ART Grand Prix’s Anthoine Hubert has been named as a Renault affiliated driver, allowing the Frenchman to use its academy staff and fitness and simulator tools.
Hubert is the first person to be put in this role by the French manufacturer as its youth focus extends.
The 2018 GP3 season will be his second in the junior series after finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship last year with four podiums.
Director Mia Sharizman outlined that the scheme allows Renault to find drivers before a possible stint in its academy.
“We’ve monitored Anthoine since his Formula Renault Eurocup days in 2015,” he said.
“He has developed well since then, and we had the opportunity to monitor him closely last year in GP3.
“He’s warranted the opportunity to prove himself this year in his second season in GP3, where his aim is to compete for the drivers’ title.”
Its academy’s total currently stands at seven, including Hubert’s former team-mate Jack Aitken and European F3’s Sacha Fenestraz.
Two other GP3 competitors have been close to the Enstone-based team in recent years, with Alex Fontana and Kevin Joerg working with it.
Some names have also been in the Enstone programme before making the jump to the category including Dorian Boccolacci and Juan Manuel Correa.
No racers have yet made the step to graduating to its Formula 1 team in this decade, though Aitken is currently its reserve driver.
