When the 2024 Prototype Cup Germany kicked off the new season at Spa-Francorchamps in mid-April, Francesco Dracone (40/ITA, BHK Motorsport) was among those behind the wheel. The former IndyCar driver, now team principal at BHK Motorsport, cut a fine figure and finished fourth in his first and only qualifying. However, he was unable to take advantage of that fine grid position in the race, as poor weather, including snow, caused all subsequent sessions at the Belgian Grand Prix circuit to be cancelled.

Francesco Dracone’s outing at Spa-Francorchamps really came about by chance. “We were in negotiations with a driver, but unfortunately there was not enough time to put together the necessary budget. As such, we decided that I would drive at the season-opener, as we wanted to show that the team was capable of getting good results. I have driven a lot of different LMP cars over the course of my career as a racing driver, and I am very familiar with the track at Spa.” Once at the venue, Dracone only became more optimistic. “We found a very good set-up and a good way of getting heat into the tyres in the low temperatures. I was more optimistic than ever about finishing on the podium. Unfortunately, the races did not take place.” Dracone has no intention of taking his place behind the wheel again at the second race weekend of the season at the Lausitzring; he is in talks with other candidates. One of the two races that were cancelled in Belgium will be held at the EuroSpeedway, meaning round two will feature a total of three races.

BHK Motorsport entered the Prototype Cup Germany last year and finished 14th in the Drivers’ Championship with Elia Sperandio (18/CHE), who lined up for BHK Motorsport at all six race weekends. The Swiss finished tenth in the junior competition, while BHK Motorsport ended 2023 in eleventh place in the Team championship. As well as Sperandio, Lucas Mauron (25/CHE), Alex Cascatau (31/ROU) and Beitske Visser (29/NLD) also made sporadic starts for the British team. The biggest individual success came courtesy of Sperandio and Cascatau, who finished third together in Zandvoort. “That third place was a great result, but I thought we could have claimed even more podiums in 2023. We could have had at least one more. However, we were unfortunate at times and also made some mistakes,” says Dracone, who regrets no longer being able to work with Sperandio. “I believe the Prototype Cup Germany is a perfect racing series for a former Formula 4 driver like Elia. However, the current generation of young Formula drivers must learn to take fewer risks. I believe that to become a good LMP driver – fast, consistent and reliable – it takes three years when coming from junior Formula racing.”

There is a reason that Dracone selected the Prototype Cup Germany to develop talented young drivers. “The standard is high and the race length of 55 minutes plus one lap is good preparation for an LMP career. Plus, I like the fact that the teams and organisers work professionally, but there is still a good level of sportsmanship and fairness in the paddock. It is like it was in the old days – it is about sport and fair competition on the track for all of us. There are no big hospitalities or anything like that in our paddock, as the focus is clearly on sporting performances. I hope we are able to retain this good atmosphere in the paddock for a long time.”