Two FIA World Endurance Championship youngsters and rookies Carl Bennett and Antonio Serravalle will join Isotta Fraschini Milano (IFM) team regular Jean-Karl Vernay for their maiden 2024 Hypercar season.
With Bennett at 19-years-old and Serravalle at 21-years-old, the two Silver-rated drivers each surpass the outgoing youngest driver in the Hypercar category – the 23-year-old #83 AF Corse driver Yifei Ye.
Unlike Ye, the pair will debut into the FIA WEC this year in the #11 Tipo 6 LMH Competizione which IFM will field for the full-season.
Vernay, the most experienced driver in the trio, has conducted extensive testing with Isotta Fraschini during the development phase which commenced throughout last year.
Claudio Berro, Motorsport Manager and Member of the Board of IFM, said: “I am very curious to see how this mix of youth and experience will work in a really competitive championship like the FIA WEC.
“For Isotta Fraschini, these three drivers in the team are key since they’re going to become ambassadors of the brand in Europe, North America, and Asia, three strategic areas from a commercial point of view.”
Vernay said: “Being involved in the project since the beginning, it’s super exciting for me.
“I think it’s fantastic news taking part in the FIA WEC 2024 season.
“Thank you to Isotta Fraschini and the Michelotto guys since the car is great, and thanks to Duqueine for the support.
“I can’t wait to be in Qatar. Of course, we’re having some young guys with Antonio and Carl, but I think we have a strong lineup.
“It won’t be easy because the people we are battling against are super-strong and with a lot of experience, that we don’t have, but I’m looking forward to it, and let’s keep pushing.”
Serravalle was already announced in the driver lineup, with the Italian-Canadian driver holding previous LMP3 experience in the IMSA Sportscar Challenge and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
His racing record beforehand resided in North American single-seaters, such as Indy Lights, F3 Americas Championship and the Indy Pro 2000 Championship.
Bennett, currently a Duqueine LMP2 driver in the Asian Le Mans Series, concluded: “I am thrilled to announce my partnership with Isotta Duqueine for the highly anticipated World Endurance Championship season in 2024.
“This collaboration carries a profound significance for me as I proudly represent Thailand on the global stage of motorsports.
“Joining forces with Isotta Fraschini and Duqueine Team is a realisation of a lifelong dream.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to A14 Management, Duqueine, Royal Automobile Association of Thailand, Amerasian Fragrance Research, and everyone involved in making this partnership possible.
“Their support and belief in my capabilities have paved the way for this incredible opportunity. I am committed to giving my absolute best. Together with Isotta Duqueine, I am confident that we will achieve great things together.”
IFM will kick off their debut FIA WEC campaign at the end of the month with the official Qatar pre-season Prologue test on 24-25 February, with the season-opener on 2 March for an 1812 km distance, or 10-hour length – whichever is reached first.
Until then, the only Hypercar team who has yet to confirm all their drivers is Proton Competition, with just Harry Tincknell committed so far and Neel Jani heavily implied.
