germany. This incredible list of venues and countries is actually a more "European" series than the Euro Series. With two seasons of F3 under his belt, Gmo will look to be quick from the start and is anticipating a very challenging preseason testing program.

"I am well prepared for the task at hand. Coming from the Euro Series, I feel that almost any series I go into now will almost be an easier step in terms of competition level," comments Raimondo from his home in Canada. "There are already roughly 20 drivers confirmed and it's just the end of January. I can't imagine how many will be registered before the season starts."

Another advantage of the series is the tremendous amount of track time that the drivers will experience throughout the season including both racing and testing. Each of the first two winter tests will consist of a "simulation" race, giving the drivers quite a bit of track time before the season officially gets underway. Also being that the chassis are completely new to all teams, the extra track time and testing is key to finding a good set-up.

"The more you move up the ladder the more difficult it is to get a lot of seat time. With these extra races included in the testing it will give the teams and drivers a huge start to the season," continues Raimondo. "I can't wait to be in the car again. Racing as soon as mid-February will be fantastic! The new car looks amazing and I can't wait to get working with it for the new season."

With 2012 testing about to begin, Raimondo has been preparing in the off-season to be ready for the start of racing action. Fans can catch up on all the latest news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Euro Series in 2011 following the F3 Italia Series in 2010, where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

12/01/26 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO REFLECTS ON 2011 AS PLANS TAKE SHAPE FOR 2012, Official Release

Canadian racer Gianmarco Raimondo puts another full season of European formula car racing in the books and makes final plans for the upcoming season

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, recently returned to home soil following another full season of ultra-competitive open wheel racing. Running in the elite F3 Euro Series, Raimondo went wheel-to-wheel with the world's best junior racers as he continues his march up the racing ladder. There was no shortage of twists and turns throughout the challenging 30-race schedule that covered some of the world's most renowned tracks located in several different countries. Based out of Europe for the past two seasons, Raimondo is keen to take his 2011 experience into the 2012 season. Raimondo ran the 2011 season with two different teams, making the switch part way through the campaign as he looked to improve his position in the standings. Looking back at the 2011 season, there is no better way to capture the year and all the various ups and downs than to hear from the man himself.

We know that motor racing is full of highs and lows. What do you see as the low point of your 2011 season?
The low point was probably the Norisring weekend. First of all the track is nothing like I've ever driven on before in terms of poor quality, so adapting to the style and feel of the track was a challenge. Then qualifying was wet until the last two minutes of the run and my tires didn't come up to temperature until my in-lap because the lap time is roughly half a minute. For the first race it started to rain when we were on the grid so we had the worst possible conditions: starting from the back on a wet track, with slick tires on a track with no room for error and only four corners. It was a nightmare. It was just an unfortunate weekend because I was either crashed into or I was effected negatively by the weather. So I had to erase a lot of that weekend from my mind.

F3 Euro Series is very competitive on track and in the paddock. You switched teams before mid season. Why?
I switched teams because I wasn't growing and learning as much as I could have with the amount of money we were spending. Mainly because the results in general from the team were very poor, therefore it was difficult to learn from anyone. We learn from people who have more experience than us, so it was the best decision to go with the best team. And I did learn so much more with Prema. It was a good move because we saw how sour my previous team actually was and also because it brought us closer to Mercedes.

In your first year in F3 Euro Series, how was it different than F3 Italia that you ran the year before?
The Euro Series was a completely different experience in comparison to the Italian series. Absolutely everything was different and mostly better: mainly the competition, then the car, the hospitality, the organization. What I miss the most from the Italian Championship were the tracks and the number of drivers. Most of the tracks in the Euro Series are not suited for the car and we only had 13 drivers on average. However, I still learned so much and developed tremendously as a driver, I feel like any other series I go to from now on will be an easier step.

Looking across your season, that had you racing on nine different tracks, qualifying seemed to be a challenge. Any particular reason?
Qualifying for me was difficult because the tracks were different and we had to put in two laps instead of one. It was a challenge with my other team because the base set-up they had was so bad and we had to improve it throughout the weekend, therefore it not being there for quali. With Prema it was difficult because when I started with them I had to start from zero, relearning many different things from the combination of the cars I switched to over the season. It was a super big change. On top of that I had an engineer who I barely worked with in testing and he was the one who didn't have the most experience. In testing I was usually fast, but coincidentally I had a different/more experienced engineer the majority of my tests. The fact that it was a driver with a small amount of experience working with an engineer with a similar quantity of experience wasn't a good combination. In general, I didn't have a constant rhythm throughout the year and this is key to gain results.

There were lots of great moments throughout the 2011 season and you had good race pace in many of the events. What do you attribute that to?
Racing is completely different than qualifying, in the sense that you need to take care of tires and stay consistent while fighting with other drivers. Another reason is because we would have more time to look at set-up and I'd have more time on the track. Unfortunately it worked out that we experimented with set-up in qualifying, but we then knew what worked and what didn't for the race.

With 2011 in the books and some late season testing completed, Raimondo has been working on finalizing plans for the upcoming 2012 campaign. Fans can catch up on all the latest news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/10/31 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO WRAPS UP MAIDEN F3 EURO SEASON, Official Release

Raimondo completes an up and down weekend at the Hockenheim Circuit in Germany as the Canadian racer closes out the 2011 season

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, made the trip to the Hockenheim Circuit in Germany, scene of the final weekend of F3 Euro Series action in 2011. Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam had hoped for a strong weekend to end the season but had to overcome several hurdles to wrap up the 30 round, 2011 campaign. The weekend started off on a down note as the front shock cover became unattached and damaged the left mirror during practice session one. With the practice sessions already shortened, Raimondo lost valuable track time as the team went to work to make the repairs. Heading straight into qualifying Raimondo would have to settle for 13th on the timing sheets and race his way forward in the field.

"The practice session was unfortunate because we lost valuable track time, and most of all I didn't have the best rhythm to prepare for quali," comments Raimondo. "I have been here before, however with a much different feeling car and engine so it was important to get the feel with this car."

Race One had Raimondo launch from the seventh row as he was able to move forward to battle for eighth place in the closing stages. Unfortunately a bad battery began to shut down the car on lap 18, taking Gmo out of what would have been pole position for Race Two and instead putting him in 13th in the final order of the 25 lap race. Race Two was also disappointing for the first year Euro Series driver as Gmo had hard contact, this time in the hairpin. Racing against Carlos Sainz Jr., Gmo was having one of the best battles of the season and was able to get away from him a bit. However while trying to pass Raimondo back, Sainz Jr. just clipped the end of the gearbox and spun Gmo around. Raimondo was able to save it and continue, but had front wing damage and had to come in the pits to change the wing.

"The start was good and we had the potential to start first for race two, however when I started seeing the warnings on the dash continuously, followed by a flickering dash, I knew something was wrong," continues Raimondo. "Race two consisted of some great racing, unfortunately it ended with an unavoidable hit in the hairpin. The team did a great job in the pits. I've never seen mechanics change a front wing without quick release so fast in my life."

Race Three was the better race for the young Canadian racer as he looked to end the season on a positive note. From his 13th place starting position, Raimondo drove the car to the limit to make up lost positions, which then destroyed the front tires. Racing his way up to eighth, Gmo had to settle for eighth place at the line. It was a good race to end the season off and especially one to finish off the weekend that had many challenges.

"I really had to push in the third race to end up where I did," states the fourth year racer. "Doing so it degraded the front tires to the point where I had to significantly over-slow some corners to stay on track. I want to thank the team for all of their hard work throughout the time I was with them for the season. They really are like a family, in the sense that they care about you like one of their children. I'm really thankful for being a part of their family."

Fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/10/20 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO HEADS INTO FINAL F3 EURO WEEKEND, Official Release

With a return trip to the Hockenheim Circuit in Germany, Raimondo looking to close out 2011 season with a strong performance

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, prepares for the final round of racing action in the 2011 F3 Euro Series season. The F3 Euro Series makes a return trip to the Hockenheim Circuit in Germany to close out the 2011 season on October 21-23. Hockenheim was the scene for the second weekend of the 2011 season where Raimondo was only able to score a single point. As the last race of the season heads to a track that Raimondo knows well, he and the Prema Powerteam are expecting to have the best weekend of the year. The Prema Powerteam set-up suits the track well, and Gmo is very positive on his chances to score points in these final three rounds of racing action in 2011. For Raimondo, the opportunity at Hockenheim stems from a track with many spots for overtaking. Even though, the Prema Powerteam has already claimed the Drivers Championship and is closing in the Constructors Championship, they are still pushing 100% until the very end.

"I'm going into this weekend with everything to gain," comments Raimondo. "We've had a really rough and complicated season, however I feel this last weekend will end the championship off on a good note."

Raimondo heads into the weekend following a solid showing at Valencia, Spain where he earned the largest points gain in his maiden season of F3 Euro Series racing action. Looking to score well in the ultimate round of the 2011 season, Gmo now sits 11th in the Championship taking points in all three rounds in Spain. This weekend drivers will take in rounds 28, 29, and 30 of the 30 round series that covers nine weekends and five countries.

Fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/10/11 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO SUCCESSFUL IN SPAIN, Official Release

Familiar Valencia circuit helps Raimondo to biggest points haul in 2011 F3 Euro Series season with just one round remaining

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, left Valencia, Spain with the largest points gain in his maiden season of F3 Euro Series racing action. Looking to score well in the penultimate round of the 2011 season, the familiar confines of the Valencia circuit helped Raimondo overcome several challenges en route to a great weekend. If running in a competitive grid was not enough of a challenge, Raimondo was fighting a virus all weekend long making the racing extremely difficult. The weekend really put Gmo's physical and mental conditioning to the test, especially on Saturday when the F3 Euro Series runs two races. Raimondo scored a total of 15 points, eclipsing his previous best of 14 points from Spielberg, Austria, which was the fourth weekend on the calendar and host for rounds 10, 11 and 12.

"I really had to focus and find the energy within me to run a 40 minute sprint race in 30+ degree weather. I managed to run the entire race well without fatiguing, however I suffered massively afterwards," recalls Raimondo. "Practice was actually quite positive because we were third most of the practice session, then it was not possible to improve the last ten minutes and I was then bumped to fifth."

Raimondo ran sixth in practice session one and then fifth in practice session two despite having some balance issues with new tires that persisted into the qualifying sessions. Since qualifying was very close, Raimondo only needed a small amount of time to jump up several grid spots. A disappointing 11th for race one and tenth for race three were the best results Gmo and the Prema Powerteam could muster. In qualifying the team fortunately found a solution to the tire issue for the races and it proved to be a success.

Raimondo moved up four spots to cross in P7 in Race One, which was a great result as it was very difficult to pass on the Valencia circuit and it gave Gmo a first row start for Race Two. The second race was one of the most difficult races so far this season in F3 Euro Series action for the fourth year racer. Raimondo started outside of row one on the dirty side of the track and was able to make an excellent start and battle for the lead in the opening stages. At the line a great fourth place finish was the result, Raimondo's best finish of the season to date, his fifth top five of the season.

"It was difficult to get good traction. We still had a decent get away, but going into the first corner I came really close to having contact," comments Raimondo. "The other car had the upper hand for the corner so I was forced to give up the top position, slightly going off in the exit as a result."

In Race Three Raimondo had a bit of a disadvantage because he was forced to race on used tires as they had consumed new sets for Race One and Race Two. With the old tires Gmo was still able to stay at the front and pressure Daniel Abt the entire 40 minutes. However with limited passing, Raimondo would have to hold station crossing in eighth place for a third straight points scoring race on the weekend.

"The balance of the car was very good in Race Three, so despite the fact that we had used tires, we were still able to make up positions and stay consistent," smiles Raimondo. "Overall a great weekend as we head to the final round in Germany in two weeks time."

The F3 Euro Series makes a return trip to the Hockenheim circuit in Germany to close out the 2011 season on October 21-23. Hockenheim was the scene for round two of the 2011 season. Fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/09/29 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO HEADS TO VALENCIA FOR F3 ACTION, Official Release

Canadian racer Gianmarco Raimondo endured an up and down weekend at Silverstone and managed to score championship points

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, makes the short trip from Italy to the sun-drenched city of Valencia, Spain to take in the second-to-last weekend of F3 Euro Series racing action. Looking to close out his first season in the F3 Euro Series, Raimondo is excited to be returning to a track he knows well. Raimondo has been to Valencia on several occasions for testing in various formula cars. In 2007 the Canadian racer visited twice for the Formula BMW licensing and scholarship courses. Then in 2010 Gmo tested in the Italian F3 program for two days. That was followed by a trip this past February to test with the F3 Euro Series. With four opportunities to cycle the 11-turn 4.00 kilometre (2.5 mile) track, Raimondo is very excited about the weekend.

"The amount of seat time I have on this track makes me excited because I know I won't have to spend most of the practice sessions to learn the limits of the track. I also have experienced teammates who know this track better than anyone on the grid in my opinion, so I believe I can gain even more secrets from them," comments Raimondo. "The team and I have been focusing more on qualifying because on a track especially like Valencia, the passing is limited in the race so who ever has a better spot on the grid before the start has a big advantage."

Sitting 11th in the points with six rounds of racing remaining, Raimondo was able to score points in two of the rounds held at Silverstone despite a difficult weekend marred by contact and damage. Looking to use his track knowledge and newfound momentum, Raimondo is focused on a podium finish before the season concludes in Germany.

"I'm looking to gain as many points as possible especially because of what happened in Silverstone," continues Raimondo. "We know the potential is there, we just have to put our energy in the right direction."

The F3 Euro Series heads to Valencia, Spain this weekend for three rounds of action followed by a return trip to Hockenheim in Germany to close out the 2011 season. Hockenheim was the scene for round two of the 2011 season. Fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out Gmo's website at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/09/20 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO SCORES POINTS AT SILVERSTONE, Official Release

Canadian racer Gianmarco Raimondo endured an up and down weekend at Silverstone and managed to score championship points

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, took on the challenging 5.901 kilometre Silverstone circuit, where the Formula 3 Euro Series raced for the first time in its history. The historic track has now become a favourite venue in Europe for Raimondo as he nears the end of his first season in the F3 Euro Series. The Prema Power Team driver was thrilled with the incredibly fast average speed of 185 kph. A disappointing qualifying session had Raimondo starting back several rows for Race One. Contact at the start of the race threw off the alignment and toe of the car and over the duration of the race the front tires overheated and grained so badly that the car was drivable but it was too dangerous to continue. Back in the pits, the team discovered the right rear tire had been punctured as well. With Race One behind him, Raimondo would start Race Two from the final grid slot. A solid start in the short Race Two moved Raimondo up quickly as he passed the most cars in the race en route to an eighth place finish from starting last.

"Race One was a shame because we lost a lot of points due to mechanical damage. The car was fast even with the initial damage, but once the tires fell off, I started to lose ground from the other drivers and then the situation escalated exponentially," comments Raimondo. "In Race Two we actually had proper feedback from the car so it was from here we could actually assess the car. We made up a lot of positions, so the potential was there. It was a shame we had to start from the back due to the damage in Race One."

