Binder to substitute for banned Matsushita at Spielberg
ART Grand Prix has called up Rene Binder as a replacement for Nobuharu Matsushita for this weekend's GP2 round at Spielberg.
Binder, currently competing in the Formula V8 3.5 with Lotus, makes a return to the GP2 fold after having raced with Trident (six rounds) and MP Motorsport (four rounds) in 2015.
The Austrian driver replaces Honda-backed Matsushita, who is facing a ban for this round because of dangerous driving on the safety car restarts during the Baku weekend.
"First of all I want to thank ART Grand Prix for this great opportunity to drive their car at my home race in Spielberg," Binder said upon the call-up.
"I like GP2 but I still have some unfinished business with it so I always said that if there was a chance to get a drive with a top team within the season I would not hesitate to take the challenge.
"Of course it will take a few laps to get the feeling for the car and for the Pirelli tyres again however, I am sure that I will get the best possible support from the team who is, without any doubt, amoung the most successful race teams in Europe."
ART's team manager Sebastien Philippe commented: “We are really happy to welcome Rene in the team and to offer him the opportunity to drive at his home race this weekend.
"We will do our best, as we always do with all our drivers, to get the best possible result in Spielberg.”
Binder, a GP2 veteran of 68 races, claimed his best finish of sixth place back in 2013 in the sprint race in Monaco.
He currently sits fourth in the Formula V8 3.5 standings.
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