MP Motorsport have signed Alexander Smolyar for 2022 FIA F3 season.
This move will see Smolyar remain in F3 for a third consecutive season after spending two seasons with ART GP, which saw him improve from 11th to sixth in the championship standings across both seasons and take two wins last season in opening Spanish and French races.
Clearly “delighted” to make the move to MP Motorsport, Smolyar spoke highly of the team after battling their cars throughout 2021 for various podium finishes.
“Last year, I fought many duels with MP’s cars as they challenged for the podium finishes that I was aiming to achieve as well,” said Smolyar on his battles against MP Motorsport drivers last season but iterated that he is “hoping to take as many wins as we possibly can” now he is at the team.
MP Motorsport Team Principal, Sander Dorsman meanwhile hailed Smolyar’s arrival as “great news” as the Dutch team looks to build on last season and fight for more wins, having claimed one win and seven other podiums in 2021 with two of their three drivers.
Dorsman proceeded to explain why Smolyar has joined the team as he said: “Alex is arguably one of the best drivers to stay in the category for another season, and his vast knowledge of the car and the circuits will serve us well as we look forward to a strong season.”
Having enjoyed a successful karting career, Smolyar instantly made an impact on single-seater racing as he finished third overall in both SMP F4 and Spanish F4 during 2017 season for SMP Racing.
The now 20 year-old Russian then spent 2018 and 19 seasons in Formula Renault Eurocup where he claimed two wins in the latter season, en route to another third-placed championship finish.
MP Motorsport now have two vacant seats to fill ahead of the new F3 season which gets underway in Bahrain across 18-20 March 2022.
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