Juan Manuel Correa to make full-time return with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2023

20 December 2022

Juan Manuel Correa will return to Formula 2 full time for the 2023 season with Van Amersfoort Racing, completing the team’s line-up alongside Richard Verschoor. It will cap off his remarkable and hard-earned comeback following the major injuries he sustained at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019.

His confirmation comes after a one-off race weekend appearance at the final round of last season at Yas Marina with the team. Correa also took part in post-season testing with VAR following the final weekend, ending up with 222 laps under his belt.

The 23-year-old has plenty of single-seater and sports car experience to rely upon in his relatively short career already. Starting his open-wheel racing in ADAC and Italian Formula 4 in 2016, Correa graduated to GP3 and Toyota Racing Series for full seasons in 2018, finishing 12th and 4th overall respectively.

He then made the move to FIA Formula 2 for 2019 and scored two second place finishes that season before the tragic events in Belgium that year. After an extensive period of rehabilitation and training, Correa returned to racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year. He earned a memorable podium in the Zandvoort Sprint Race en route to P13 in the Drivers’ Championship.

Reflecting on his route back to Formula 2, Correa said that it was the realisation of a dream he had been targeting all along.

“Being back full-time in Formula 2 means more to me than most people can imagine,” he said. “It is not just an achievement in itself to be on this grid, but it also is a realization of a goal that has been the epicenter of my efforts for the last three years, so it is a very emotional achievement.”

“I am super grateful for the opportunity that Van Amersfoort Racing is giving me. I am very hungry, I am very motivated, and I know the team is as well. I am sure together we, the team and my teammate Richard, will make a great line-up and create a great working environment for everyone. We will be pushing each other to continuously improve, because we all want to do well this upcoming season. F2 is a competitive category, and I think Van Amersfoort Racing has done a really good job in their first year in the championship.

“With the little experience they had, they’ve put on a very impressive performance. I am looking forward to seeing how I can help the team improve and work together with them in this very exciting season!”

Van Amersfoort Racing CEO Rob Niessink added that Correa was an ‘incredible’ driver and that his experience alongside Verschoor’s would prove hugely valuable for the coming 2023 season.

“We are excited to have Juan Manuel on board for our second season in the FIA F2. We have had many drivers in the past, but I have to say that the level of commitment that Juan Manuel shows is simply incredible. Besides that, his experience is valuable and will help to further develop both driver and team into the championship.

“You can imagine we are very eager to start the season in F2 and with the driver line-up we have, our staff is extremely motivated to progress at a high pace. We are convinced that Juan Manuel and Richard will complement each other massively, both on- and off the track, which we see as a strong asset. For now, we make full use of the winter stop, allowing the drivers and crew to further connect and prepare for the season opener at Bahrain!”