Photo: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Simon Trummer will drive the second Rapax car in the 2013 GP2 season, the team announced on Monday.
The Swiss driver joins the Italian outfit from Arden, where he scored points on three occasions in his rookie campaign last year, finishing 23rd in the final standings ? last of those who took part in all 12 race weekends.
He tested for Arden and Caterham post-season before signing with Rapax to partner Stefano Coletti. European F3 champion Daniel Juncadella had looked set for the second seat at the team after testing for them, but will now have to look elsewhere with a DTM berth with Mercedes a possibility having tested for the German marque last week.
?I’m honoured to be part of Team Rapax,? said 23-year-old Trummer. ?I followed their races in the last few years and I’m sure I’ll be able to take full advantage from some great support from them. I’m at my second GP2 Series season and relying on the help of the team will be key in achieving the results I aim for.
?I’m more motivated than ever and I can’t wait to be on-track and start working with my new team. I want to thank all the people that helped me to land this ride. Being able to run a second season in GP2 is a chance that some drivers don’t get and I hope to reward the staff which support me with the best possible results.?
Rapax CEO Andrea Bergamini: ?We’re very happy to have Simon on-board for the 2013 season. Last year, making his debut in a tough series for rookies like GP2, he showed he is a consistent driver and adopted a really professional approach.
?We hope to contribute to his growth and we admit we’re looking forward to guide him to his maiden top-notch results in the championship.?
PaddockScout Comment
By Peter Allen
Another day, another disappointing driver signing in GP2. It’s no surprise to see Trummer back in GP2 for a second season with funding from Switzerland’s finanical sector behind him.
You have to hope that he has not secured this seat by outbidding Juncadella, for that would be a travesty and a sign of everything that is wrong with GP2 today. The feeling was that if Juncadella was going to be in GP2 it would be with Rapax having spent all four days of post-season testing with the team.
There’s a slim chance he may have found an alternative further up the grid, for example at iSport, but his line always was that if he was offered a DTM ride by backers Mercedes, he would take it. It would be a shame to see the European F3 champion make the move to the DTM for the second straight year, but it would be much worse to know he lost out on a GP2 ride to Trummer’s millions.