FIA Formula 3 champion Victor Martins will join Theo Purcher in Formula 2 for his first season at ART, the team has confirmed.
Martins secured the F3 title with the team last year in Monza at the final round, beating Zane Maloney by just five points.
After two seasons in the FIA F3 series, Martins will remain with the team and join Purcher for the first time in the second-tier single-seater championship. The 21-year-old completed three days of testing with ART in an F2 car during last year’s season test in Abu Dhabi, covering 1,200km in the test to advance to the series.
Martins says he will aim to fight for the championship in his first season in F2.
“After a successful year with Arti Grand Prix, I didn’t think about taking the next step with another team,” he said.
“I can’t wait to experience the difficult and competitive Formula 2 Championship, with such a professional and experienced team. The tests allowed me to clear any doubts about my adaptation as I felt comfortable and confident. So my aim will be to do my best to win the championship in the first year.
ART team manager Sebastien Philippe believes that Martins has the ability to adapt quickly to the new series and become a contender from the first stage of the championship.
“Victor has made great progress in 2022 and has proven in both difficult personal and sporting situations that he has the mental strength and ability to achieve great things at the highest level of motorsport,” he said.
“The Abu Dhabi tests proved his ability to adapt quickly and well to the new single-seater. His determination, enthusiasm and winning spirit will be his weapons in a competitive championship.”
Martins’ confirmation leaves just one final seat to fill in this year’s Formula 2 championship – the second MP Motorsport driver alongside Red Bull junior Dennis Hauger. Former Red Bull junior driver Jehan Daruvala tested for the team at Yas Marina at the end of last season.
2023 Formula 2 driver line
TeamDriversMPDennis HaugerTBCCarlinEnzo FittipaldiZane MaloneyARTTheo PourchaireVictor MartinsPremaFrederik VestiOliver BearmanHitechJak CrawfordIsack HadjarDAMSAyumu IwasaArthur LeclercVirtuosiJack DoohanAmaury CordeelPHM by CharouzRoy NissanyBrad BenavidesTridentClement NovalakRoman StanekVan AmersfoortRichard VerschoorJuan Manuel CorreaCamposRalph BoschungKush Maini
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