ART GP have signed Ferrari Academy driver, Tuukka Taponen for 2025 F3 season.
Taponen previously drove for ART GP as a stand-in driver at Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, due to Nikola Tsolov’s ban for the round, and recorded a 14th-placed finish on his Sprint debut.
His performance across that round ultimately earned him a full-time promotion to F3 for next season, whilst he is also currently racing in FRECA where he is sat third in the driver standings heading into the season finale.
Upon confirmation of his plans for next season, Taponen admitted that he is “really excited” to build upon his one-round foundations with ART GP next season.
“They already showed interest in me in the summer, giving me the opportunity to participate in last season’s FIA F3 Spa competition. The team immediately impressed me both on and off the track and it felt like coming home.”
Taponen also acknowledged ART GP’s success with Nordic countries in the modern F3 category, with Denmark’s Christian Lundgaard and Frederik Vesti having graduated with F2 with the team in last five years after racing in F3.
The French team also took Taponen’s compatriot, Valtteri Bottas to the 2011 GP3 title en-route to Bottas’ eventual F1 career, in which he has taken 20 pole positions and ten Grand Prix victories.
“ART GP has a long and successful history and I want to be a part of it in the future. ART GP is a familiar team to us Finns.
“For example, Valtteri Bottas won the championship with ART GP team before moving up to the Formula 1 series”
ART GP Team Principal, Sebastien Philippe added that he is “very pleased” to sign Taponen, who he believes has the potential to achieve success with the support of Ferrari.
“He’s a young driver with great potential, and his performance with us at Spa showed that he has what it takes to succeed.
“We’re excited to see how he will develop in the new era of Formula 3 and are confident that he will be a strong asset to the team.”