Photo: FRECA
Nyck de Vries’ protege Laurens van Hoepen will race for ART Grand Prix in the FIA Formula 3 Championship next year.
The 18-year-old Dutchman recently made his FIA F3 debut with the team in the World Cup-awarding Macau Grand Prix, and finished 10th.
He has spent the last two years racing in the Formula Regional European Championship with the French outfit, coming 21st in the 2022 standings then making the podium twice at Zandvoort en route to 10th in the points table this year.
Van Hoepen also did two FRegional Oceania rounds in 2023 with M2 Competition and claimed two poles, won the New Zealand Grand Prix and finished on the podium four other times from his six races.
“I am really happy to make the step up to FIA F3 with ART GP. This will be my third year working with the team and over the past two years, we have really gotten to know each other well, and we have shown that in the positive F3 tests,” said van Hoepen. “Next year will be exciting and I fully trust that ART GP and I can do a good job.”
ART GP’s team principal Sebastien Philippe added: “Despite a difficult environment in 2023, Laurens has always been a fighter and helped the team to turn things around. During his first F3 test, he quickly found his feet and developed a good relationship with the engineers. His qualities as a driver and fighter will be invaluable in a complex championship that leaves nothing to chance.”