Williams junior Colapinto to make F2 debut in Abu Dhabi

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MP Motorsport has announced Franco Colapinto will form part of its Formula 2 line-up in 2024 and make his debut in the series at the 2023 season finale.

Colapinto spent two years racing for MP in Formula Regional, winning four races across two championships, then stepped up to FIA Formula 3 last year with Van Amersfoort Racing. He won two races and came ninth in the standings, and his form improved this season when he returned to MP’s ranks. He claimed another two wins, and came fourth in the championship.

He has spent recent months rallying fans in his native Argentina to help him find the sponsorship money to move up a rung, and his push for funding has helped secure him a Macau Grand Prix drive with MP as well as a step up to F2.

It has not yet been announced who Colapinto will replace on his debut F2 weekend in Abu Dhabi. Jehan Daruvala and Dennis Hauger have raced for MP in the series so far this year.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be moving up to F2 with MP,” said Colapinto. “MP are proven race-winners in the category, and staying with them feels absolutely right. It’s a familiar atmosphere for me, and it will be to our advantage that we know each other so well as I enter my debut season in the category.

“I very much look forward to the fresh challenge of a new series, with a brand new car to help develop. I can’t wait to get in the car in Abu Dhabi and then work with the team to be ready for a long and challenging 2024 season.”

Colapinto’s early promotion “will give us a head start in our preparations for an exciting 2024 F2 season in which we all start from zero, with the new F2 car offering everyone a new baseline to work from” said MP team principal Sanders Dorsman.

“Retaining Franco helps us to maintain stability in that transition, apart from the fact that he’s become a member of the MP family and is an extremely quick and talented driver.”

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Ida Wood
Often found in junior single-seater paddocks around Europe doing journalism and television commentary, or dabbling in teaching photography back in the UK. Currently based...

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