Artam joins iSport

After a mixed career in Turkish touring cars, Formula Dodge, the US Fran-Am Formula Renault series, British Formula 3 Scholarship class and Formula Renault V6, Artam arrived in Formula 3000 in 2004. He switched from Coloni to Super Nova during the season but found results hard to come by, never qualifying above 15th and achieving a best finish of ninth in the season finale. ISport team boss Paul Jackson is confident that his squad can help Artam fulfil his potential however, having signed the Turk on the recommendation of Frank Williams' son Jonathan - a partner in the iSport operation.

"We have been talking with several drivers in the last few weeks and Jonathan convinced our partners and I that Can was the one," said Jackson. "We feel that he could do a lot better than his year in F3000 and the team is fully committed to giving him the best support in his quest for success."

Artam's signing is a bonus for GP2 as the championship will be the principal support race at the first grand prix in the Turk's homeland on August 20.

"I am thrilled to join iSport International and the GP2 series," said Artam. "We spent a lot of time evaluating the best option. We did not want to rush to make sure we were joining the best team and I am glad that we finally found in iSport International the perfect fit. The team, although new, is constituted probably by the most experienced people on the grid."

Elsewhere in GP2, BCN Competition is set to officially announce former Japanese Formula 3 race winner and World Series by Nissan graduate Hiroki Yoshimoto as its second driver alongside Venezuelan Ernesto Viso.