Britain-based UNI-Virtuosi has bought all the assets of the Russian Time team and will compete in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2019 onward.
Following the end of the 2018 season, Russian Time decided to sell all of its asset and move away from the F2 championship. The signs were already there even back in 2017 when the team made a late decision to enter in 2018.
Having successfully run in 2018, the team made its last appearance in the Abu Dhabi test with the series organisers now confirming UNI-Virtuosi as the new entrant under the British flag, which will be led by Andy Roche who managed Russian Time in the past few seasons.
F2 series’ CEO Bruno Michel said: “I am pleased to welcome UNI-Virtuosi as part of the F2 field in 2019. We are familiar with the hard-working group of people who will run the team. They have been very successful in our Championship and I know we can expect the same level of performance from them next season.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank RUSSIAN TIME, Svetlana Strelnikova and Artem Markelov for their dedication over the years. It’s been a pleasure to work with them and to see Artem grow into one of the most interesting drivers to watch on track.”
Roche added: “We are pleased to announce that UNI-Virtuosi will race in Formula 2 next season. We have enjoyed a very successful four years with Russian time and would like to wish Artem and Svetlana good luck with their future plans.
“UNI-Virtuosi Racing’s owners, Paul Devlin, Declan Lohan and I are fully committed to continue with the same mind set which led Russian Time to the 2017 Teams championship, 13 race wins and 38 podiums and the team will continue with the same engineering staff and structure to ensure this success continues in to 2019 and beyond.
“We are close to announcing drivers for 2019 and expect to a final decision very soon.” The outfit had a fine run in Formula 1’s ladder after it secured the teams’ title in 2017 and narrowly got Artem Markelov the drivers’ championship as well.