GP3: McLaren's de Vries joins ART

McLaren Formula 1 team protege Nyck de Vries will switch to the GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix in 2016.

The Dutch 21-year-old was third in Formula Renault 3.5 with DAMS last season, having graduated to the series after winning the previous year's FR2.0 Eurocup and ALPS titles. De Vries tested ART's GP3 car in Abu Dhabi during the off-season.

The team took Esteban Ocon to last year's title and also fielded Esteban Gutierrez and Valtteri Bottas during their GP3 championship-winning campaigns.

"ART Grand Prix have an incredible track record and it's the team where any young driver would like to grow," said de Vries. "I'm used to a different brake/tire package, and the biggest challenge for me will be to make sure I get the most out of the tires in qualifying and in race trim.

"I am confident that working with the best team, thanks to McLaren, will help me to quickly adapt to the car to get ready for the first race in Barcelona."

The de Vries deal further cements ART's links with McLaren. The team ran its F1 reserve Stoffel Vandoorne to the GP2 title last year and already has Honda young guns Nobuharu Matsushita and Nirei Fukuzumi in its GP2 and GP3 line-ups, respectively, for 2016.

Team manager Sebastien Philippe said de Vries had impressed with his "raw speed, strong commitment, focus and determination."

He added: "When you take a look at his fantastic past achievements, you know that with Nyck you can aim very high and our target is clearly to win the championship."

CONFIRMED GP3 DRIVERS SO FAR:

ART Grand Prix: Nirei Fukuzumi, Nyck de Vries
Arden International: Jake Dennis, Jack Aitken, Tatiana Calderon
Koiranen GP: Matthew Parry, Matevos Isaakyan
Jenzer Motorsport: TBA
Campos Racing: Alex Palou, Constantin Tereshchenko, Steijn Schothurst
DAMS: Santino Ferrucci, Jake Hughes, Kevin Jorg
Trident: Antonio Fuoco, Artur Janosz, Giuliano Alesi, Sandy Stuvik

Originally on Autosport.com