Who are we?

Ombra was set up in 1994 when the founders of the stable tried their hand in building a Formula Junior car to take part in the Cadetti Trophy: and it is precisely the specially-shaped flat bottom sported by this car that inspired the team’s original name.

The current workforce, however, came together in 1999 for the purpose of designing and building a new Formula Junior car: the MP01. Immediately at the top of the category, the Ombra MP01 won the Cadetti Trophy in 2001 with Gianfranco Colleoni and in 2002 with Davide Mazzoleni, and it still at the top, seeing the 4 victories obtained in 2006.

It was precisely with the young Mazzoleni that Ombra made its debut, in the 2003 season, in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, instantly capturing everyone’s interest thanks to the prestigious partnership with Neil Brown Engineering, official supplier of Mugen Honda engines. Success soon arrived with the first pole position in the second race of the Championship and the first victory, obtained by Davide in the competition held in Varano de’ Melegari. Since its very first season in Formula 3, Ombra participated in the most important international races, such as the Marlboro Masters in Zandvoort and the Macao Grand Prix, the latter in cooperation with the Japanese team Three Bond. In addition to the outstanding results of the season, Paolo Montin conquered a prestigious second place in the Sardinia Master, held on the city racetrack of Cagliari.

In 2004 came the first big step in the team’s evolution: the move to a new building, the purchase of a second Dallara F304 and the creation of a technical facility at the highest levels and the continuation of the official relationship with Neil Brown Engineering. Therefore, Ombra presented itself as one of the most interesting teams at the European level. With these premises, the season could only be a positive one, and in fact it ended with Matteo Cressoni’s victory in the Italian Championship thanks to the two victories in Adria and in Pergusa, in addition to the many podiums conquered behind the wheel of the Dallara number 11. At the international level, after the unlucky trip to Zandvoort for the Masters, the team obtained excellent results in the two competitions that wrapped up the season, in Macao and in Bahrein, where the Ombra cars both started in the first 15 positions, evenly matched with the best international teams of the category.

In 2005 Ombra cooperated with Carlin Motorsport for the competitive training of the A1GP Championship with the pilots Shabaan and Beschir. The two Lebanese boys accumulated experience together with Ombra, participating in the Italian Formula 3 races and in the Formula 3000 Masters, as well as carrying out an intense trials schedule on the most important European racetracks. The preparation of the Formula 3 proceeded at the same pace: precisely on the occasion of the Macao competition, Neil Brown Engineering decided to assign the debut of the new XJ6 engine to Carlin and Ombra. In the prestigious end-of-season held in the former Portuguese protectorate, Paolo Montin, behind the wheel of the new Dallara F305 was constantly in the top position, but he was forced to give up the final victory only due to a contact with Mike Conway, who damaged Montin’s car and prevented him from going beyond an however prestigious eight place. Ombra proved once again that it does not have any reverential fear of the more respected teams in the racing world, thanks to the high level of organization in the pit and the work carried out on the racetrack.

In 2006 Ombra decided to transfer its goals on the German Recaro Formel 3 Cup, for which it lined up the young rookie Mattia Pavoni, while Marika Diana, Massimo Rossi and Johnny Cecotto Jr. took turns on the second Dallara F306 Mugen-Honda. It was the very young Venezuelan, following in his father’s footsteps, who confirmed the team’s tradition with an overwhelming victory in Assen. At the end of the year, the by then traditional trip to Macao with the recently-crowned Italian Champion Mauro Massironi behind the wheel, who behaved well between Macao’s treacherous walls, and with Michael Ho, the best among the local pilots at the end of the race.

In 2007 came the second big step in the history of Ombra: the team doubled its structure, thereby confirming its commitment to the German ATS Formel 3 Cup with three cars for Matteo Chinosi, Federico Glorioso and Marika Diana. At the same time, Ombra debuted with the newborn International Formula Master, where it lined up Johnny Cecotto Jr. and the Dutch pilot Dominick Muermans. The season is very intense but also full of satisfaction, thanks to the podiums obtained in both championships by Chinosi and Cecotto Jr.

In 2008 the choice was to concentrate all efforts on Formula 3, so for the third consecutive year the blue Ombra carspartecipated to ATS Formel 3 Cup. This time the german campaign has been very positive with an overall result of two victories, two second places, four third places and other fuor podiums got in Trophy category, reserved to ante 2004 cars.

Ombra also confirmed its international vocation with an important investment buying two Dallara F308 that made their debut in UK F3 Championship Italian Round in Monza achieving an historical pole position and the return after a year on the Macau prestigiuos stage.

After the great relaunch of Italian F3 Championship Ombra decides to return in Italy in 2010. The team faces this challenge giving the cars to two young newscomers Giacomo Barri and Alberto Cerqui. Despite the yet preventived lack of experience of the two pilots Ombra reaches his goal to show his potential bringing the cars at the top levels in rookies table.

In 2011 the desire to compete again at international level brings Ombra to plan the partecipation at a high level and tough championship like AutoGP, after tasting it in the last championship round in Monza in 2010. Ombra does not fail and brings Kevin Ceccon to under 21 title and the overall one.

For 2012 season a new challenge for Ombra, infact the new AutoGP season will be sided by the debut with the covered wheels with a Ferrari 458 GT3.