Motorsport: Hartley to race in GP2 at Monza

Brendon Hartley has bounced back from his Red Bull dumping to join Scuderia Coloni for this year's final two GP2 rounds. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand's Brendon Hartley will race with Italian team Coloni Motorsport in the final two rounds of the GP2 series, which is regarded as the strongest Formula One feeder category.

The Palmerston North driver will race at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in Italy this weekend, and in the final round in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on November 13-14.

"It is a fantastic opportunity and I'm looking forward to a new challenge," said Hartley, 20, who has not raced since the 3.5 World Series Renault round in Hungary in early July, when he was cut from the Red Bull junior team.

"I have been preparing myself for this opportunity and I am ready to fight for my future.

"There's been a lot going on behind the scenes during the last few weeks. We've all been very busy so we have chosen to keep a low media profile while looking at my options for the future.

"There are a number of potential opportunities for me so I will be pushing hard to show well this weekend. I'm determined to prove that I am ready to progress towards my goal of racing in Formula One."

Hartley has been working with the Coloni team's engineers in Italy and spent time on the team's simulator, learning the racing lines for the high speed Monza circuit and getting a grip on the set up of the GP2 single seater.

Team owner Paolo Coloni described Hartley as "a highly esteemed and talented driver".

"We face a really big task at Monza as Brendon has never driven a GP2 car, but he has great experience in high-powered cars and the team will support him in the best possible way.

"We are confident that working together we will be able to find the right pace in the little time available."

The GP2 format at Monza will give Hartley just 90 minutes of practice on Friday, followed by the 30-minute official qualifying session.

"Obviously I have to keep in mind that I have never driven the car before and I'm competing against drivers that have contested the whole championship," Hartley said.

"Matching their performance won't be easy, I have managed to do a good job with the Coloni simulator and I'm confident that working with the team we will be able to improve steadily."

- NZPA