Photo: Daniel Burgin/Gedlich Racing
Andres Cardenas will depart Campos Racing after two years to join MP Motorsport as he steps up to Eurocup-3 for 2025.
The 16-year-old Peruvian began his single-seater with Campos in Spanish Formula 4, coming eighth in the 2023 standings despite missing in the opening round. He claimed two poles at Jerez, which he converted into a win and a second place.
His 2024 began with instant success, as he took pole and victory in the Formula Winter Series opener. A podium and a fourth place in the following races meant he departed round one as points leader, and he only lost it on second-place countback in round two as he turned another pole into victory and picked up a runner-up finish.
He was off the podium the next four races though, and bouncing back with second place in the final two races actually left him further away from the champion, who won both races. His sophomore Spanish F4 campaign was a disappointing follow up, as he failed to finish in the top five once and he came 14th in the standings.
Joining Drivex School for the FIA Motorsport Games F4 event, held at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit where he had previously tasted success, offered a chance for redemption and Cardenas utilised it well as he took the silver medal.
“Joining MP Motorsport for the Eurocup-3 series is such an exciting opportunity for me”, said Cardenas. “I know how strong MP is from having to fight them in my first two seasons of single-seater racing. Now I’m going to join them myself, so I guess I will soon find out where their strength is coming from.
“For myself, I’m confident that I’ll continue to grow as a driver, moving forward into a new series one step further up the ladder towards Formula 1. With a well-prepared team and talented team-mates, I’m ready to give my best and aim for success in 2025.”
Cardenas is MP’s fifth signing for Eurocup-3, following Spanish F4 champion Mattia Colnaghi and his 2024 rival rival Maciej Gladysz, Asian Le Mans Series title contender Valerio Rinicella and Eurocup-3 race-winner Alexander Abkhazava. The team has one more seat to fill.
“Everyone at MP is happy to see Andres join our Eurocup-3 effort”, said team principal Sander Dorsman. “In the past two seasons, Andres has been a worthy adversary to our Spanish F4 drivers, so we already had an eye on his talent.
“Now he is going to be part of our family, contributing to the great mix of experience and upcoming talent that we have lined up for, what promises to be, our strongest Eurocup-3 challenge yet.”
Gladysz has been confirmed as representing MP in Eurocup-3’s new winter series, which begins this weekend at Jerez.