Last season’s Formula Renault Alps runner-up Luca Ghiotto will move up the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with International Draco Racing this year.
Impressive performances have propelled the Italian up the order, despite only a single season in the 2.0 litre category.
The 18-year-old lost out to Antonio Fuoco, after taking five wins and three podiums with the Prema Powerteam squad. Ghiotto also competed in the Eurocup Formula Renault category last year, finishing 9th overall after taking one victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Ghiotto had also experienced success in Formula Abarth in 2012, when the Arzignano native collected two runner-up finishes in both the Italian and European classes.
Following a test with the Draco team at Alcaniz at the end of last year, the Italian committed to a move up the Renault order.
In Draco, Ghiotto may face a rather tougher challenge. The Spanish squad have, at times, endured difficult days since they last won the title with Bertrand Baguette.
They did see a minor return to form last year, with Nico Muller giving the team two race wins on his way to a top-five finish in the series. Whether Draco can build on that momentum with Ghiotto and teammate Pietro Fantin remains to be seen.