Formula 2 grid expanded to 11 teams as Hitech Grand Prix joins for 2020

Hitech Grand Prix has announced that it has joined the FIA Formula 2 championship for the 2020 season.

The British outfit raced in a number of junior categories during 2019, including the newly formed FIA Formula 3 championship, where it finished second in the teams' standings.

It also found championship success in the F3 Asian Championship and the F3 Asian Winter Championship.

Hitech has not yet declared which drivers will form its line-up for the new F2 season, however it has been revealed that it will race with numbers 24 and 25. 

Hitech Grand Prix owner Oliver Oakes said: “I’d like to thank Bruno for the trust placed in Hitech to give us an additional entry. Stepping up to F2 was always something we were aspiring towards, once we had established ourselves in the new era of Formula 3.

“With the new 18-inch rims and some car updates coming to F2 in 2020 it made entering now much more necessary than the end of 2020 where we would be a year behind the learning process."

The opening round of the 2020 F2 championship kicks off in March at Bahrain, supporting the second round of the Formula 1 season.

The last time Formula 2 ran with 11 teams was in 2016, the final year the series was known as GP2. 

Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel added: “I am pleased to welcome Hitech Grand Prix to our 2020 F2 grid. As stated before, many teams continuously show interest in joining our Championship.

"Today’s driver market combined with Hitech’s prowess meant this addition to the new season became possible.

“Hitech Grand Prix enjoyed a strong Formula 3 season in 2019 and I know that although they are joining late, they will be able to adapt quickly to Formula 2 in order to fight against the other teams.”