Swedish 17-year-old Gustav Malja will make the step up to Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 in 2013 as he signed a contract with Josef Kaufmann Racing, as reported by Swedish newspaper Sportbladet.
The Swede has spent the first two years of his car racing career in ADAC Formel Masters, racking up 3 wins on his way to second in the standings in 2012.
?This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I am incredibly pleased and honored to realise it with a team as successful as Josef Kaufmann Racing,? said Malja in a press release.? ?Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 is a massively tough championship, taking place at some of Europe’s premier race tracks, and I am sure that this is the right environment for my progress as a racing driver. I’ve tested with the team on several occasions in the winter and am in tune with their way of working. As a rookie in the championship, I have to be realistic, and I’m very humbled by the challenge that awaits me. It is great to have everything confirmed at this early stage, and I’m really looking forward to getting started with the season!?
?We are very pleased to have Gustav on our side in 2013,” said team owner Josef Kaufman. “He proved his talent in ADAC Formel Masters in 2012, where he was the most consistent driver in the championship. He continued to impress us during the winter tests and we’re confident that, despite his rookie status, he will be a force to reckon with next year. The competition in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 is fierce, which should give Gustav a perfect opportunity to hone his skills behind the wheel and, as such, we are well-prepared for 2013”.
Alongside a full-time Eurocup campaign, Malja is likely to partake in several rounds of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, as that appears to be standard practice for the team’s drivers.
In 2012, Josef Kaufman Racing took both titles in the Eurocup category, taking the Teams’ Championship as well as helping Stoffel Vandoorne to the main title.