Photo: Fotospeedy
The 2023 Euroformula grid finally has its first driver as Motopark has signed former Red Bull protege Noel Leon for the season ahead.
Motopark has dominated Euroformula since joining the championship in 2019, winning 76 out 86 races in the past four seasons through its main team and Japanese offshoot CryptoTower Racing Team, and winning the driver and teams’ titles each year.
Leon was the 2019-20 NACAM Formula 4 champion, 2021 United States F4 champion and last year drove for Arden in Formula Regional Europe with Red Bull’s backing. He scored two times to come 23rd in the standings.
“I am very excited to join Team Motopark for the Euroformula Open series,” said the 18-year-old Mexican.
“They have the history and competitiveness needed to succeed in the category. Being my second year racing in Europe, I feel very confident that I have the level and experience to dominate this season.”
Motopark team principal Timo Rumpfkeil added: “I have followed Noel’s career closely in F4 during 2019 to 2021 where he won the NACAM F4 and the US F4 championship. During our winter tests Noel has adapted very well to the Dallara 320 car and has set very competitive laptimes right from the go.
“I am sure that Noel will be a strong contender for the 2023 championship. Noel is one of the most promising Latin American talents and I am excited to have him in the team for this season.”
Motopark is the second team to confirm its presence in Euroformula this year, with the German team set to fill all of its cars while Italian team BVM Racing plans to run two drivers through the year.
Rodin Carlin, who raced in Euroformula from 2016 to 2021 and had initially planned to race in the series last year, is not set to return.