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David Beckmann and Guilherme Samaia will form a new-look driver line-up at Charouz Racing System, with the Czech team announcing the duo for the upcoming 2021 Formula 2 campaign.
Beckmann will make the step up on the back of a front-running season in Formula 3. The German clinched two wins and five podiums with Trident during his second season at that level, finishing sixth.
The 20-year-old – who also has experience in ADAC and Italian Formula 4, as well as the now defunct European F3 Championship – debuted for Charouz during the post-season tests in Bahrain.
“I’m delighted to be able to jump into the FIA Formula 2 this year after developing my career in Formula 3,” said Beckmann. “It’s exciting to have in front of me a new car and a new challenge, which reminds me the step I took from F4 to F3, and this will be really challenging.
“Of course, it’s also one more step towards Formula 1, and this means to see your goal a little bit closer. To be with Charouz Racing System in this venture makes me feel really comfortable: since they joined the FIA Formula 2, they showed to be on the spot, managing to be competitive and consistent in performance with all their drivers.
“The team has a great back-up and structure, I have already met during testing some of the personnel, which includes people I have already worked with previously and this put me totally at ease with the team and promises a good season together.”
Samaia will add some experience to the Czech team’s line-up, joining them from F2 rivals Campos Racing.
The 24-year-old is a former Brazilian Formula 3 Champion and also has experience in BRDC F3, European Open and Spanish F3.
“I am extremely happy to have joined Charouz Racing System for the 2021 season,” said Samaia. “They gave me a great opportunity at the end of the 2020 season to rebuild and show what we can do out at the track.
“The team brought me into high energy once again with a strong post season test, we did together. I am truly grateful to have been brought in in such an incredible group of people. I am confident we will be a very tough team this year. We will push very hard.”
The pairing will look to improve upon improve the team’s 2020 results, when the finished seventh in the Team’s Championship, with a total of 137 points, two fastest laps and five podium finishes.
Antonín Charouz added: “I’m glad to have David and Guilherme on-board with us for this season. Looking back on the 2020 season, it probably was one of the hardest in motorsport's history, but we have been strong and kept our head down to make the most out of it.
“I’m much more confident about the 2021 campaign, as we have clearer guidelines about how to advance and this allows us to get even more focused on the work on track. We had already the pleasure to work with Beckmann and Samaia in testing, and the results were positive and encouraging for both.
“This season will see also a revolution in terms of the Sporting Code of the series, which I’m sure will give some extra excitement to our season.”