Race Three would have been the best race of the year even though Raimondo experienced clutch issues on the practice start, but he was able to make a good launch in the actual start. By the second lap Gmo had already moved up to sixth and was passing for fifth. Unfortunately as Raimondo was executing the pass, another driver turned in damaging the front suspension and wing. Regaining the car and continuing to push even though he was in traffic the entire race, Raimondo managed to have the fifth fastest time in the race despite the early retirement.

"The opening laps were very good for us. We managed to get up to sixth by the second lap. The car was as close to perfect as it could get and everything just fell into place," continues Raimondo from his home base in Italy. "It was unfortunate that we couldn't continue, but we learned a lot this weekend and the relationship between engineers and mechanics is better than ever. For this I'm really looking forward to the next race in Valencia."

The F3 Euro Series now heads back Valencia, Spain in early October followed by a return trip to the Hockenheim circuit in Germany to close out the season. Hockenheim was the scene for round two of the 2011 season. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/09/08 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO READY TO ROCK AT SILVERSTONE, Official Release

F3 Euro Series makes first ever stop at Silverstone as Canadian racer Gianmarco Raimondo looks to score points in triple-header weekend

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, heads to Great Britain this weekend to take in round seven of the nine round F3 Euro Series. The Niagara Region native is looking to continue his march to the front of the field as he and the Prema Powerteam develop their program. This weekend some of the world's top young formula car racing talent will head to the 5.901 kilometer Silverstone circuit, where the Formula 3 Euro Series is going to race for the first time in its history. The Euro Series young guns won't be racing as a support class for the DTM Series this weekend but instead will race in support of the Le Mans Series. All the drivers are keen to put their best foot forward including Raimondo as he begins making plans for 2012.

"Silverstone is going to be more of a different weekend than the others because the track is very new to practically all of the drivers in the championship, so we will all start on more or less the same level in terms of track experience. We'll be using the F1 configuration as well as the new pit lane," comments Raimondo. "I've been preparing heavily for this race with the trainers and mental coaches at Formula Medicine. I feel strong and ready for the tasks at hand."

With nine races still remaining in the hotly contested European-based elite open wheel program, Raimondo is focused on scoring points and running at the front of the field. In his second season of F3 racing, having run in the Italian F3 series in 2010, Gmo is developing his racing style and working closely with his team engineers to give him the best car possible. Solid finishes have marked a strong season with the podium in sight.

"Silverstone will suit my style very well as I love fast tracks, especially those at Formula One quality. The car's generic set-up suits these kinds of tracks as well, so I believe it will be a very good weekend for the team," continues Raimondo on the eve of the event weekend. "It's always great to gain seat time and learning experience on F1 tracks for the future, especially ones as new as Silverstone."

The F3 Euro Series stop at Silverstone this weekend will be followed by a return to Spain and Germany to close out the season. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/08/15 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO SCORES POINTS IN NURBURGRING, Official Release

For a second straight F3 Euro Series event, Gianmarco Raimondo scores points and finishes inside the top ten

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, completed another solid outing, scoring points in two of the three rounds of F3 Euro Series racing action from the Nurburgring. Raimondo would be pushed to the limit all weekend long on the challenging track. The well-known German track that hosts rounds of the Formula One Championship showed that it is difficult to master as a lot of drivers who are usually fast were not in their normal grid positions after qualifying. Raimondo would run eighth quickest in both practice sessions leading up to qualifying. Looking to set a solid grid spot, Gmo went ninth in qualifying for race one and tenth for race three with the order of race two being set by the results from race one.

Raimondo completed a strong race one as he managed to grab some positions off the start and pressure Marco Wittman, who sits second in the Championship, for sixth place throughout the race. At the line it was Raimondo settling for seventh, an important finishing spot for the Canadian. The F3 Euro Series uses the results from race one for the race two grid order and inverts the top eight putting Raimondo on the front row for the race two start. Race two was tricky as it rained lightly before the start, setting the field on its' edge before the green flag flew. Starting second Raimondo managed to get the first spot after corner one but was bombarded by the field the next few corners as the rain/dry line were almost the same. Contact on the next lap from a driver who missed his braking zone in corner one while trying to make the pass forced Raimondo off track and down the order. Gmo did keep going and finished ninth in the end.

"The track itself seems simple, however it's a track with a lot of secrets," comments Raimondo. "I was fortunate enough to have my teammates point me in the right direction when I was initially in some difficulty."

Race three was also a bit unlucky as Raimondo had a great launch passing two cars off the line and then another in the braking zone for corner one. Raimondo was then pushed onto the grass at the exit and ended up tenth after the first lap. As he began to run back to the front, Raimondo was held up for the first ten laps behind slow traffic. Once passed, Gmo caught the group ten seconds in front within 15 laps. With very little left on his tires for a charge in the closing stages, Raimondo brought the car home in ninth and another points scoring race.

"Race three was a really good drive because we were consistently half of a second faster or even more than the group ahead," continues Raimondo as he returns to Italy. "It showed that the pace is there to compete with the top drivers and now my mind set is directed for top results for the next races to come."

The F3 Euro Series will now head to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/08/03 - NÜRBURGRING NEXT FOR GIANMARCO RAIMONDO, Official Release

F3 Euro Series makes second consecutive stop in Germany as Gianmarco Raimondo looks to score well following testing

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, heads back to Germany this weekend for the sixth weekend of F3 Euro Series action that will see drivers contest rounds 19, 20 and 21 of the 30 round series. The upcoming event at the famed Nürburgring follows the most recent round held just to the east at the Norisring. Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam have been hard at work as they recently completed two days of testing in Italy in preparation for this critical round in the championship. Raimondo has also been preparing for the weekend on the simulator at Formula Medicine to prepare as much as possible for the event. Not to leave any stone unturned, Gmo has also been studying on board videos and races from previous years.

"Nürburgring is going to be more of a normal weekend for me in the sense that it's going to be an FIA approved track with a team I am comfortable and familiar with," comments Raimondo. "Instead of getting used to the car on a track that has a different feel."

Unfortunately due to DTM regulations drivers will have to run the short version of the track, which means they basically run everything except the hairpin at the bottom of the hill and the Schumacher S. Also the quick F3 cars will do the fast chicane at the end of the straight instead of the tight one used in F1 competition. Heading into the weekend Raimondo sits 11th in points will look to improve his position by stepping into the top ten. Having scored points in nine rounds so far in the 2011 campaign, Raimondo is excited about the new partnership with Prema Powerteam and the hopes for more points paying finishes.

"I've been ready for this race since the last one ended. I felt unsatisfied after the last weekend so I have a lot of energy built up to put toward these three races," continues Raimondo. "From the testing sessions earlier last month, I've established a great relationship with my engineer and the team in general. And the feel with the car has never been better."

The next two rounds are being held again in Germany as the series hits the Nürburgring on August 5-7 before the heading to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/07/29 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO F3 TESTING REPORT, Official Release

Canadian formula car driver took in two practice programs as a lead up to charge forward in second half of F3 Euro Series season

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, took to the track for two separate single day testing programs as he prepares for an all out assault on the remaining races on the 2011 calendar. Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam tested in Imola on the 6th of July and Misano on the 13th of July. The strategy for both tests was to simulate a qualifying situation and improve on the early pace. During the first day of testing at Imola, Raimondo managed to set the fastest lap in the afternoon as he was the only driver to get the best out of the new tires. There was a red flag right after Raimondo set the benchmark stint, so no one could improve after that. Still for the second year F3 driver and his new team it was a good qualifying simulation and they gained valuable information.

