Deletraz completes Racing Engineering GP2 line-up

Racing Engineering has completed its driver line-up for the 2017 GP2 Series with the signing of Formula V8 3.5 runner-up Louis Deletraz.

The front-running Spanish team, champions in 2013 with Fabio Leimer, will field an all-new driver line-up for 2017 with Deletraz making his full-time debut alongside Gustav Malja, who switches from Rapax.

Swiss racer Deletraz - son of ex-F1 driver Jean-Denis - steps up to GP2 after just losing out on the Formula V8 3.5 Championship title to Tom Dillmann.

Mentored by Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean, Deletraz is keen to show strong form out of the box with Racing Engineering having made a promising GP2 debut with Carlin during the Abu Dhabi finale last month.

"GP2 is where I want to be in 2017 since after the strong season in Formula V8, it's the natural next step in my career. It's the final category before reaching Formula One and getting to F1 is my primary goal.

"Racing Engineering are a good team and have produced some top results during the last five years. For me, there's no better option and I am very happy with the choice."

"As a rookie, I'll have much to learn during the next season. We all know that the most difficult point in GP2 is learning the Pirelli tyres, so it's very important to have a good team behind you so they can help you as a driver and work well together.

"When I first came to Racing Engineering for the test, I felt at home straight away. I had a very good relationship with the guys and there was a great structure in place. We didn't need to speak a lot to understand each other and make it work. That was a very good point.

"To get the deal sorted before 2017 even begins is excellent news because it allows us all to form a good partnership and to make sure that we all know what we're doing. We worked very well together during the three-day test in Abu Dhabi, so I really think we can get some good results in 2017."