Rapax has announced McLaren protégé Nyck de Vries and the experienced Johnny Cecotto for the 2017 Formula 2 season.
It is the latest team to confirm its driver line-up for the up-coming season, following the series’ rebranding to F2.
McLaren young driver de Vries graduates from GP3 to F2, having raced with ART Grand Prix last year and finished sixth in the standings with two wins.
The 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion tested for Rapax at the end-of-season Abu Dhabi test last year.
“First and foremost I would like to thank Rapax for their faith in me and everyone involved,” he said. “It has been a tough ride, but here we are ready to fight.
“I am pleased also that I will remain a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme, which I have been associated with for seven years now.
“I hope to achieve success in FIA Formula 2 with Rapax, and my ultimate aim of course remains to get to Formula 1 and achieve success there too.”
De Vries will have an experienced team-mate in Cecotto, who will appear in Formula 1's premier support series for a ninth consecutive year.
Cecotto is a F2/GP2 veteran, having debuted at the end of 2009. He raced complete seasons from 2011 to 2014, before sporadic appearances in the last two years.
“It’s amazing to be racing with Rapax in the 2017 Formula 2 championship,” he said. “Our journey started in Malaysia last year and from the first moments there was a great feeling between me and the whole team.
“We then continued with the second place in Abu Dhabi and three fantastic test days which gave us a great chance to prepare this season.”
