Former Grand Prix driver and reigning GP2 Series champion Giorgio Pantano is the latest star driver to join Superleague Formula. The 30-year-old Italian has signed to race for his favourite team AC Milan in this year’s eagerly anticipated championship, which kicks off at Magny-Cours in France on the 28^th of June.

AC Milan was one of the front-runners throughout the inaugural season when Dutchman Robert Doornbos (another man with F1 pedigree now racing in IndyCars) won three races and took the club to third place in the final standings – a result the highly respected and experienced Pantano is hoping to better in 2009.

“I’m not coming just to compete, I’m coming because I want to win races and hopefully the title – I’ve made that very clear to the team and they are determined to support me,” said Pantano who is now eager to get behind the wheel of the V12 powered Superleague race car for the first time.

“I’m very excited about this new challenge and the car is clearly very exciting with 750 horsepower – I’m really looking forward to racing it. I still need to meet the race team and those at the football club, but I’ve talked to them all on the ’phone and everyone is really up for this. I’m a passionate AC Milan fan, so this is very special for me.”