KUALA LUMPUR: Nabil Jeffri has been handed a new lease of life in his pursuit of Formula One after securing a race seat in the prestigious GP2 Series, starting next month.
The 22-year-old, whose contract was not renewed by Petronas Talent Development Programme, will don Arden International colours, a British outfit that produced several F1 graduates, like one-time Formula One winner Heikki Kovalainen, Brunno Senna and Carlos Sainz Jr.
This was made possible following the agreement of the Formula One Management (FOM) to host the GP2 and GP3 during the Malaysia F1 Grand Prix from Oct 1-2.
Another promising Malaysian driver, Akash Nandy, has also benefitted from this agreement as the 19-year-old has been confirmed for swiss outfit Jenzer Motorsport.
Nabil and Akash will make their debuts at the Catalunya Circuit in Barcelona from May 14-15. The GP2 will have 11 legs and GP3 nine.
Nabil knows that he will have to make the most of his rookie season. The GP2 is often the last step of the transition for drivers to get into F1.
World champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg are among the notable drivers to have graduated to F1.
Nabil has previously spent two years racing in the German Formula 3, where he finished a remarkable second overall in 2014. He then moved up to the more challenging European Formula 3 Championship, but has struggled to impress as he could just manage two points from 33 races.
But Nabil believes he’s up for the new challenge in GP2 and is eyeing a fresh start to the new season.
“My goal is to be one of the top three rookies of the season,” said Nabil, who became the youngest ever test driver in Formula One history at the age of 16.
“It’s the most realistic target for me because I will be up against some of the established drivers.”
Akash is another Malaysian rising star that eager to prove himself.
Akash will be hoping to build on the success he’s had in the Formula 3 Remus Championship in Europe last year, where he won 10 out of 12 races on his way to finish second overall in the competition that once graced by former Formula 1 world champions Ayrton Senna of Brazil and German Michael Schumacher
“I’m looking to win as many points as possible in my GP3 debut,” said Akash.
“I’m honoured to be part of our national racing agenda and always determined to give my very best every time I’m on the track, and make Malaysia proud.”