"Imola was a good test to start pushing the limits right away because I knew the track from last year in the Italian F3 Series and so I didn't have to waste time learning the configuration," commented Raimondo. "Testing with the new team is important because I can learn how my engineer works and thinks and visa-versa. It betters our relationship so on a race weekend, we know what the other is thinking more or less."

Misano was a much better test for Raimondo as he was able to apply the information he and the Prema Powerteam had learned and they knew exactly what needed to improve on from Imola. The times between teammates was a bit different because they were testing the Cooper tire which was about a half second faster than the Kumho tire that Raimondo was using for the test program. For Raimondo some parts of the Misano sessions proved a bit tricky because there were a lot of inexperienced Renault 2.0 drivers sharing the track, making it hard to get a good clean rhythm. Following the completion the program at Misano, Raimondo was very happy with his performance and is now looking forward to the next race weekend in Nürburgring in early August.

"I forgot how much I liked Misano. It's been a while since I've been on the track because I tested and raced there early last year," smiles Raimondo as he prepares for the next round of F3 Euro Series racing. "Prema's Euro series car makes it even better because it's just an easier car to drive."

The next two rounds are being held again in Germany as the series hits the Nürburgring on August 5-7 before the heading to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/07/07 - FRUSTRATING WEEKEND FOR GIANMARCO RAIMONDO AT NORISRING, Official Release

Up and down weekend in Germany for Raimondo as weather and contact play a major role F3 Euro Series action

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, is still looking for that perfect weekend as he inches closer to the front of the field in 2011 F3 Euro Series competition. Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam squad hit the Norisring Circuit looking to score a breakthrough finish. All three races had different challenges as Raimondo managed to score a great finish in race two as changing weather and several on track altercations factored into the final outcome through the weekend.

In the first race held on Saturday there was unexpected rain and the team went to rain tires immediately. Then four minutes before the start of the race it stopped raining and the sun came out sending some teams back to slicks right away, as the mechanics can't touch the car after the three-minute mark.In the opening laps Raimondo moved up to ninth from his 13th place starting position but struggled in the damp conditions with the slick tires. The track did start to dry up by the mid way point of the race and Raimondo was on the attack making a pass into the chicane after a driver took a wide line. Already committed to the pass, the door was closed and contacted ended Raimondo's day early.

"It was unfortunate that we couldn't continue because we had the right tire strategy and the race was very long. The last 20 minutes were dry so we could have moved up the field quickly with the slicks," comments Raimondo. "This is the most difficult track I've driven and I quickly realized you just need seat time and experience to be really fast here."

Race two was completely dry and in the first corner Raimondo had minor contact on his front wing because of the extreme bottleneck effect on the track in that area. Gmo was able to continue the race with a decent pace, but was restricted from going any faster from the lack of aero balance. Starting 12th, the second year F3 driver ended up sixth at the line for his best run of the weekend.

"Race two showed a better result, moving up six places in the short race. It was a shame we had a damaged front wing, but we were lucky that we could keep going without any major issues," continues Raimondo. "I know we could have easily come in the top five without the damage, but it's good to know that the pace is there."

Race three was extremely difficult for all the drivers as very wet and cold weather settled in on the Norisring circuit. Starting 13th meant that the visibility would be very bad. Raimondo managed to make a good start and gained several positions early, however the third lap is where things got messy. There were cars three wide in front going into the first corner and all cars broke at different points looking to gain the advantage. Raimondo was in the middle looking for an opening when the car in front slowed very early. Raimondo was able to avoid the contact but was tagged by another car causing damage to the rear suspension. Raimondo was able to continue, but the car was too big of a safety risk and he was forced to retire.

"It was unlucky in race three because I did everything in my power to keep the car in control," states Raimondo. "The rain forced a lot of drivers to brake extremely early which in fact was more dangerous when it was possible to brake 50 meters later. The team did a great job this weekend and we have a lot of motivation for the next race in Nurburgring next month."

Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam will be testing in Imola on the 6th of July and Misano on the 13th of July. The next two rounds are being held again in Germany as the series hits the Nurburgring in early August before heading to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/07/01 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO HEADS TO NORISRING, Official Release

F3 Euro Series competitors head to the smallest venue on the 2011 schedule as they complete second consecutive weekend in Germany

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, continues the month long German portion of the 2011 F3 Euro Series schedule. Raimondo and his new Prema Powerteam squad recently headed from the newly renamed Red Bull Ring near the Austrian/German border to the Euro Speedway in Lausitz, Germany for two days of official series testing. Now Raimondo heads to the Norisring, the shortest track on the schedule for the first of two consecutive weekends of racing in Germany before heading to Great Britain. The F3 Euro Series has already competed in Germany at the Hockenheim Circuit earlier in the campaign and will return there in October for the final round of the season. The simple five-corner layout of the Norisring circuit presents many challenges for drivers. At only 2.3 km, drivers will be running the quickest laps times they will see all season long.

"Norisring is going to be a new track for me and from what I hear it's a relatively difficult track despite the fact that the lap time is under one minute," comments Raimondo from Germany. "The problem with a short, simple track is that everyone is up to speed very quickly and it is very difficult to set the fastest time because of how close everyone is."

Raimondo's recent race weekend at the Red Bull Ring produced some of his best results of the season where second year F3 driver collected points in all three races, the first time this season he has been in a position to do so. Just ahead of the halfway mark of the season, Raimondo now sits in 11th in the standings just four points outside of the top ten. With nearly a full month in Germany, Raimondo is very excited about his new team and the second half of the F3 Euro Series season.

"The team and my teammates have experience here so I will take that to my full advantage," continues Raimondo. "I feel very comfortable with the car and team from the last race weekend and the test. These upcoming races will definitely be a change from where I was at the beginning of the year."

Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam will head this Friday to the Norisring to contest rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 27 round series. This will be the first of two rounds being held in Germany as the series hits the Nurburgring in early August before heading to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/06/15 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO HITS EUROSPEEDWAY FOR F3 TESTING, Official Release

Newest Prema Powerteam driver joins all the F3 Euro Series competitors for two days of official testing in Germany

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, remained in the eastern part of Europe as the Prema Powerteam headed from Austria to Lausitz, Germany, home of EuroSpeedway. All three team drivers participated in the two-day official series test as they prepare for the midway point in the season. Raimondo has already tested at EuroSpeedway in the F3 Euro car making this an important program in the new Prema car. On day one Raimondo would go seventh quick in the morning and match that effort in the afternoon as all three Prema Powerteam drivers ran near the top. With the sessions combined, Gmo would stay in the seventh spot overall. Day two in the morning session had Raimondo tenth on the time sheets as teams and drivers tried different tire programs. In the afternoon session Raimondo jumped up the speed charts to set the fifth quickest time and go seventh overall for day two.

The tests were very productive and competitive. I am now very comfortable with the car and how the team works," comments Raimondo from Germany. "Finally seeing competitive times is definitely a confidence booster for the rest of the year. The next half of the season is going to be very interesting."

The Prema Powerteam engineers tested a number of variable set-ups to help Raimondo gain a more precise feel as to how the car reacts with these changes. Looking ahead to the next round in just two weeks time, the testing program will make learning the Norisring as easy as possible.

"The team has a lot of experience at Norisring from previous years," continues Raimondo. "Since I've never been there before, we tested some set-up sweeps that we thought would simulate a good feeling."

