Lotus GP have confirmed that Daniel Abt will make the step up to the GP2 Series in 2013 with the team.
Abt raced for the French-run team in GP3 in 2012, narrowly missing out on the title to Mitch Evans and finishing runner-up in his first season. He has since tested Lotus’ GP2 machine at Barcelona and Jerez.
The 20-year-old German – son of DTM team boss Hans-Jurgen Abt – will partner the 2011 GP3 runner-up James Calado, replacing Formula 1-bound Esteban Gutierrez at the team.
“I cannot tell you how happy I am to have the opportunity to race in GP2 with the best team I can imagine,” said Abt.
“Already in GP3 we had a really good relationship and worked together well. We finished second in the championship it felt like the right choice for me to go one step higher in my career.
“Of course it is always a big challenge for the drivers and the team but I am sure we have the perfect package to achieve great results. I want to thank [team boss] Frederic Vasseur and all my partners for believing in me and offering me the opportunity to do the 2013 season in GP2 together with Lotus GP.”
Vasseur added: “Daniel is the GP3 driver who has improved the most over the course of the last season. He finished either first or second in [five of] the last seven races, showing he has what it takes to fight for the title until the final race and that he fully deserved to win.
“His mind, his raw talent and his ability to adapt and grow convinced Lotus GP to help him take the step up into the GP2 Series where he will have a professional environment that he already knows and which has the culture of winning.”
