Alpine junior Victor Martins stays with ART Grand Prix for 2024 F2 season, as former member Caio Collet named Nissan’s reserve.
Formula 2 –
ART Grand Prix have announced that they have retained Victor Martins’ services for the 2024 FIA Formula 2 season, with the Alpine Academy driver set to continue with the French outfit for a third consecutive campaign. Martins’ relationship with ART extends back to 2020 and has proven a successful one with the Frenchman having won his first championship with the team in the Formula Renault Eurocup that year – winning seven races to go along with 14 podiums that season.
He reunited with the team in 2022 for his second campaign in FIA Formula 3, and enjoyed a successful year as he became ART’s first F3 champion in the modern era after coming out on top in a tight championship battle. Martins now returns for a second go round in F2 after enjoying a stellar first year in 2023, one which saw him earn the prize of the best rookie, having scored 10 podiums including one victory at Silverstone.
Speaking ahead of his return, Martins could not hide his excitement, as he set his sights on not only improving as a driver but also adding to his and the team’s championship tally in 2024. “Together with ART Grand Prix, we have a mutual past that is made up of passion and success,” said Martins. “One which has seen the crowning of several titles, I hope to add another in 2024, a decisive season for my development.
“But I will not have my eyes solely focused on the standings: I want to correct mistakes from last year, manage the championship over time and always strive to obtain the best possible result, whether the circumstances are favourable or complicated.
“There is no shortage of serious competitors in this discipline. There is also an element of unknowns with a new car, but I trust ART Grand Prix to make the most out of it. The team supplies me with all the support I need, just like Alpine, and I am holding all the cards I need to achieve my objectives.”
Team Principal Sébastien Philippe shared a similar sentiment to Martins, revealing their goals for the year are not only to help the young driver improve, but to also retain the titles they won for the first time in 2023. “The collaboration between ART Grand Prix and Victor dates back to 2020 when he was successfully crowned the Formula Renault champion,” reflected Phillipe. “We did a good job and have grown together since then.
“Therefore, I didn’t envisage not continuing our adventure with him. His first year in Formula 2 was very good and very informative. It allowed him to constantly fight for pole positions and victories. In 2024, our common objective will logically be to erase any small mistakes from last season and win the title.”
This fills out ART’s line-up for the year with the French team having previously announced that last year’s F3 runner-up Zak O’Sullivan would be replacing outgoing champion Théo Pourchaire for 2024.
2024 F2 line-up so far:
MP Motorsport – Franco Colapinto, Dennis Hauger
Prema – Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman
ART Grand Prix – Zak O’Sullivan, Victor Martins
PHM Racing – Joshua Duerksen
Virtuosi Racing – Kush Maini, Gabriel Bortoleto
DAMS – Jak Carwford, Juan Manuel Correa
Carlin – Ritomo Miyata, Zane Maloney
Campos Racing – Isack Hadjar, Pepe Marti
Hitech GP – Amaury Cordeel, Paul Aron
Van Amersfoort Racing – Enzo Fittipaldi
Trident – Richard Verschoor
Formula E –
Nissan Formula E Team is delighted to announce Caio Collet as its reserve and simulator driver for the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The Brazilian racer began his single-seater career in 2017 in the Formula 4 UAE Championship, where he claimed a win and six podiums. The next year, seven victories saw him crowned French Formula 4 champion. Two seasons in Formula Renault Eurocup followed, which included an overall second-place finish in 2020.
His performance in the series earned him a place in FIA Formula 3, where he collected three wins and 11 podiums across a trio of seasons in the championship. Collet is a former member of the prestigious Alpine Academy, and maintains contact with the program to this day. The 21-year-old has already joined up with the team on site, at last week’s season opening Mexico City E-Prix.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “I’m delighted to welcome Caio to the team for 2024. The role of reserve and simulator driver is an extremely important one in several ways. His feedback from the simulator will have a significant impact on our in-season development, and therefore our performance throughout the year. Caio’s profile as a driver fits this role perfectly.
“He is a young talent with extensive single-seater experience, and his time with Alpine Academy showed us that he is capable of having a positive impact this season. He has shown promising signs already, quickly absorbing new information about key Formula E systems, including energy management. With the talent he has, I look forward to seeing him develop as he works with the team throughout the year.”
Caio Collet, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I’m very happy to have the opportunity to work with Nissan this season. They are a team with strong credentials in Formula E, as well as being a globally respected brand. When I first jumped into the simulator, I was shocked by how different Formula E felt compared to other series, both in terms of the systems in use and the driving style required to maximize performance.
“It’s an exciting challenge and I am very grateful to Nissan Formula E Team for this chance. I believe the experience will make me a more complete driver, helping to grow my career. Oliver, Sacha, and the whole team have made me feel welcome and at home already, and I look forward to developing my relationship with them. Like all Formula E drivers, they are extremely competitive and professional, so I can learn a lot from working with them both. Now, my full focus is on performing to the best of my ability, and helping the team maximize results this year.”
[Note: The story is as per press release]