For the first time in four years, the Red Bull Racing colours will be seen in the GP2 Series, with Frenchman Pierre Gasly joining the EQ8 Caterham Racing team for the remainder of the 2014 season.
Gasly becomes the first Red bull-backed driver to compete in GP2 since Swiss driver Sebastian Buemi back in 2008, and has replaced fellow Frenchman Tom Dillmann in the team. Dillmann himself had replaced American Alexander Rossi for the past three rounds in Germany, Hungary and Belgium. Gasly comes in to partner Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto in the team.
Dr Helmut Marko told the teenager that he would be driving in the GP2 series for the remainder of the season, and he was obviously over the moon with the news.
“Dr Marko called me to tell me the news, and I was happy,” said Gasly to Autosport. “It’s a great opportunity. “I’m excited to race with Formula 1 and in a new series. I’m quite lucky to be in this situation. I don’t know what I am doing next year, but this way I will have good experience of GP2. “If I have to do GP2 then it will be good preparation. We will see what happens next year, but this could be a great opportunity.”
Having won the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Series back in 2013, Gasly gained the backing from the Red Bull organisation, and was placed in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series with Arden Motorsport team for 2014. He currently sits third in the standings with three double header weekends of the season remaining, 54 points behind current championship leader and another Red Bull backed driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
“My aim is still to perform in World Series,” added Gasly. “So I will focus more on that, and then try to give my maximum in GP2. I want to keep in mind that the main thing is to finish the year in World Series well. “I didn’t do any simulator sessions or anything to prepare for GP2, so I think first I will try to understand the car and the tyres. I really don’t know how it will be. I will push like usual and give my best, but I don’t have any expectations. “The aim for Monza will be to discover everything and we will see later what I can do.”
Gasly is the second Formula Renault 3.5 Series driver this year to also race in GP2, with Dane Marco Sorensen having joined MP Motorsport in GP2 alongside his Tech 1 Racing drive in Formula Renault 3.5.
