Nobuharu Matsushita will contest a second season in the GP2 Series with ART GP. The Japanese continues the successful partnership the French team, for which he made his debut alongside eventual championship winner Stoffel Vandoorne in the previous season.
The Honda-backed driver made a great impression in his debut season, helping ART GP to claim the team championship crown. Matsushita himself finished the championship in ninth place the third-best rookie behind Sirotkin and Alex Lynn, with 68,5 points to his name. In his first weekend in the GP Series, he finished both races in the points after qualifying in second place and was able secure a front row lockout for ART GP alongside former team mate Vandoorne, a feat repeated once more at the Austrian GP in Spielberg. Matsushita also claimed his first of three podium finishes on Austrian soil, and crowned his debut season at the Hungaroring with a sprint race victory.
With the Japanese driver staying with the team, ART GP fields two of the most promising sound drivers for 2016 as the other ART GP cockpit will be occupied by Sergey Sirotkin, third in the championship and best rookie of the previous season. The objective for 2016 is clear, the team aims to defend its championship crowns.
“I would like to thank Honda and ART Grand Prix for giving me this opportunity to continue racing in GP2 Series”, says Matsushita in ART GP’s press release. “ART Grand Prix won the championships last year, and I am so honored to be part of such an amazing team again. As a member of HFDP, Honda Formula Dream Project, aiming to be the top-world-class driver, I will give my best to win the drivers and the team championship in my second GP2 season.”
Team manager Sebastien Philippe states: “I am truly delighted to start our 3rd year of partnership together with Honda with this reinforcement of our collaboration. Firstly, Nobuharu will partner Sergey Sirotkin in the GP2 Series. He had an incredible year in 2015 when he did not know Europe or the championship, the team and the car, but nevertheless he secured one win, several podiums and made massive improvements all year long. As a driver and on a personal level, we have no doubt at all that he has all the assets needed to fight for the title in 2016.”
