Photo: Zak Mauger/GP3 Series Media Service
Charles Leclerc will race in GP3 this year for ART Grand Prix, it’s been confirmed.
The 18-year-old from Monaco moves into GP3 following a strong season in Formula 3 as a rookie in 2015, winning four European championship races and finishing second in the Macau Grand Prix.
He went on to do the GP3 test in Abu Dhabi in December and spent two days with ART, setting the quickest time on both of them and the best time overall.
Leclerc joins Nyck de Vries, Alex Albon and Nirei Fukuzumi in ART?s four-strong line-up for the 2016 GP3 season, when the series is introducing a new car.
He has been linked over the winter with a place in the Ferrari Driver Academy, but nothing has yet been announced from Maranello.
“I am delighted to be joining the great ART Grand Prix family after my karting seasons in 2012 and 2013,” he said.
“GP3 is a very competitive series and I am onboard with the best team since the championship started. The tests late last year in Abu Dhabi went very well and I felt very comfortable in the team right from the start.
“The atmosphere here is good and everyone is working with just one goal in mind, victory. I’m excited about the new car they have prepared for this season and for the start of the championship. My objective is clearly to fight for the title.”
GP3 2016 line-up so far
| Team | Drivers |
| ART Grand Prix | Nirei Fukuzumi, Nyck de Vries, Alex Albon, Charles Leclerc |
| Trident | Antonio Fuoco, Artur Janosz, Sandy Stuvik, Giuliano Alesi |
| Arden International | Jake Dennis, Jack Aitken, Tatiana Calderon |
| Koiranen GP | Matevos Isaakyan, Matt Parry |
| Jenzer Motorsport | Akash Nandy |
| Campos Racing | Alex Palou, Konstantin Tereshechenko, Steijn Schothorst |
| DAMS | Santino Ferrucci, Jake Hughes, Kevin Jorg |