Former F1 Alfa Romeo driver and current Ferrari reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi has been confirmed to race full-time for the Italian side in the 2023 World Endurance Championship.
The Italian made his Formula 1 debut for Sauber six years ago, when he replaced an injured Pascal Wehrlein for the 2017 Australian Grand Prix weekend. The Ferrari Driver Academy member then went on to spend two seasons as a reserve and test driver for Sauber and the Maranello team before being called up to Alfa Romeo alongside 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen in 2019. During that season, the Ferrari-backed driver managed a career-best race finish of fifth at the Interlagos circuit.
Antonio Giovinazzi’s period with Alfa Romeo came to an end two years ago. Since then, the Italian took part in two free practice sessions on Friday for the US-team Haas, ahead of the Monza and Austin events, but crashed early on in the practice session for the United States Grand Prix at COTA.
The 29-year-old will also continue as Ferrari’s reserve driver for the 2023 Formula One campaign, will share those duties with a full-time drive in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) as Ferrari debut the 499P Hypercar. The championship of course includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Antonio Giovinazzi to make his top-class debut at the historic race.
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“The 499P’s debut will be a defining moment in the history of the Prancing Horse, and it will be a big honour for me to be part of this extraordinary moment. We know we have a great responsibility to meet with much humility, but we are aware of our strength and ready for this huge challenge,” Antonio Giovinazzi explained.
The Italian, who ended fifth-in-class in his previous Le Mans 24 Hours appearance, will race alongside Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado in the #51 Ferrari 499P while Ferrari F1 sim driver Antonio Fuoco, Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen take the wheel of the #50 Ferrari 499P.
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