Stefano Coletti will return to the Formula 3 Euroseries with Prema Powerteam after regular driver Charlie Kimball announced he was stepping down for financial reasons.
The 19-year-old started the season with Signature-Plus, but a disappointing run of form saw him dropped from the team when he lost his
Red Bull backing.
Nonetheless, Coletti will return to the series in place of two-time Euroseries winner Kimball, who has been forced to withdraw after a major sponsor funding his season pulled out.
"Unfortunately, I lost the support of one of my main financial backers,” the American, who finished second in the Hockenheim season opener, said. “Since I didn't have a 100% chance to end the season, I opted to slow down my programs to prevent any suffering on the team's side. I'll keep following the series for the remainder of the season.”
Although admitting he was sad to see Kimball depart prematurely, Prema team principal Angelo Rosin was pleased to be inviting Coletti to join the team that currently lies third in the standings with Renger van der Zande.
"We're really sorry not to be able to keep lining-up Charlie Kimball in this season's Formula 3 Euro Series, since he proved to have great skills and experience and reached positive results so far. I appreciate his prompt communication when the problem with one of his sponsors came up. We'd be glad to keep in touch with Kimball in order to follow the team's evolution through the season.
"Coletti is an extremely fast young driver who has a great potential. He proved that by staying among the leading pack in the Italian and European F.Renault Championship in 2007. Prema will do its best to suit him in the demanding F.3 Euro Series."
![Charlie Kimball - Prema Powerteam Mercedes [pic credit: F3 Euroseries Media]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/446239.jpg)