Next up for Raimondo and the Prema Powerteam will be rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the 27 round series taking place at the Norisring located in Germany. This will be the first of two rounds being held in Germany as the series hits the Nurburgring before heading to Silverstone, the only UK stop in 2011. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/06/08 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO SCORES IN ALL THREE RACES AT RED BULL RING, Official Release

Canadian driver moved to Prema Powerteam for the F3 Euro Series round held at the newly rebuilt Red Bull Ring

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, shook up the grid by changing to the Prema Powerteam just days before the F3 Euro Series contested its fourth weekend of racing. Raimondo drove a third Prema-run Dallara-Mercedes, alongside current drivers Roberto Merhi and Daniel Juncadella in a bid to improve on his current 11th place in the points standings. Juncadella and Raimondo raced against each other in Formula BMW Americas series in 2008 and are looking forward to working together. Despite his best finish in the last round held at Zandvoort, Raimondo felt a change was needed if he was to stay in the championship hunt in this pivotal season of formula car competition.

The change took place as the Formula 3 Euro Series returned to Spielberg, Austria for the first time since their last appearance back in 2003. Formerly known as the HungaroRing, the newly re-built 4.326-kilometer Red Bull Ring will be the venue of the 10th, 11th and 12th rounds of the 2011 season. In the nine races contested to date, five drivers have succeeded in making it to the highest step of the podium.

"In the first corner I noticed the huge difference between the cars. It's amazing how two cars with the same chassis can differ so much in set up," comments Raimondo. "Now my mentality is a lot different throughout the race weekend because I can actually focus more on my driving than to look high and low for a better set up of the car."

Unfortunately a technical issue cut Raimondo's qualifying effort short and he had to retire halfway through the session. The early pace in qualifying was good after just three practice sessions in the car, however most of the field improved almost one second from the first set of tires to the next, leaving the lone Canadian starting 12th for Race One.

An excellent run had Raimondo finish Race One in eighth place, which meant starting in the pole position for the second race. Conditions at the circuit would change and it was wet for the second race, which made things very interesting, especially starting on pole position. For nine out of eleven opening laps Raimondo led the race then slight contact battling for position caused an off track excursion. Raimondo managed to regain the circuit quickly and stayed in third position for the remainder of the lap when another driver climbed over his rear wing at the end of one of the heavy braking zones. Still with bent rear suspension, and practically no rear down force, Gmo finished the race in the seventh place.

"Race Two was a bit frustrating because none of the incidents were my fault and also because I could have been on the podium," states the second year F3 pilot. "Race Three was also a change for me because I was able to keep pressure on drivers the entire race instead of having to defend most of the time."

Setting fourth fastest lap in Race Three was a good sign for Raimondo, especially because it was set late in the race. While in heavy traffic most of the race and not getting to run in clean air, the times are now very competitive and Gmo was able to fight for positions.

"This weekend was extremely positive in every aspect," smiles Raimondo. "I've built a lot of respect from the team and also other drivers, so I'm very excited for the next race in Norisring."

Raimondo and the Prema Poweteam head to the Euro Speedway for testing this week looking to build on the solid momentum from this past weekend. With the 2011 season well underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/06/03 - PREMA POWERTEAM AND GIANMARCO RAIMONDO JOIN TOGETHER IN THE UPCOMING RACES OF F3 EURO SERIES, Official Release

premapowerteam.com - Prema Powerteam is proud to announce the arrival of Gianmarco Raimondo starting from the next round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at Zeltweg. The Canadian racer, who left a strong impression in the Italian F.3 Championship an during the start of the Euro Series season, will be fielded behind the wheel of the team's third Mercedes-powered Dallara.

Gianmarco Raimondo
"I'm really glad to have joined forces with Prema Powerteam, as I know they are a real family, fully-focused on scoring the best possible results. In the last few months, they've been constantly displaying this kind of attitude, which was established through many International achievements. I regret being forced to join them from round 4 only, but I'll do everything I can to prove my skills. I really want to thank the team for the trust they put in me."

Angelo Rosin
"I've been keeping an eye on Raimondo since a long time, as he was one of our opponents in the Italian Formula 3 Championship and at the start of this season's Euro Series. I'm eager to start working with him, and we will offer him everything is in our potential to grow up consistently and reach his goals sooner than possible".

11/05/17 - PODIUM FINISH FOR GIANMARCO RAIMONDO IN ZANDVOORT, Official Release

Canadian driver collects two top ten finishes as he completes his best weekend so far in 2011 F3 Euro Series action

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, finally broke through this past weekend to take a spot on the podium in the second race held at Circuit of Zandvoort Park this past weekend. Focused on capturing some good results, the 20-year-old driver and his Team Motopark squad began to gel as the weekend progressed. Raimondo was rewarded with a trip to the post race ceremonies taking second place in race two. The action was furious throughout all three races held on the weekend, which were completed under sunny and dry conditions.

In qualifying Raimondo would set the 11th quickest time as the Motopark Team still searched for those elusive final tenths. A great race one had Raimondo avoid several on-track incidents and make some strong moves to finish in the eighth position, his second top ten of the season. Using a top eight finishing order inversion for the start order of race two, Raimondo would find himself on pole for first time this season. The race was very eventful for a track with limited passing and very high speeds. Raimondo got away clean at the start but wasn't clear of his Motopark teammate as the field went three wide into the first corner.

"I had pressure most of the race from Felix (Rosenqvist) but was able to keep cool and actually pressure my teammate for the lead. I was waiting for Kimi (Kimiya Sato) to make a mistake as our times were so close and the track was very difficult for passing. It was almost impossible to gain back the top spot," comments an elated Raimondo. "However I'm extremely relieved and incredibly happy to finish on the podium in arguably the most competitive series in Europe. The hard work from myself and especially from the team is starting to pay off. It feels good to be back on the podium again and more importantly my first podium in F3."

With a podium finish in the books the team had one more race to complete in the triple-header weekend. Raimondo started 11th on grid with positions chosen by Friday's best qualifying time. A fantastic start saw Raimondo charge up to eighth position in the opening lap. Gmo maintained that position for several laps, but was hit by another driver trying to make an overly optimistic pass on the challenging track. Raimondo suffered side pod and radiator punctures along with tire damage but stayed in the race. Gmo would slowly fall behind with each lap as his engine was losing power and the car was quite difficult to steer.

"I had contact early on with one of the Signature drivers, off-setting my right rear wheel and damaging my body work. After the contact, my steering was incredibly heavy and I had to make due with it for the last 17 laps of the race. I was able to keep a decent pace with the damage, but I needed to use a lot more energy to do so," continues Raimondo. "My start was the best part of my race. It was the fastest I've ever done so far and the best out of the team as well. I made up three positions off the line and one more throughout the first lap. So a potential seventh place could have been possible. The team is slowly getting up to pace. It's good to see everyone pushing harder today, especially because of the double podium on Saturday. I see more good things to come in the future."

The stop for the next three rounds in the 18 round series will take place in June at newly reopened and renamed Red Bull Ring near Zeltweg, Austria. With the 2011 season now underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/04/27 - GIANMARCO RAIMONDO HEADS TO GERMANY FOR F3 EURO SERIES, Official Release

Canadian driver sets sites on second weekend of action taking place at the famed Hockenheim Circuit in Germany

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, returns to Germany after a successful two-day test following the opening weekend of F3 Euro Series racing action. Raimondo and Team Motopark arrived in Germany ahead of the second weekend of racing looking to unlock a few new tricks. Running at the Euro Speedway near Laustiz, Germany on April 18 and 19, Raimondo and the team enjoyed a productive program including race distance stints to make the best race set-up and several qualifying set-up runs. Raimondo now turns his attention to rounds four, five and six taking place this weekend at Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg.

