Theodore Racing extends partnership with Prema

Following a race-winning return to competition at the Macau Grand Prix in 2013, Teddy Yip Jnr will expand Theodore Racing’s global motorsport programme to include three junior single-seater formulae with Prema.

Theodore’s expansion, which began last month when it announced its return to IndyCar in partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, will see the outfit partner Italian single-seater powerhouse Prema and join the GP2, European Formula 3, Italian and German Formula 4 paddocks.

Former Formula 1 team Theodore Racing marked its return to IndyCar at Long Beach last month after a 31-year absence from America’s premier motor-racing category. The partnership with RLL Racing includes the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the world-renowned Indianapolis 500. This season marks a full partnership with Prema and extends a relationship founded in 2013 when Teddy Jnr brought Theodore Racing back to the Macau Grand Prix, winning with Williams F1 Development Driver Alex Lynn. The continued collaboration yielded repeat success in 2015 with reigning European F3 champion Felix Rosenqvist.

With ambitions to continue his support of the most talented young drivers, Teddy Jnr recognised Prema’s success across a wide championship portfolio as an exciting and highly desirable opportunity for Theodore Racing to expand its junior programme.

The Theodore Racing legacy dates back to 1973 when Chinese businessman, Teddy Yip Snr, founded the team in order to make his mark on the world of motorsport. Between 1973 and 1985 Theodore Racing entered cars in a myriad of championships including Formula 1, IndyCar, Formula 3, Formula Atlantic and Formula 5000. Teddy Snr’s popularity and success led him to run four future Formula 1 World Champions – Ayrton Senna, Keke Rosberg, Mika Hakkinen and Alan Jones.

Theodore Racing remains the only Chinese constructor to compete in Formula 1 and the team’s expansion across America, Europe and Asia in 2016 sees it embark on its most comprehensive racing program since its return to racing in 2013.

Teddy Jnr, Team Principal of championship winning A1GP World Cup Team Ireland has also enjoyed success in the Formula One feeder series’ GP2 and GP3 with Status Grand Prix and the Le Mans 24 Hours. Teddy Jnr commented

“2016 will be a transitional yet exciting year for me and I have made the decision to expand Theodore Racing. My desire to work with and support world-class young drivers has driven me to become involved with, and provide a positive impact on junior formulae. “Having formed such a close and successful partnership with René, Angelo and Prema in Macau, plus the fact that they are race winners in all categories, it was an easy decision to expand our partnership to encompass all of Prema’s junior single-seater campaigns.”

Prema Team Manager, René Rosin added

“I’m extremely pleased to see our successful partnership with Teddy Yip and Theodore Racing not only continue in Formula 3 and Macau but also extend to Prema’s other operations in GP2 and Formula 4.

Our partnership carries huge potential, something that was obvious to me from the beginning when we won the Macau GP together in 2013. Since then, our relationship has gone from strength to strength and I look forward to 2016 more than ever.”