Charouz Racing System establish unique Junior Team partnership with Sauber Motorsport

Charouz Racing System have announced a new partnership with Sauber Motorsport to run a squad of development drivers in the Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4 racing categories from 2019 onwards.

The 'Sauber Junior Team' will take to the track in 2019 and both organisations will work together to support and develop the skills of the drivers that are inducted into the programme.

The initiative is unique in international motorsport as it provides talented junior drivers with a clear pathway to potentially progress from the FIA's entry-level single-seater category to the verge of Formula 1 with a single team. Sauber Junior Team drivers will race in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the brand-new FIA Formula 3 Championship, the ADAC Formula 4 Championship and the Italian F4 Championship from 2019.

All cars will sport an identical Sauber Junior Team livery and will be run from Charouz Racing System's headquarters in the Czech Republic. Charouz Racing System has become a proven force in the Formula 2 category this season, winning one race and scoring a further six podiums during its debut season in the category.

Frédéric Vasseur, CEO of Sauber Motorsport and Team Principal of the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team, said: “Racing is a vital part of Sauber Motorsport’s DNA and the Sauber Junior Team marks an important milestone in the company history. Sauber has a long tradition of helping drivers reach their full potential, having worked with the likes of Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and upcoming star Charles Leclerc.

“With this project, Sauber further extends its racing platform with a complete and dedicated programme from the junior series to the pinnacle of motorsport. We are delighted to partner with Charouz Racing System, a highly professional team that operates with success in all the series”.

Charouz Racing System owner, Antonin Charouz, said: "Establishing a Junior Team partnership with Sauber Motorsport is a proud moment in the history of Charouz Racing System and we're looking forward to taking some exceptional drivers on track in 2019, across three different categories of racing.

"The Sauber Junior Team programme is a very exciting development in international motorsport. It gives drivers the chance to potentially progress all the way from Formula 4 to the verge of F1 with a single team. That's a unique model and an exciting prospect for everyone involved."

Charouz Racing System Managing Director, Bob Vavrik, said: "This is an exciting step for us because we'll be working closely with Sauber to thoroughly develop the skills of the drivers we recruit so they are capable of graduating from category-to-category and being successful.

"This is a programme we're taking very seriously and the ambition is to attract the best driver talent to ensure the right level of competition and continuity. Our driver selection process is already underway and we expect to test and evaluate some candidates across the F2 and F3 programmes in Abu Dhabi later this month."