"It's been crazy": PREMA Racing boss reveals chaotic IndyCar prep ahead of 2025 debut

PREMA Racing is going full throttle on its IndyCar preparations and has announced the date for its first test at the Thermal Club in January 2025. However, Angelina Ertsou, who runs the team alongside Rene Rosin, recently revealed that their plans still have several moving parts.

As per RACER, PREMA Racing's driver duo of the experienced Callum Ilott, the ex-Juncos Hollinger Racing driver, and rookie Robert Shwartzman, an F2 star and ex-Ferrari junior driver, will pilot the wheels of their No. 90 and No. 83 Chevrolet-powered cars respectively on January 28 for the team's first test.

Speaking about the fluctuating progress, Ertsou said:

"It’s very fluid at the moment. It’s changing almost every day, so even if I tell you something now, it might not be the same thing in a few hours! Honestly, it’s been crazy. It’s very difficult to tell you now that it’s going to happen and if [Thermal’s] going to be the first one, or it might not, I don’t know."

"The first race is at the end of February, so if we’re not on track in January, I should be worried," she added with a laugh.

Though PREMA Racing hasn't competed in IndyCar before, this isn't its first time in open-wheel racing. The Italian team has programs from karting right through to F2 along with technical partnerships in the World Endurance Championship and the IMSA LMDH. F1 is the only series in the European motorsport ladder they don't race in.

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IndyCar has been "extremely helpful" in easing PREMA Racing's debut groundwork

PREMA Racing at the Formula 2 Testing in Abu Dhabi - Day 3 - Source: Getty

Though Angelina Ertsou is aware of the turbulent nature of PREMA Racing's IndyCar prep, she painted a rather pretty picture of their progress in November. The motorsport veteran revealed how everything was in place on the personnel side and the car construction was undergoing "great" progress.

Ertsou also thanked IndyCar President Jay Frye for the organization's immense support ahead of PREMA's debut. She said (via RACER):

"The series has been extremely helpful, I have to say. And it’s a very open discussion. Every time we have any questions or anything there, they’ve honestly been very supportive. We’re really, really happy to start this new adventure. It’s been great so far, and I have no doubt that it’s going to be super next year."

In Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman, the Italian team has two proven performers. Though the latter has yet to test an Indy car, he is in relatively known territory having raced for the team for four years in F3 and F2.

Shwartzman won his maiden F3 championship with PREMA in 2019 and finished fourth and second in his two F2 seasons. With an experienced driver like Ilott, who has raced for PREMA in the 2017 F3 championship and has 3+ years of IndyCar experience, to mentor Shwartzman through the test and early races, the team is set for an exciting debut.