Rowland chooses MP Motorsport for GP2 move
Newly-signed Renault junior Oliver Rowland will race for Dutch squad MP Motorsport in the 2016 edition of the GP2 series.
Oliver Rowland, MP Motorsport
GP2 Series Media Service
Rowland, who took a record eight wins on his way to the Formula Renault 3.5 title last year, made his GP2 debut with MP at Silverstone - and scored points in both races of the round.
He qualified on the front row on his second appearance at Spa, but was knocked out of the feature race in the first corner - and subsequently didn't score any points in two late-season outings with Status.
Rowland previously raced for MP's joint operation with Manor in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2013, battling Pierre Gasly for the title and eventually finishing runner-up.
"Having worked and lived with the MP Motorsport guys in the Netherlands throughout my second year in Eurocup, we developed a really strong relationship which I hope we can capitalise on in GP2 this year," Rowland said.
"We quickly re-established that productive partnership with a half-decent debut at Silverstone last July. So I hope we can start where we left off and make a strong impression in the paddock in 2016."
The Briton was believed to be in contention for seats at Prema and ART, but the former has since confirmed Gasly and Antonio Giovinazzi, while the latter appears likely to retain Nobuharu Matsushita alongside the already-announced Sergey Sirotkin.
This is a make or break year in terms of [Rowland's] Formula 1 aspirations
Sander Dorsman, MP Motorsport team boss
MP had joined GP2 back in 2013 and has a sole win to its name, courtesy of former Lotus protege Marco Sorensen.
"We have worked hard to make this reunion happen," said MP boss Sander Dorsman of Rowland's signing.
"Oliver is a fantastic driver and the performances he delivered in Formula Renault 3.5 and in the MP Motorsport GP2 car last year show what an outstanding talent he is.
"We are acutely aware that for him this is a make or break year in terms of his Formula 1 aspirations. So we will be doing everything in our power to ensure we engineer a car that will enable him to deliver."
2016 GP2 line-up so far:
Team | Driver |
---|---|
ART Grand Prix | Sergey Sirotkin |
DAMS |
Alex Lynn Nicholas Latifi |
Campos Racing |
Mitch Evans Sean Gelael |
MP Motorsport |
Oliver Rowland |
Prema Racing |
Pierre Gasly Antonio Giovinazzi |
Racing Engineering |
Jordan King |
Russian Time |
Artem Markelov Raffaele Marciello |
Rapax |
Arthur Pic |
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