Breaking news
FIA F2
Hitech expands into F2, takes grid to 22 cars
Junior single-seater squad Hitech Grand Prix will enter the FIA Formula 2 series this season.
Jack Benyon
Published: Jan 20, 2020, 10:23 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Rumour had emerged in the paddock in Abu Dhabi last year as the squad spoke to prospective personnel about a possible entry, and the F2 organisation which runs the championship has allowed the team to become the 11th outfit on the grid.
Hitech is yet to announce drivers, although ex-ART Grand Prix driver Nikita Mazepin is set to join the team.
McLaren test and development driver Sergio Sette Camara had been favourite towards the end of last year for the second seat, but ex-Virtuosi Racing driver Luca Ghiotto has emerged as a shock option for the team according to Motorsport.com sources.
Ghiotto left F2 at the end of last year to join the R-Motorsport GT set-up, but rumour has now linked him to an F2 return.
Hitech did not announce its drivers in Monday’s announcement of its F2 entry.
“With the new 18-inch rims and some car updates coming to F2 in 2020 it made entering now much more necessary than the end of 2020 where we would be a year behind the learning process,” explained Hitech boss Ollie Oakes.
“Of course, joining the grid this late means we are slightly up against it – but at Hitech we like a challenge!
“We are under no illusions that it will be a big ask to compete against some very established teams in F2 but I believe in our group and I am really excited for the first event in March at Bahrain.”
F2 CEO Bruno Michel added: “I am pleased to welcome Hitech Grand Prix to our 2020 F2 grid.
"As stated before, many teams continuously show interest in joining our Championship.
"Today’s driver market combined with Hitech’s prowess meant this addition to the new season became possible.
“Hitech Grand Prix enjoyed a strong Formula 3 season in 2019 and I know that although they are joining late, they will be able to adapt quickly to Formula 2 in order to fight against the other teams.”
Hitech enjoyed success in the European Formula 3 Championship, before switching to the new FIA Formula 3 Championship – which, like F2, supports the Formula 1 package – in 2019.
It took Red Bull junior Juri Vips to fourth in the standings and also earned second in the teams' championship behind Prema Racing.
The squad runs W Series’ machinery and also competes in Asian F3.
Formula 2 testing kicks off at Bahrain on March 1-3.
Hitech's addition means there are due to be 22 cars on the grid this season.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Honda junior Tsunoda secures F2 graduation with Carlin
Next article Red Bull expects top-four for Tsunoda in F2
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jack Benyon
Aitken, Samaia make up Campos' F2 line-up
FIA F2
FIA F2
Aitken, Samaia make up Campos' F2 line-up
DiBenedetto intends to “turn heads” with Wood Brothers
NASCAR Cup
NASCAR Cup
DiBenedetto intends to “turn heads” with Wood Brothers
Tanak "learned a very good lesson" from Monte crash
WRC
WRC
Tanak "learned a very good lesson" from Monte crash
More from
HitechGP
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
FIA F2
FIA F2
Colton Herta eyes potential Indy 500 return and IMSA enduros as 2027 plans remain in flux
Colton Herta aiming at F1 by 2028: 'I still have a chance'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Colton Herta aiming at F1 by 2028: 'I still have a chance'
Colton Herta withdraws from both Madring F2 races
FIA F2
FIA F2
Madrid
Colton Herta withdraws from both Madring F2 races
Latest news
Winner and losers from MotoGP’s cancelled Australian GP weekend
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
15 min
Winner and losers from MotoGP’s cancelled Australian GP weekend
Inside COTA's Turn 1 clubhouse and its plans to build a second track
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
33 min
Inside COTA's Turn 1 clubhouse and its plans to build a second track
Max Verstappen puzzled by Q3 grip loss, but Austin shows how far Red Bull has progressed
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
Max Verstappen puzzled by Q3 grip loss, but Austin shows how far Red Bull has progressed
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
3 h
Carson Hocevar says Zane Smith feud is "pretty one-sided"
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe