Japanese youngster Marino Sato will remain with Motopark for another season in European Formula 3.
Sato stepped up to Formula 3 for 2017 with the operation after two years in Italian Formula 4, and finished a low-key 19th in the standings, scoring just a solitary point.
Sato will have another crack at the championship in 2018, with team boss Timo Rumpfkeil expecting the 18-year-old to make substantial progress.
“2017 was a difficult year for Marino – after all, the decision to join F3 came very late and with the exception of Monza and Spielberg, he hadn’t known any of the tracks,” said Rumpfkeil.
“We all knew it would be a tough year. But Marino learnt his lessons fast and well; the points scored in Austria show how steep and yet successful his learning curve was.
“We backed that up with an extensive testing and preparation programme in the autumn and winter of 2017; Marino will hence start next season on a much higher level.
“We expect him in the top 10 regularly, with potential for more on various occasions.”
Added Sato: “I learnt a lot in 2017 and feel much more ready for the championship now.
“This is one of the key reasons why I opted for Motopark in the first place, and it has proved right ever since.
“I wanted to learn as much about Formula 3 as I could in my maiden year, and in Motopark, I found the best possible teachers.”
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