Photo: Malcolm Griffiths/GP2 Series Media Service
After the driver himself let it slip on Venezuelan television a few weeks ago that he’d be joining Arden International, the team confirmed it today, announcing Johnny Cecotto, Jr. as one of its drivers for the 2013 season.
After letting it slip on Venezuelan television a few weeks ago that he’d be joining Arden International, Johnny Cecotto, Jr. has today been officially confirmed by the team as one of its drivers for the 2013 season.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Arden Motorsport,” said the 23-year-old Venezuelan. “It’s one of the best teams in current motorsport with a great history too. We had the possibility to get to know each other in a test and straight away there was a great feeling between the engineers, mechanics and me. I feel it was the right moment to sign so that we have plenty of time to prepare for the Championship well and I can also prepare mentally and physically for the 2013 GP2 Series. The target is definitely to win the Championship and I’m sure that both the team and I have the potential to do so.”
The team’s sporting director Julian Rouse added: “It is great to have Johnny joining our GP2 team for the 2013 season. He has shown great potential since he first joined the Series three years ago and he has developed strongly with the current car and the Pirelli tyres. We had an excellent test together in Jerez, finishing both sessions at the top of the time sheets, which assured us of his talent on track and technical ability to work with the team. I am more than confident that if we work hard together we can go one better in the Drivers? Championship in 2013!”
For Cecotto, 2013 will be his fourth season as a GP2 regular. His 2010 and 2011 campaigns yielded him only three points combined, but, in 2012, the Venezuelan finished ninth in the standings with two wins and 104 points in total.
Meanwhile, Arden International finished third in the Teams’ Championship in 2012, running a squad of Luiz Razia and Simon Trummer. Razia was the primary points-scorer, remaining in the title fight against Davide Valsecchi until the very last round yet missing out on it in the end.
The appointment of the well-backed Cecotto should pave the way for the team’s GP3 champion Mitch Evans to take the second seat.
PaddockScout comment
By Peter Allen
I was a vocal critic of Cecotto when he signed with Addax 12 months ago with an appalling record in GP2 up to that point, but he proved that on his day he can be quick. His wins in Monaco and Hockenheim could be considered flukes, but he was on the pace – and the podium – at Silverstone and Monza too.
The aim for him and Arden this year is to win the title, but he needs to make a considerable improvement to manage that. He might be quick on his day, but those days didn’t come often enough last year. And he also needs to ensure he makes use of his pace by not getting caught up in on-track incidents.
If he could do that he could rival Calado, Ericsson et al., but I’m not sure he’s capable. But he’s surprised me before.