"The team and engineers have worked very hard to develop the car to the maximum. We still had some very minor set-up adjustments to make for Euro Speedway, however we are not too worried about it as Hockenheim is a different track all in itself," commented Raimondo as he makes the trip back to Germany from his home base in Italy. "I feel very confident about Hockenheim as I have raced there last year with Italian F3, so it will be a lot easier to find the limits right out of the box when it's necessary."

The stop for the next three rounds in the 18 round series, Hockenheim has played host to Formula One and all the major race series in Europe. Situated in the Rhine Valley, the circuit is almost completely flat, with very little change in elevation. Built in 1932 the track has 13 turns and is 4.5 kms long, making set-up very critical. This weekend is also part of the FIA Formula 3 International Trophy, the newest series developed for the F3 platform.

"I'm looking to obtain at least a top five in Hockenheim. The car is capable of it and so is the team. Looking at last year in Italian F3 in terms of passing, I have a lot of experience on how to execute such passes on this track," smiles Raimondo. "Team Motopark has been working very hard, developing the car's body work and also core set-up. Every race there is something new on the car and this is something I like to see because it signifies that the team is really pushing to be the best. I have been in the gym everyday when I'm not testing or at PR events. DTM will also be running with us on the same weekend, so it will be important to place well under the eyes of Mercedes and Audi."

The Formula 3 Euro Series heads to Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, Germany for the second triple-header weekend running from April 29-May 1. Just two weeks later the series will hit the Circuit Park Zandvoort, Netherlands on May 13-15. With the 2011 season now underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/04/20 - CHALLENGING OPENING WEEKEND FOR RAIMONDO, Official Release

Lone Canadian in F3 Euro field completes a difficult opening weekend as team looks to bounce back in Germany

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, leaves the long and flowing 5.791-kilometer circuit of Paul Richard in France feeling he didn't complete the best opening weekend of his career. The pairing of Raimondo and Team Motopark Academy showed excellent pace in Valencia and Barcelona during preseason testing. Running at two tracks that were familiar to the 20-year-old racer was a big plus. At the close of the opening weekend that held three rounds of the 18 rounds of the top flight F3 Euro Challenge, both Raimondo and Team Motopark rallied to build speed and close the gap on the field. Building on that speed, Raimondo and Team Motopark made the trek to Germany early, home of the next round of the F3 Euro series, to complete two days of extensive testing.

"It was a tough and frustrating one for sure," stated Raimondo following the weekend. "We started off in the first round on too low of a level and by the time we found out the main issues with the car, it was already the third race."

Qualifying was a bit unlucky for Raimondo as the draft and aero set up was actually worth a lot more speed and time than the charts would show. Running slightly more down force, the car might be two to three tenths slower throughout the whole lap, however at Paul Richard it's worth roughly five to six tenths. After the challenging qualifying session the team would find themselves down as much as 1.5 seconds a lap. Now working from deep in the field, Raimondo would need to race hard and be patient as he looked to gain back some of the lost positions.

"The car was very competitive in the third race, however I had some damage to my front wing due to some contact in the first lap," recalls Raimondo, now back in Italy. "This imbalance in the aero sent me off the track at the fastest corner, flat spotting all my tires as a result. I then had to come into the pits to change the wing and tires then continued two laps down. After all that happened, I still was able to grab a championship point."

At the end of the long weekend, both the team and the driver learned how to keep their heads up and build from every experience. Now the focus is on the next round in late April in Germany. Raimondo and Team Motopark Academy headed to Euro Speedway near Laustiz, Germany on April 18 and 19for two full days of private testing to work on the car. Raimondo enjoyed a productive series of runs under sunny and dry conditions. The team ran through several programs including race distance stints to make the best race set-up and several qualifying set-up runs.

"We spent our time developing the car and also our knowledge about the tires. We found out that critical characteristic of the tires that in certain conditions leads to faster development of the car," remarked Raimondo. "That was the problem in Paul Richard, we were still trying to figure out how the tire really works under a certain heat."

The Formula 3 Euro Series heads to Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, Germany for the second triple-header weekend running from April 29-May 1. Just two weeks later the series will hit the Circuit Park Zandvoort, Netherlands on May 13-15. With the 2011 season now underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at www.gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he earned four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed third in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

11/03/30 - Gianmarco Raimondo Ready for F3 Euro Series Season Opener, Official Release

Young Canadian completes pre-season testing in anticipation of 2011 season opener in France

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, completed four days of official series testing ahead of the opening round of the 2011 F3 Euro Series season. The sessions in Valencia and Barcelona were Raimondo's first tests in the Euro Series car and also his first sessions with Team Motopark. It was a very good first impression for Gmo who feels that he and the team can produce a car that is capable of winning consistently in the ultra competitive series. The pairing of Raimondo and Team Motopark showed excellent pace in Valencia and again in Barcelona. Running at two tracks that were familiar to the 20-year old racer was a big plus.

"The first test in Valencia was wet for most of the day, it somewhat dried up in the late afternoon, enough to use slicks, however not dry enough to push 100%," commented Raimondo. "Even though the rain tires are a harder compound than the already hard Italian Kumho rain tires, the car felt easier to drive in comparison to the Italian F3."

After the wet day one Raimondo would sit third in the morning sessions in what proved to be just an easier car to drive. In the last session, as the track was drying, it was a bit difficult to drive the car on the limit as the fourth year formula car racer dialed in a new slick tire and began to understand the car in the dry. The result was a conservative P7 on the time sheets in the afternoon session. The team then packed up and headed west to Barcelona for two more days of official series testing.

"Barcelona was very positive, in that it's my favourite track and I was in a car I felt more comfortable with. Using my track notes from December when driving the Italian car, I was able to apply my reference points straight away to the track and drive the car on the limit within three to four laps," continued Raimondo as prepares to open the 2011 season. "In the beginning of the first day, we didn't run on new tires because there was too many problems with the car. However, my engineer and I discussed that it would be better to assess the car on new tires to really find the issue with the balance. Using our base set up we established and using new tires, we improved almost two seconds a lap putting me top three at the time."

Unfortunately the team had to change an engine after the Valencia testing sessions because it was past its' mileage. The engine that was used at the Barcelona test was a bit down on horsepower taking three tenths of a second off a good lap time. Even though in the end of the second day Gmo was P6, it definitely didn't show the true pace. A red flag on Raimondo's fastest lap didn't help either, but it was a very productive test and the team learned a lot from these new tires as to how they behave under race distance and different heat cycles.

With testing in the books the focus is now on the opening round of the season taking place this weekend. The Formula 3 Euro Series is going to kick off their ninth season at Le Castellet's in France at the long, flowing 5.791-kilometre circuit. Series partner Kumho is providing a completely new tire specification that has all teams looking for new setups. And the race weekends are now comprised three races instead of two races as the drivers will have to contest two rounds on Saturday and a third on Sunday. The first and third rounds will be 40-minute races while the race distance of round two is more of a sprint race at 20 minutes. The second fastest qualifying lap of a driver will count for the starting grid of race one and the fastest will be crucial for his grid position for race three. While the grid for the second race of the weekend will be set according to the result of race one, with the reverse-order format being used for the eight best-placed drivers.

"With the team working hard on developing the car to even better standards, I feel quite confident that we'll come out of this weekend with good results," comments Raimondo from his new home in Viareggio, Italy near the city of Pisa. "In respect to how competitive the times were in testing, it will be interesting to see what everyone's true pace is in qualifying as well as their consistency in a race situation."

With the 2011 season now underway, fans can catch up on all the F3 Euro Series news by checking out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results at gianmarcoraimondo.com.

