Jake Hughes takes over Formula 2 cockpit in Sochi for BWT HWA RACELAB

BWT HWA RACELAB changes the driver line-up for the FIA Formula 2 Championship races next weekend in Sochi, Russia. Jake Hughes (Great Britain) will join Artem Markelov (Russia) in the cockpit. The 26-year-old from the HWA RACELAB Formula 3 team replaces Giuliano Alesi (France), who is leaving the team.

  • Home-grown driver from the Formula 3 team replaces Giuliano Alesi for Russian GP
  • Jake Hughes: “I am really looking forward to my first races in Formula 2.”
  • Thomas Strick: “This perfectly matches our philosophy of building up talented youngsters step by step.”

Affalterbach, 22nd September 2020 – BWT HWA RACELAB will appear with a changed driver line-up for the two FIA Formula 2 Championship races in Sochi next weekend (26th and 27th September). Artem Markelov (Russia) in the #16 car will be joined on the grid by Jake Hughes (Great Britain) in the #17 car. In Russia, Hughes will take the place of Giuliano Alesi (France), who is leaving the team.

The British driver comes from the HWA RACELAB Formula 3 team, having spent two successful seasons there. He claimed two victories in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship, winning races in Barcelona and in Monza. The 26-year-old had already celebrated victory in Spielberg, Austria. The 26-year-old driver had reached the Formula 3 podium on a total of eight occasions in 2019 and 2020.

Giuliano Alesi had been part of the BWT HWA RACELAB driving duo with Artem Markelov since the start of the season. He chalked up the first points for the new team in Formula 2 by finishing sixth in the opening race in Spielberg.

Jake Hughes
“I am really looking forward to my first races in Formula 2. Many thanks to BWT HWA RACELAB for giving me this chance. The Formula 3 season finished recently after nine race weekends in eleven weeks, so I am totally in the racing routine. I will have to get used to the cars first, as they have significantly more power than the Formula 3 cars. But I am looking forward to taking on this challenge.”

Thomas Strick (Team Principal HWA RACELAB)
“We are delighted that we can give Jake the chance to prove his undeniable talent in Formula 2 in Sochi. This perfectly matches our philosophy of building up talented youngsters step by step and leading them to the top level of motorsport. Over recent years, Jake has delivered convincing performances as a driver out on the circuit and as a real team player. We would like to thank Giuliano for his efforts in his appearances for the team. He scored the first points for us in Formula 2 to write his name in the team history of BWT HWA RACELAB. We wish him all the best for the future.” 

 

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
Media

Tel:           +49 (0) 7144 8717 – 215
E-mail:     a.hoersch@hwaag.com