Brazilian youngster Caio Collet has signed to drive for MP Motorsport in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, the Alpine Academy member remaining with the Dutch team for his second season in the FIA Formula One-supporting category.
Collet's decision to stay with MP Motorsport comes after an extremely promising debut season in FIA F3, which saw the 19-year-old from São Paulo finish on the podium in his very first race in Barcelona, Spain.
Adding another podium at Paul Ricard in France, as well as a string of other big points finishes, Collet finished ninth in the season’s final classification and second in the rookie standings. For his sophomore year, the Alpine junior joins Alexander Smolyar at the Dutch outfit along with a yet-to-be-announced third driver.
"I'm very happy to continue in FIA F3 with MP Motorsport and the enduring support of the Alpine Academy", said Collet, "We were strong in 2021 and that was while taking on many accomplished drivers in an intensely competitive championship. With the knowledge I have gained in my first season, I'm very much aiming to improve on last years results. I'm also looking forward to again being racing in the special atmosphere of the Grand Prix weekends, and in front of the F1 teams."
"Caio staying with us for a second year is a massive coup", said MP Motorsport's team principal Sander Dorsman, "Last year, with three rookies, Caio being one of them, we showed we were right on the pace with the longer-serving top runners in the series and took home a lot of points to bag a fighting fourth in the Teams' Championship. Building on Caio's talent and increased experience, and teaming him up with Alex [Smolyar], hands us a very strong package for 2022. I can't wait to attack the season with these guys."
Collet came third in the 2015 KF Junior Karting World Championship and took sixth in the 2016 OK-Junior Karting European Championship, before claiming the 2018 French Formula 4 Championship title in his first year in car racing.
Immediately progressing to the Formula Renault Eurocup, the Brazilian took fifth in the 2019 series and the São Paulo-born driver became a member of the Renault Sport Academy, now superseded by the Alpine Academy junior programme. He finished second in the series in 2020, before joining MP Motorsport for his debut season in FIA F3.