Facu Regalia makes GP2 to Formula Renault 3.5 switch with Zeta

The Argentinean was eventual champion Daniil Kvyat's closest title challenger in GP3 two seasons ago, before graduating to GP2 with Hilmer Motorsport in 2014.

Regalia parted company with Hilmer after the fourth round of the season at the Red Bull Ring in June.

"Following seven months of intense work I can confirm my participation in World Series by Renault," said Regalia, whose CV also includes campaigns in Auto GP, European F3 Open and Italian F3.

"It is another season racing in Europe and it's fantastic to join such a Formula 1 feeder series with Zeta Corse.

"It is an opportunity, and we must do everything in our power to seize it, because drivers such as [Sebastien] Vettel, [Daniel] Ricciardo, [Jaime] Alguersuari and now Carlos Sainz Jr, who was a rival in GP3 two years ago, [have graduated to Formula 1 from this series'] historic roll of honour."

Regalia will travel to Valencia, where the Russian-owned team is based, on Monday, ahead of the first pre-season test at Jerez on March 5-6.

"This is a completely new experience for me, so I need to make the most of pre-season tests," he said. "2015 is going to be a very important year for me, it's surely a crucial one."

Zeta Corse staged a title attack in the second half of the 2014 FR3.5 series thanks to the efforts of Roberto Merhi. The team has yet to announce its second driver for this season.

2015 FR3.5 line-up so far

DAMS 
Nyck de Vries, Dean Stoneman

Fortec Motorsports 
Oliver Rowland, TBA

Arden Motorsport 
Egor Orudzhev, Nicholas Latifi

Zeta Corse
Facu Regalia, TBA

Lotus 
Meindert van Buuren, Matthieu Vaxiviere

Strakka Racing
 Gustav Malja, Tio Ellinas

AVF 
Beitske Visser, Alfonso Celis

Tech 1 Racing 
Aurelien Panis, Roy Nissany

International Draco Racing 
Pietro Fantin, Bruno Bonifacio

Pons Racing
Oscar Tunjo, TBA

Carlin
Tom Dillmann, Sean Gelael