Anthoine steps up his role after a successful season in 2018, when he won the GP3 Series title as a Renault Sport Academy Affiliated Driver.
The 22-year-old clinched the championship victory, which races on the Formula 1 support card, after recording two wins and a further nine podium finishes. He became the final driver to win GP3 as the series, which has been running since 2010, enters a new chapter in 2019 as the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
Racing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship will be Anthoine’s latest challenge, where he will join British outfit Arden International. The season begins in March in Bahrain and will run as a support event for Formula 1 at a further eleven races until the season finale in Abu Dhabi in November.
Renault Sport Academy Director, Mia Sharizman:
“We’re very pleased to promote Anthoine to the Renault Sport Academy for 2019 after a successful season as an Affiliated Driver last year. Anthoine fully deserves this opportunity as an Academy Driver. His consistency and level head proved decisive last year and he will undoubtedly draw on those attributes for his first attempt in Formula 2 this season. It’s also a great opportunity to have one of France’s most talented young drivers on our programme and we will assist Anthoine as much as possible in Formula 2.”
Anthoine Hubert:
“It’s great to be able to announce I will be stepping up my connection with Renault as an Academy Driver this season. I’m really happy and grateful to be entrusted with the role and I can’t wait to keep developing my racing career. I learnt a lot racing in GP3, and I will be looking to draw on that experience for Formula 2, which will be a big challenge. It’s a bigger car, there are more races – longer in length – with strategy to prepare as well. I know my ability and I look forward to using Renault’s support for a good year.”
Renault Sport Racing is pleased to confirm Victor Martins will continue as a Renault Sport Academy Driver for the 2019 season.
Seventeen-year-old Victor from Paris, France, enjoyed a successful debut season with the Academy in 2018, when he finished fifth overall in Formula Renault Eurocup, with two wins to his name.
Victor, CIK-FIA world champion in karting in 2016, joined the programme after finishing runner-up in French Formula 4 in 2017.
Victor will compete a second season in the Formula Renault Eurocup this year joining Dutch team MP Motorsport. The series will compete on nine Grand Prix circuits, including the streets of Monaco, where Victor secured a double third place finish last season.
Renault Sport Academy Director, Mia Sharizman: “
Victor is a very talented driver and he showed his ability with a promising rookie season in Formula Renault Eurocup. Like all drivers associated with the Academy, we’re keen to help Victor develop as a racing driver and ensure he reaches his potential. Placing him for a second season in the Eurocup will allow him to progress as a racing driver and we expect him to be up at the top and fighting for the championship.”
Victor Martins:
“I’m really happy to be a Renault Sport Academy Driver for a second successive season and I’m grateful for this opportunity. Renault’s support has been excellent so far and I’ve been able to develop as a driver and as a person, which I look forward to continuing in 2019. I have one goal this year: to win the Formula Renault Eurocup title. I know it won’t be easy because it will be competitive and I have to learn to drive the new car. Nevertheless, it’s a challenge which excites me and I’m motivated to do my family and Renault proud.”
Renault Sport Academy
Launched in 2016, the Renault Sport Academy aims to find and nurture young racing drivers through the junior racing championships with the overall objective to place an Academy driver in the Formula 1 race seat.
Coinciding with Renault F1 Team’s development, the Academy targets a driver becoming a future Formula 1 world champion with the team.
2019 marks the second three-year phase of the programme, which will see a strengthening in connection between Renault’s group of young drivers and the Formula 1 team.