Photo: Formula Motorsport Limited
Juan Manuel Correa will continue his return to racing by contesting another year in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with ART Grand Prix.
Correa joined ART in F3 last season to make his comeback from the serious injuries he suffered in the Formula 2 accident at Spa-Francorchamps in September 2019 in which Anthoine Hubert lost his life.
At the end of 2021 he tested in LMP2 machinery with Prema and returned to F2 in the Abu Dhabi post-season test with his old team Charouz as he evaluated his options for the coming season.
Ultimately he has decided to remain in F3 with ART, having also stayed on with the squad for two days of the post-season running at Valencia in October.
“I am very glad to stay one more year with ART Grand Prix and build on our first season together,” he said.
“2021 was not an easy season for me, with lots of work being done both on the sporting side but with the rehabilitation and medical progress in my legs.
“I feel that this season is an opportunity for me to start on a much higher level and get back to where I can be. I want to give a big thank you to ART and my partners for their continuous support, I believe it will be a good year.”
Correa finished inside the points in his first weekend in F3 at Barcelona and scored in four of the first seven races, achieving a best finish of sixth in race one at Paul Ricard. After a difficult middle part of the year, he returned to the points in the final round at Sochi and finished 21st in the standings.
“Juan Manuel provided positive feedback by fitting in perfectly with the team and making progress after missing a year due to that pivotal event in his career,” said ART team boss Sebastien Philippe.
“His strength of character has enabled him to rediscover his joy behind the wheel and to fight regularly in the top 10. In 2022, with the help of ART Grand Prix, he will be keen to take an additional step in his goals, to be even closer to the front and to participate in the team’s ambition to win both championships.”
Correa is ART’s second confirmed driver for the 2022 F3 season, joining its Formula Regional European champion Gregoire Saucy.
Alpine Formula 1 junior Victor Martins is the favourite to complete the line-up. A long-time protege of Philippe, he joined ART for the Valencia test after finishing as the top rookie in 2021 with MP Motorsport.