Current Renault protege Louis Deletraz and GP3 race winner Emil Bernstorff are set to join the GP2 grid in Abu Dhabi for Carlin and Arden, respectively.
Deletraz is highly rated by many and tipped for a promotion to F1 within the next three years. This Abu Dhabi appearance is believed to be preparation for a full GP2 campaign next year.
The 19-year-old finished second in the Drivers’ Championship in his maiden Formula V8 3.5 season, only behind the vastly experienced Tom Dillmann. He took two victories, three pole positions and finished the year just seven points adrift of the title.
The Frenchman will be replacing German Marvin Kirchhofer and will be partnering GP2 veteran Sergio Canamasas, who will be making his 90th GP2 start in Sunday’s sprint race. Deletraz spoke about the opportunity:
“GP2 is the championship that I want to race in next season so it’s great that I have the opportunity to contest the final race of the season with Carlin. They are a very experienced team and have been successful in GP2 after finishing second in the 2014 championship.
“It’s going to be a big challenge at Yas Marina because I have no previous GP2 experience. I’ll be learning a new car, a different kind of tyre, a new track and working with a new team. It will be interesting to see what the performance is like in Abu Dhabi.”
Emil Bernstorff who raced in GP3 between 2014 and 2015, has spent most of this season, watching from the sidelines after failing to secure sufficient funding for a full racing campaign.
He may be short on money but he certainly isn’t short on talent, with three victories and 12 podiums in GP3. He will be renewing his partnership with the Arden team and fill the vacant seat left by Jimmy Eriksson, who called time on his GP2 season, two rounds early.
The 23-year-old British driver will be partnered by Malaysia’s Nabil Jeffri. Arden has not been able to fulfil their expectations for 2016 so far. They currently sit 11th and last in the Teams’ Championship with just 12 points to their name.
Despite the difficult task ahead, Bernstorff is relishing the chance to make his GP2 debut:
“First of all I would like to thank Arden for this opportunity. It will be a steep learning curve but I’m really looking forward to the challenge and to working with the team again.”
The GP3 race winner had tested Arden’s GP2 machine at the end of 2015, and Arden International co-founder Gary Horner is optimistic the British driver can deliver.
“We are pleased to give Emil the opportunity to race with us at the final race weekend at Abu Dhabi, and are confident that he will equip himself well, in spite of the fact that he has had limited track time in a GP2 car.”
