Nigel Melker - Photo Credit: Alastair Staley/LAT Photographic
Nigel Melker will race for the Ocean Racing Technology team in his debut GP2 season in 2012.
The Dutchman graduates to the championship after a successful 2011 campaign, where he finished third in the GP3 Series and fourth in the Formula 3 Euro Series. At the end of the year he made his GP2 debut in the non-championship Final race at Abu Dhabi with champion team DAMS.
But having previously tested for the Portuguese Ocean outfit at Barcelona, Melker has signed to race for them in 2012.
Team principals Tiago Monteiro and Jose Guedes said: “Nigel has had a remarkable season in GP3 and F3. In the tests he did with us he proved to be very professional but also very competitive with our car on the track. The relationship with the entire technical team was also very good, and therefore, we believe that together we can achieve the objectives set for the next season.
“Nigel has shown very strong progress, and despite being a 'rookie' in GP2 he adapted quickly to the team and our car. For us it is also a source of pride to have secured him to Ocean, because the leading teams were interested in him.”
Melker added: “I am delighted to be part of Ocean. The team has high ambitions for next season and I believe to be in a position to help. I have to thank Tiago Monteiro and Jose Guedes for believing in my potential. I’ll do my best.”
Ocean scored just four points in the 2011 season, all of which from Brendon Hartley's fifth place on his debut with the team at the penultimate meeting of the year at Spa.
