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ART to run Honda's Matsushita and Fukuzumi in GP2 and GP3 in 2016

ART Grand Prix will extend its collaboration with Honda to field the Japanese manufacturer's proteges in both GP2 and GP3 in 2016

Nobuharu Matsushita stays on in the team's GP2 line-up Rapax convert Sergey Sirotkin.

The 22-year-old Japanese Formula 3 graduate took a race win and ninth in the championship last year in his rookie season and first campaign in Europe.

"I am so honoured to be part of such an amazing team again," said Matsushita.

"As a member of HFDP, Honda Formula Dream Project, aiming to be the top world-class driver, I will give my best to win the drivers' and the team championship in my second GP2 season."

Team manager Sebastien Philippe is certain Matsushita will be a title contender in 2016.

"He had an incredible year in 2015 when he did not know Europe or the championship, the team and the car, but nevertheless he secured one win, several podiums and made massive improvements all year long," he said.

"As a driver and on a personal level, we have no doubt at all that he has all the assets needed to fight for the title in 2016."

ART has also announced 19-year-old Japanese F3 racer Nirei Fukuzumi as the first of its 2016 GP3 drivers.

Fukuzumi tested for ART in Abu Dhabi last winter and was a race-winner in his maiden F3 campaign last year.

"I think it will be a challenging year for me in a new environment and with a lot to learn but I will do what I can to get the best possible result at every race," he said.

Philippe added: "He showed us during the Yas Marina tests that he has very interesting potential.

"Just like Nobuharu last year, 2016 will be a learning phase for Nirei.

"He will have to learn everything from scratch, but we are confident ART Grand Prix has the knowledge to give him the best conditions to do so and we expect Nirei to fight for podiums after only a few race weekends of adaptation."

ART took a clean sweep of GP2 and GP3 championships in 2015.

It dominated GP2 with McLaren Formula 1 junior Stoffel Vandoorne and sealed the GP3 title with Mercedes protege Esteban Ocon, and wrapped up the teams' titles in both series too.

CONFIRMED GP2 DRIVERS SO FAR

ART Grand Prix: Sergey Sirotkin, Nobuharu Matsushita
Racing Engineering: Jordan King, Norman Nato
DAMS: Alex Lynn, Nicholas Latifi
Campos: Mitch Evans, Sean Gelael
Russian Time: Raffaele Marciello, Artem Markelov
Rapax: Arthur Pic
Trident: Luca Ghiotto, Philo Paz Armand
Status Grand Prix: TBA
Carlin:
TBA
MP Motorsport:
Oliver Rowland, Daniel de Jong
Arden: TBA
Prema Powerteam:
Antonio Giovinazzi, Pierre Gasly

CONFIRMED GP3 DRIVERS SO FAR

ART Grand Prix: Nirei Fukuzumi
Arden International: Jake Dennis, Jack Aitken, Tatiana Calderon
Koiranen GP: Matthew Parry, Matevos Isaakyan
Jenzer Motorsport: TBA
Campos Racing:
Alex Palou, Constantin Tereshchenko, Steijn Schothurst
DAMS: Santino Ferrucci, Jake Hughes, Kevin Jorg
Trident: Antonio Fuoco, Artur Janosz, Giuliano Alesi, Sandy Stuvik

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