9) Sam Dejonghe
Sam Dejonghe joined the Virtuosi UK team at the beginning of the season and was immediately on the pace, breaking the lap record for an Auto GP car during testing at Valencia, before finishing fifth in the opening race around the streets of Marrakech in Morocco.
The Belgian took his maiden Auto GP World Series podium finish at the Hungaroring despite missing practice, but unfortunately for Dejonghe, his season was over after Hungary, a lack of finances seeing his drive being taken first by Pal Varhaug and then ultimately by Tamas Pal Kiss.
Despite only competing in three events, twenty-three-year-old Dejonghe showed good pace and finished five out of his six races inside the points, with his only blemish being a non-finish at Paul Ricard. He ended the year still inside the top ten in the championship.
Had he continued driving for Virtuosi UK for the whole year, it could have been possible to see the talented young Belgian competing for race wins. Alas…
