Sauber’s karting protege Joshua Dufek has confirmed his long-speculated move to single-seater racing with MP Motorsport in Spanish Formula 4.
The Swiss 15-year-old finished fifth in the Italian championship and ninth in the WSK Euro Series in OK karts under Sauber’s patronage last year, having previously been competitive in junior karts and a national champion in Mini karts.
He came 16th in the 2019 CIK-FIA World championship, going fastest in his qualifying session and also taking victory in one of his heats. In the European championship he was 20th, and 21st in the early-year WSK Super Master Series.
?It?s an absolute joy to be able to join such established Formula 4 frontrunners?, said Dufek.
?I?m looking forward to a successful partnership in 2020, and can?t wait to go racing. This will be an exciting first year in motorsport for me.?
Dufek joins Dutch rival Kas Haverkort and newly signed one-time French F4 racer Enzo Joulie at MP Motorsport, which has run the title-winning driver in Spanish F4 for three of its four seasons.
MP’s team manager Sander Dorsman added: ?We are happy to welcome Josh to our F4 team. He has shown very well throughout his entire karting career, and we hope to transfer that talent to a new environment in which we feel that Josh will thrive.?
Sauber’s presence in karting is set to continue this year, but it has scaled back its Junior Team in single-seaters after branding teams in Formula 2, Formula 3 and F4 in 2019. The Alfa Romeo Racing Formula 1 team it runs has also reduced its test driver roster.