Jimmy Eriksson Joins Status Grand Prix For 2013 GP3 Season

Status Grand Prix have confirmed that Swedish youngster Jimmy Eriksson will race for the Irish outfit in GP3 in 2013, after being crowned the German Formula Three Champion last season. The 21-year-old stormed to Championship success with eight wins and seventeen podium finishes with Lotus in 2012.

As the 2013 GP3 Series season draws ever closer, the various teams’ up and down the grid are continuing to confirm both new and returning drivers for the forthcoming season. Jimmy Eriksson will become the first Swedish driver to race in the GP3 Series once the season gets underway in May, and will be looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Marcus Ericsson in progressing up the motorsport ladder into GP2 in his quest to the top of the motorsport echelon.

“I’m very excited about this new challenge, and about the prospect of racing in a Championship which is part of the Formula 1 experience.” Explained Jimmy Eriksson, “I had a strong season in Formula 3 last year, and I’m really looking forward to building on that momentum with Status GP in 2013. Still, I obviously have a lot to learn, and the competition will be absolutely fierce; but who said it should be easy? I’m extremely motivated to get going!”

Jimmy Eriksson has become the first of a three-car team to be confirmed for 2013, as the GP3 grid slowly fills up ahead of the season-opening race in support of the Spanish Grand Prix in May. Eriksson will get his first taste of the new GP3/13 machine in the opening pre-season at Estoril next month, as preparations for the new season continues to gather momentum.

Picture Copyright © Formula 3 Series

Marcus Ericsson Q&A

As the 2013 GP2 Series season draws ever closer, the grid is slowly but surely beginning to fill as both new and returning teams’ and drivers’ are confirmed up and down the order. One driver who has landed himself a decent drive for the forthcoming season is 22-year-old Swedish driver Marcus Ericsson.

Marcus Ericsson is preparing to start his fourth season in GP2, and has completed a switch from iSport International to reigning Constructors’ Champions DAMS. The Swede will be joined at the French outfit by Stephane Richelmi, as they both aim continue DAMS competitiveness at the top.

Ericsson has two victories to his name already in the category, and is understandably aiming to add to his tally this season. With pre-season testing only several weeks away, I caught up with Marcus Ericsson as we look ahead to what promises to be another exciting year of GP2 action.

Q: First of all Marcus, many thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Last season you secured one victory and five podiums with iSport, do you expect to emulate those results with DAMS in 2013?

Marcus Ericsson: Last year was quite a difficult year for me. The season started really bad and we had to work hard to turn things around. But the hard work paid off and I think my end of the season shows what I’m capable of [Ericsson scored the most points out of anyone in the last six races]. Now after signing with DAMS I feel confident that if we work hard we should be able to fight for the Championship.

Q: Seeing as Davide Valsecchi won the Championship with DAMS last season, you are already regarded as a Championship contender for 2013. Do you feel added pressure because of this, or are you looking forward to the start of the new season?

ME: Of course there is a bit of added pressure since they have won the Championship the two previous years. But for me thats not a problem. I see this year as a great opportunity to show everyone what I’m capable of doing.

Q: In 2009 you tested for F1 team Brawn GP at Jerez. Is it still you intention to become Sweden’s 11th Formula 1 driver in the future, and the first to start a race since Stefan Johansson in 1991?

ME: I think everyone competing in GP2 aims to take the step up to F1, and so do I! But for me its very important to always focus on the nearest future, and that is GP2 [in] 2013. If I have a great year then we will have to see what opportunity there is for 2014.

Marcus Ericsson testing for DAMS at Jerez in November.

Q: You tested for five different teams during GP2’s post-season test sessions last season. Was it your intention to leave iSport for another team, or were you merely keeping your options open with the five teams in question?

ME: To be fair, after last season I had no idea what I would be doing 2013. I hoped that I would stay in GP2 but it’s difficult times. The reason that I tested so much for different teams was that I wanted to keep myself sharp, and of course also try potential teams for 2013. And I think that you learn a lot from testing different cars and teams. But after my DAMS test in Jerez there was no doubts on where I wanted to be [for 2013]. I’m really happy that we managed to get a deal together!

Q: And lastly, the 2013 season finale will this year take place around Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit. Do you think GP2 should support Formula 1 at more distant venues in the coming future, such as Australia, Japan and Brazil, making GP2 a World Series?

ME: I think it would be amazing if GP2 could follow the whole F1 calendar. But as always in motorsport its a question of money. Already now the GP2 budgets are high, and if GP2 add even more oversea races it would become just too expensive I’m afraid.

Many thanks to DAMS and Marcus Ericsson for the communication and time taken to complete this interview.

Picture(s) Copyright © Daniel Kalisz & Malcolm Griffiths/GP2 Series Media Service