11/03/14 - Gianmarco Raimondo Set for 2011 F3 Euro Series Campaign, Official Release

Fourth year open wheel driver to begin 2011 F3 Euro Series official testing this week in Spain

St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, will open the 2011 F3 Euro Series campaign with two sessions of official series testing. After signing with Team Motopark Academy just a few short weeks ago, Raimondo is excited to be getting back in the seat. The talented 20-year-old will begin his fourth season of open wheel racing by heading to Spain on the weekend for testing in Valencia on March 14 & 15, then head to Barcelona on March 20 & 21. Having recently completed tests at both tracks has Raimondo really excited about the start of this new stage in his racing career. From his new home in Viareggio, Italy near the city of Pisa and about a three-hour drive north of Rome, Raimondo looks to break through in a grueling 2011 Formula 3 campaign.

"I'm fortunate to be testing the Euro series car at the same tracks I last tested the F3 Italia car because it will be easier to compare references and it will take less time to learn the new limits of the car," commented Raimondo from Italy. "If it was a track I didn't know, I would have to start completely from scratch and take everything a bit slower."

With a new season and a new series comes a new team. Motopark Academy is one of the most successful racing teams in the world, especially when it comes to promoting young talented drivers. Launching a Formula 3 Euro Series team in 2009 was a logical consequence of meeting a new challenge in motorsports. A track record of eight international titles in the Formula Renault 2.0 since 2004 and 95 pole-positions and 97 victories in the Formula Renault 2.0 Series since 2001 show that Team Motopark Academy has what it takes to win.

"As this will be my first test with Motopark, I am very excited to see how the team is going to work together at the track," continued Raimondo. "I already saw how professional they are in the shop, so I can imagine at the track it will be even more so."

The 2011 F3 Euro Series is contested over nine weekends, with three races per weekend. The format includes two 40-minute races and one reverse grid race that is 20 minutes in length. Along with the regular F3 Euro Series schedule, Raimondo will run in the Masters of Formula 3 race, taking place in Zandvoort. All together Gmo will compete in 30 F3 Euro Series races in 2011. Plans are currently in the works to add the Macau Grand Prix round to the program should scheduling be put in place.

"The car is definitely going to have a different feel than Italian F3, however in theory all the differences should produce a better feeling," smiles Gmo as he prepares to head to Spain. "The Euro Series car has a lower center of gravity, better tires, and more efficient aero dynamics. Therefore it should be a more cooperating car."

With testing for the 2011 season now underway, Raimondo will use his end of season momentum, year-end testing and pre-season testing to hit the F3 Euro Series running. Race fans can check out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results by visiting gianmarcoraimondo.com.

About Gianmarco Raimondo:
Gianmarco Raimondo competed in the F3 Italia Series in 2010 where he complete four top ten finishes and was third in the Rookie Championship. Raimondo also completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed 3rd in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623

About F3 Euro Series:
The Formula 3 Euro Series is being considered as the world's strongest junior racing category. Current Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg, Lucas di Grassi, Timo Glock and Adrian Sutil all went through the selection process in the Formula 3 Euro Series. All of them used the professional environment to hone their racing skills for higher categories. More than two-dozen drivers from the ranks of Formula 3 Euro Series have made it into Formula 1 as test - or race drivers since the inception of the series in 2003.

2011 F3 EUROSERIES SCHEDULE
April 1-3: Circuit Paul Ricard, FRA
April 29 - May 1: Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, GER
May 13-15: Circuit Park Zandvoort, NED
June 3-5: Spielberg, AUS
July 1-3: Norisring, GER
August 5-7: Nürburgring, GER
Sep 9-11: Silverstone, UK
Sept 30-Oct 2: Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo Circuit, ESP
Oct 21-23: Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, GER

11/02/21 - Gianmarco Raimondo joins Team Motopark Academy for F3 Euro Series, Official Release

Canadian open wheel racer moves to the ultra competitive F3 Euro Series for 2011 following a fantastic rookie season in F3 Italia

St. Catharines, Ontario - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, will head the F3 Euro Series for 2011, running the Team Motopark Academy. Raimondo will use VW power in his Dallara chassis as he makes the move to F3 Euro following an excellent rookie season in F3 Italia. In the final tally in F3 Italia, Gmo would go third in the Rookie Championship and sixteenth overall with four Championship scoring races. With only two DNF's in 16 rounds of racing action, Raimondo showed great patience and fantastic race craft throughout his first season of F3 competition. This next step in his racing career will see Raimondo race against the top F3 pilots throughout the Europe.

"I first encountered Motopark in Barcelona, Spain at my last test of the season in Italian F3. Timo Rumfkeil, Team Manager for Motopark approached me in pit-lane and asked me how I would feel to drive in the F3 Euro Series with his team," recalls Raimondo. "Since we were testing together with Euro Series cars he noticed my driving while spotting his drivers on track. He didn't know my name at first and only recognized me by my car and helmet."

Raimondo and Rumfkeil spoke soon after via email regarding a package and budget for the upcoming year. In doing so, the duo decided to meet in person to finalize their 2011 plans. The pair met up while Rumfkeil was in Miami, Florida to discuss the program and struck a great friendship. After the meeting Raimondo did his homework to see what team would suit him best, even though he received such a good feeling from Rumfkeil.

"I wanted to join with a team that was supported by VW, so my only other real option was Signature. I did the obvious thing by picking the team that wanted me and wanted to push 100% for me," continues Raimondo as he prepares for his return to Europe. "In such a competitive series it is absolutely crucial to have a team that gives you the best treatment with the best equipment."

In 2010, the Formula 3 Euro Series is entering its eighth season of competition. The foundation for the world's most competitive junior racing category was laid on January 22nd, 2003, when the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB) and the French Federation Francaise du Sport Automobile (FFSA) created the most significant joint-venture in global single-seater racing: the new Formula 3 Euro Series was born. The F3 Euro Series is a nine round 18-race campaign that will visit six different countries across Europe. Preseason testing starts March 10th to 11th in Barcelona, Spain and ends in Valencia, Spain shortly after on the 14th and 15th. Raimondo is keen to get the 2011 campaign underway as he looks to make his mark early on. Plans are underway with new partners and sponsors that will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Unfortunately I haven't gotten the chance to test with the team, however the tire compound is changing for this season and this produces an entirely different feel for the car," smiles Gmo. "Everyone will basically start from scratch with this new soft compound. That's very good for me being new to this series."

With plans for the 2011 season now underway, Raimondo will use his end of season momentum, year-end testing and pre-season testing to hit the F3 Euro Series running. Race fans can check out all of Gmo's 2010 and 2011 results by visiting gianmarcoraimondo.com.

11/02/08 - Gianmarco Raimondo: F3 Italia Year-End Report, Official Release

Canadian open wheel racer completes a successful rookie season of international open wheel competition

St. Catharines, Ontario - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, completed the 2010 season that saw many highs and lows as the young racer took on a full time effort of motor racing in Europe. Living in Italy for the past ten months has put Raimondo right in the heart of the European motor racing community, immersing him in the culture and history of the sport in which he looks to excel. After several tests at the beginning of the season, the 19-year-old driver settled on Team Lucidi Motorsports to campaign the hotly contest F3 Italia series. One the best-attended series in Europe, with one of the richest prize packages, Raimondo would compete against many of the best F3 drivers in world.

"Moving to Italy with little to no language skills, no friends, and having to perform on top of that was incredibly difficult," comments Raimondo from his home in St. Catharines, ON. "However, it forced me to learn and to grow as a person as well as a driver."

