HWA RACELAB signs Artem Markelov for Formula 2 debut

The new challenge of the FIA Formula 2 Championship draws ever closer for HWA RACELAB. One of the two drivers has now been confirmed. Artem Markelov (Russia), a former runner-up in the series, will occupy one of the seats for the team from Affalterbach. The 25-year-old currently drives for BWT Arden.  

  • Artem Markelov: "I am sure I will benefit from the vast wealth of experience at HWA."
  • Ulrich Fritz: "Artem is the ideal driver for us in our first season as an independent team."

Affalterbach, 22nd November 2019 – HWA AG is expanding its involvement in junior racing in 2020: as well as Formula 3, it will also compete as an independent team in the FIA Formula 2 Championship. HWA RACELAB will line up on the starting grid in place of the BWT Arden team, for whom it has been involved as technical partner in the current Formula 2 season. One of the two drivers will be Artem Markelov, who HWA RACELAB has signed for the coming season.

The 25-year-old has a wealth of experience in Formula racing. After finishing runner-up in the German Formula 3 Cup in 2013, a 19-year-old Markelov switched to the predecessor to Formula 2, GP2, where he drove for Russian Time from 2014 to 2016. It was with this team that he enjoyed his strongest season to date in the 2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship. Five race wins helped him to finish runner-up in the overall standings, beaten only by current Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc. In total, he already has eight Formula 2 victories to his name.

In the 2019 season, Markelov demonstrated his strength with a fourth and a sixth place in Monaco, where he stood in at the last minute for MP Motorsport. Since his home-GP in Sochi he contests for BWT Arden. He will take his place in an HWA RACELAB car for the first time at the official Formula 2 post-season tests in Abu Dhabi from 5th to 7th December.

Artem Markelov (25, Russia)
"I am really looking forward to racing for HWA RACELAB in Formula 2 next season. I think we will gel quickly. HWA has a vast wealth of motorsport experience, from which I am sure I will benefit."   

Ulrich Fritz, CEO HWA AG
"Artem is the ideal driver for us in our first season as an independent team in Formula 2. He has lots of experience at this level. His tally of eight race wins speaks for itself. His expertise as a driver will help make our introduction to the series easier. I am pleased that we were able to acquire his services."

About Artem Markelov:
Born:                        10th September 1994 in Moscow
Career:                     2014 – 2016 GP2 series (1 win)
                                2017 – 2019 FIA Formula 2 Championship 
                                8 wins
                                Runner-up in 2017

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About HWA AG
HWA AG is an independent, 360° engineering specialist in the fields of automobile racing and high-performance cars. Formed in 1998 by Hans Werner Aufrecht, the company is based in Affalterbach (Germany) and employs roughly 300 highly-qualified members of staff. HWA AG offers all its products and services under the motto ENGINEERING SPEED: The company’s objective is to develop the best possible, high-quality solutions, in order to get its partners and customers to their destination quicker. The portfolio of services ranges from designing all vehicle components to assembling complete cars, together with the relevant logistics, after-sales and support services.

About HWA RACELAB
HWA RACELAB is HWA AG’s operations team in motorsport. It brings together experienced specialists in high-quality race engineering and the associated services, in pursuit of success on the motorsport scene. HWA RACELAB entered Formula E as a new team in the 2018/19 season, adding a future-oriented string to HWA’s wealth of racetrack expertise. HWA RACELAB has also been competing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship since 2019 and will be appearing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship from 2020. With eleven Drivers’ titles and over 180 race wins as a works team for Mercedes-AMG in the DTM, the company is one of the most successful players in international motorsport. HWA RACELAB also draws on the company’s other core areas of expertise, such as the development, assembly and running of GT cars for customer racing, as well as the assembly of Formula 3 race engines.

 

Annette Hörsch
Presse

tel:            +49 (0) 7144 8717 – 215
email:       a.hoersch@hwaag.com

Volker Glaser
Investor Relations / Presse

tel:            +49 (0) 7111 8717 - 279
fax:           +49 (0) 7144 8718 - 111
email:       ir@hwaag.com