For the 2008 season he signed to partner Spaniard Javier Villa at the Racing Engineering team. Pantano started the season well, taking fourth and third positions in the Catalunya feature and sprint races respectively. Things were even better in the Istanbul Park feature race, for which he took pole and won the race. After a measured drive to fourth in the sprint race Pantano led the championship, but lost the lead to Bruno Senna following two retirements in Monaco. However he retook the lead following a win at the Magny-Cours feature race, in which Senna retired. Despite retirement in the sprint race Pantano left Magny-Cours with the championship lead. Following further feature race wins in both Silverstone and Hockenheimring Pantano increased his championship lead over Senna.
