ART Grand Prix have confirmed that Luke Browning will race for the team in Formula 2 for the remainder of the 2024 season.
The Brit has enjoyed a successful junior career thus far, winning the British F4 title in 2019 and the GB3 Championship in 2022.
In 2023, Browning won the Macau Grand Prix with Hitech and raced with the team in his debut season in Formula 3, where he finished 15th with one podium, coming at the Sprint Race in Spain with second place.
The 2024 campaign would be much more competitive. Remaining with Hitech, Browning grabbed two victories in the Features Races in Bahrain and Austria and went into the season finale at Monza with a chance at the title.
However, after finishing sixth in the Sprint Race, Browning finished down in 20th in the Feature Race and finished the year third, with Leonardo Fornaroli claiming the F3 title on the final corner of the final lap of the race.
Despite losing out to Fornaroli by 25 points, Browning displayed some impressive skills behind the wheel, and his efforts in F3 have been rewarded as he is set to head to the Formula 2 grid.
Luke Browning shares message on Instagram ahead of Formula 2 debut with ART Grand Prix
Ahead of round 12 of the 2024 F2 season in Baku, the 22-year-old will race with ART Grand Prix for the final three rounds, with his arrival coming under unfortunate circumstances.
It was confirmed that Zak O’Sullivan would be unable to complete the F2 season with ART Grand Prix due to a funding issue. The Brit had claimed victory at the Feature Race in Monaco and the Sprint Race in Spa and was sat 13th in the drivers’ standings.
O’Sullivan was given messages of support from his fellow F2 competitors as the Williams Academy driver fights to get back onto the grid. But as one Williams prospect departs, another enters in Browning.
Posting on his Instagram story after ART Grand Prix’ announcement of his signing, Browning is raring to go as he wrote: “Let’s do this,” followed by an explosion emoji.
The Brit joined the Williams Driver Academy in April 2023 and was given his first taste of Formula 1 machinery in October as he drove the Aston Marrtin AMR21 at Silverstone.
Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto are battling for the Formula 2 title
Browning’s first outing in F2 comes at Baku this weekend as the season near its climax.
Championship leader Isack Hadjar had his advantage cut down to just 10.5 points after failing to score at either race in Monza.
Meanwhile, his rival Gabriel Bortoleto claimed an incredible victory in the Feature Race, going from last to first. His second win and fifth podium of the year puts him in a good position to challenge Hadjar.
Zane Maloney and Paul Aron stand outside chances of the title, but it is likely that Hadjar and Bortoleto will battle it out for the F2 crown as they bid to reach F1 in 2025.