SPORTS
F1’s Manor appoints Indonesia’s Haryanto as race driver
Baku, February 18, AZERTAC
Formula One team Manor has appointed Indonesia's Rio Haryanto as one of its race drivers for the coming season, according to The Herald.
The 23-year-old Haryanto will become the first Indonesian to compete in F1 and joins Germany's Pascal Wehrlein in an all-rookie lineup for the season that begins March 20 in Melbourne, Australia.
"Melbourne will be a huge moment for me, my country, supporters and fans and I want to thank everyone who's been with me since I started in single-seaters; 2016 is my chance to reward that faith and represent Asia in F1," Haryanto said in a team statement issued Thursday.
The second race seat at Manor was the last vacancy among the 11 teams for 2016, and Haryanto's appointment completes the driver lineup.
Haryanto has spent the past four seasons racing in the GP2 series, winning three races in 2015 to secure fourth place in the season standings. He has had commercial backing from Indonesia's state oil and gas company Pertamina.