The 17-year-old competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2010 with the French team, in his first season in cars. Although he did not manage to win a race, he scored three second places on his way to fourth in the final standings, finishing as top rookie.
Aaro Vainio had previously enjoyed a successful karting career, winning the European KF3 Championship in 2008 and then winning the European KZ1 Championship in 2009, also finishing as runner-up in the World Championship. He is managed by Nicolas Todt, manager of Felipe Massa, Jules Bianchi and co-owner of the ART Grand Prix team.
Vainio drove for Tech 1 at the end-of-season GP3 tests at Estoril and Jerez that took place in October.
“I think realistically there will be much to learn,” he has been quoted as saying in Finnish reports. “I will start with humility and slowly advance. I hope that by the end of the season I will have already had good results. If I am in the top ten in the final standings, I will be satisfied with the first season.”
Speaking about the jump from Formula Renault to GP3, he said: “The new car is quite different to this year's. The power is 80 horsepower greater, it has a turbo and also it is bigger. In early tests the GP3 car was about five seconds faster.”