The year began at the track of Misano where Raimondo would go 17th in the first qualifying session of his rookie campaign. Gmo followed up that effort with a solid 16th and 12th place finishes to round out a nice opening weekend. The series then moved outside of Italy to run at the famed Hockenheim track in Germany where Raimondo ran a very disappointing 26th in qualifying due to a spin in the wet forcing him to retire, then having to deal with everyone else improving their time in the dry later on in the session. With qualifying behind him, Gmo ran extremely well and scored a 12th place and a 11th place to complete a great recovery. The next stop for the 30-car field was the Circuit at Imola for rounds five and six of the 16 round series. A solid 16th in qualifying was followed by 14th in race one. In race two, the young Canadian had a great race score his first top ten to take eighth at the line.

"My best race has to be either Imola race two or Monza race one. Imola because I went from 16th to sixth in two laps and kept the same pace as the leaders with minimal mistakes finishing in eighth," comments Raimondo from his home in Canada as he enjoys the winter break. "Then Monza because I moved my way up to fifth from tenth and came out on top in the most insane battles with very experienced drivers."

The series would head to Mugello, the host for round six and seven where Gianmarco qualified in 15th and then went 15th and 17th in the two races. Varano was the next stop for the F3 Italia series. Gmo would struggle for pace taking 19th in timed qualifying and running 20th and 18th in the final race order. Next stop for the F3 Italia program was Vellelunga, were Raimondo would look to make a mid season charge for the Rookie Championship title. An excellent qualifying session had Raimondo miss tenth by 0.01 seconds. In race one a battle for position saw cars go three wide with Gmo in the middle. The result was his second DNF of the season. In Sunday race two the third year formula car ran a fantastic race to take 11th at the stripe.

Next up was a return to Mugello where Gmo upped his game from the first visit. The talented teen went 12th in qualifying then had his first DNF in race one. That disappointing results was followed by his second top ten of the year, taking tenth on day two. The season closed out rounds 15 and 16 at the famed Monza Circuit. Gmo went tenth quickest in qualifying, his best qualifying result of the year. Raimondo backed that effort up with sixth on Saturday his best finish of the year and then went eighth on Sunday for a second straight top ten finish and fourth on the season.

"The last two races of the weekend were very productive finishing in the top 10 consistently. I really began to finally figure out the tire at as the year went on. You basically had drive the car in a constant slide," continued Raimondo. "It was a different style of driving, but it taught me how to drive and control the car on the limit. Now when I do go to a better responding tire, I will be very competitive in result."

In the final tally Gmo would go third in the Rookie title and 16th overall with four Championship scoring races. With only two DNF’s in 16 rounds Raimondo showed great patience and fantastic race craft.

"2010 was a very good learning year for me and has prepared me to be competitive for the next series' to come. I would like to thank Lucidi Motors for all of their help and for all of what they taught me over the season."

Plans for the 2011 season are currently underway as Raimondo looks to use this recent momentum to build his program for next season. Race fans can check out all final results of the Formula 3 Italia Series by visiting www.f3italia.it to view races online.

11/01/07 - Gianmarco Raimondo: F3 Italia Test Report, Official Release

Canadian open wheel racer wraps up rookie season with a series of critical tests to set plans for 2011

St. Catharines, Ontario - Gianmarco Raimondo, Canadian formula car racer, completed several days of testing at four different tracks to end the 2010 season and prepare for the 2011 campaign. Living in Italy for the past ten months has put Raimondo right in the heart of the European motor racing community, immersing him in the culture and history of the sport. First up it was the circuit at Imola following the final round of the 2010 F3 Italia season and then off to the track at Varano on November 15th. During a one-month break in the testing schedule, Raimondo headed to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at the LaConca Circuit to visit friends and support his fellow Canadian racers. After the break, Raimondo then wrapped up the year-end testing program with a trip to Spain to run at Valencia and Barcelona. The Lucidi Motorsports driver enjoyed visiting some tracks that were familiar to the 20-year-old and also learning some new circuits that will be part of his future plans.

The first test set at Imola, was the site of the third round of the F3 Italia Championship where GMO scored three championship points. Raimondo ran well in the test and was able to set the quickest time in the final of the four sessions the team ran over the one day test. Raimondo was there with one other Team Lucidi driver all looking to prepare for the 2011 season. It was a very eventful day with rain in the morning giving way to a track that was just dry enough to make a full qualifying lap in the end. At the end of the final session Raimondo was able to set his fastest lap as he challenged the changing conditions.

"It was a very scary lap mainly because there were still wet patches off-line," smiled Raimondo. "But there was just enough traction on-line so it was almost a guessing game with finding the grip. I could tell I couldn't push anymore. I was quite fun."

Just four days after the Imola test the team headed north to the track at Varano, just outside the city of Parma, Italy. The F3 Italia series completed rounds nine and ten at the track at Varano in late August. Raimondo struggled for pace that weekend and was looking forward to the test session to gain a handle on the challenging track. The track was difficult as usual, however GMO was able to find a better balance with the car in this test then the team managed in the race. Raimondo was able to beat the times of his teammates who had both tested at Varano and ran well in the August race.

"I could already see that my driving was a lot better since the last time I drove here," continued GMO. "It was always improving, along with my fitness."

With some time to absorb the recent testing, the Lucidi Motorsports team headed to Spain looking build a new collection of data. First up was the circuit at Valencia, which brought back a lot of memories for Raimondo from the Formula BMW scholarship course in 2007. By the end of the first day GMO had already found the limits of the track and needed to work on finding the best set-up for the car. For the second day, it rained until the afternoon and it took several sessions to dry the track creating challenging and changing conditions. By the end of the second day the cars were perfectly set up allowing Raimondo to run in the top three out of all the cars that were there including Formula Masters, F3 Euro, F3 British and F3 Open teams. Lucidi Motorsports were the only F3 Italia team at the test and there were 30 cars in total.

"The track was almost identical, so it was very easy to get a feel for the track surface and flow," commented Raimondo. "We produced some good experimentation with different sweeps, but I believe the car could have improved more."

From Valencia the team headed northeast to the International Circuit at Barcelona. A new track for Raimondo, he used some modern day technology to get up to speed quickly. By studying various videos on the Internet and utilizing racing games, GMO was able to learn this track very quickly. The initial set-up was actually very close to the one used in the end. The gears on the other hand were a bit more difficult to find because of the lack of experience on this track and because of the grip and speed differences from new tires to old. Having three cars to experiment with for the first day made it easier to attain a balance for the gear ratios. Raimondo was able to find some tricks to the track as well that shaved an extra tenth off of his times. In the end, the last session was his best drive of the year as GMO was consistent and managed to stay within 0.1 seconds of his theoretical time.

"I've established Barcelona as one of my new favorite tracks because of the elevation changes as well as the flow of the track suits my style," smiled Raimondo upon his return home to Ontario for the Holidays. "The facility is amazing and one of the best kept circuits I have ever raced visited."

Plans for the 2011 season are currently underway as Raimondo looks to use this recent momentum to build his program for next season. Race fans can check out all final results of the Formula 3 Italia Series by visiting www.f3italia.it to view races online.

Gianmarco Raimondo completed two seasons as a Formula BMW Americas Junior Driver, winning the coveted Junior Scholarship in 2007 and taking the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Championship thus making him a double BMW scholarship winner. He also placed 3rd in the overall Championship both years in the BMW series. Gmo was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada and is building a strong on track racing resume along with off track appearances and special event programs. For more information on Gianmarco Raimondo's racing career and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.gianmarcoraimondo.com or call 905-650-5623.