Vainio to make FR3.5 debut

GP3 frontrunner Aaro Vainio will make his Formula Renault 3.5 debut at the Hungaroring this weekend for Team RFR.

The Finn, who like FR3.5 race winner Jules Bianchi, is managed by ART Grand Prix co-owner Nicolas Todt, will replace Anton Nebilitskiy in the team, lining up alongside former champion Mikhail Aleshin.

Vainio fought for the championship in his second year of GP3, going into the final round at Monza last weekend as one of four drivers who could still win the title.

Another team set to change drivers this weekend is Lotus, as GP2 racer Nigel Melker will not make his planned second appearance in the category due to his recent big accidents at Spa and Monza.

The Dutchman, filling in for the injured Richie Stanaway, took a podium finish on his FR3.5 debut at Silverstone last time out, and was set to race again in Hungary.

However, Melker has decided to sit out this weekend’s event in the hope of recovering from his GP2 crashes in time for the F1-support category’s Singapore season finale.

“Hopefully the last [GP2] round in Singapore [September 21-23] will be free of these incidents that stop me from doing my job,” he said.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/vainio-to-make-fr3-5-debut

Denny Hulme James Hunt Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx