Formula 2 has confirmed that HWA AG will jump up to the series in 2020, taking the place of the departing BWT Arden after 15 seasons.
HWA AG will step up to Formula 2 in 2020, having debuted in Formula 3 this year.
The team finished fifth in their Formula 3 campaign, scoring a win and four podiums in total, and will now step up to replace BWT Arden. Arden have raced in Formula 2 since it began in 2005 – then known as GP2. HWA is a German company that manufacturers parts for and on behalf of Mercedes-AMG, and entered Formula 2 in a partnership capacity with Arden in 2019. They now fully take over the team’s place in the championship.
Ulrich Fritz, HWA’s CEO said: “We are looking forward to this challenge in another Formula series for young drivers. Alongside our involvement in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, we are now also represented on the next level of the FIA Formula pyramid, ensuring a continuous development of talented motorsport youngsters.”
“It is also further evidence of the 360° motorsport expertise of HWA. From the promotion of young drivers and Formula E to the DTM and GT racing, we now cover an incredibly broad spectrum.”
HWA are probably best known for their management of a Mercedes DTM team, but have grown in profile in single seaters in recent years thanks to their entries into several junior categories. They also operated a Formula E entry in the fifth season, taking a placeholder position in the championship in order to hold onto a place for the Mercedes EQ team which enter for Season 6.
Arden’s final year in Formula 2 was a torrid one. Tatiana Calderon hasn’t scored a point in 2019. Anthoine Hubert finished in the points more often than not, including wins in Monaco and France, but was tragically killed in a crash in the feature race at Spa-Francorchamps at the end of August.
“Arden has successfully competed in the premier F1 feeder series for over 20 years and we have now decided to step back from the category in order to explore other avenues,” said Garry Horner, Arden CEO and Team Principal, “We have enjoyed our time in the GP2 and F2 Championships and, at some point in the future, may consider returning to the grid. Never say never…”
F2 CEO Bruno Michel paid tribute to the outgoing team, which fielded drivers like Heikki Kovalainen, Sergio Perez, Nicolas Lapierre, Sebastian Buemi, Bruno Senna, Jolyon Palmer, Charles Pic, Mitch Evans and Edoardo Mortara over the years: “First of all, I would like to thank Gary Horner and everyone at Arden International for their involvement and hard work throughout the years. They have been with us since the beginning. I wish them many successes in their next endeavours.”
“I would like to welcome HWA into Formula 2. They are a force to reckon with in motorsport and I am convinced that they will adapt quickly to our championship.”
