French driver Dorian Boccolacci has signed with MP Motorsport for his second season in the GP3 Series, the category race winner joining Niko Kari to form a strong pairing for the Dutch outfit which makes its GP3 debut this year.

MP signed the Frenchman on the basis of the strong form he showed in his first season in the championship, in which he proved to be a frontrunner from the start. After threatening to do so the entire season, Boccolacci finally broke his duck in the final round at Abu Dhabi.

Boccolacci now joins fellow GP3 Series race winner Niko Kari in a mouth-watering line-up for MP Motorsport’s first season in the series. MP will announce its third GP3 driver shortly.

“Joining MP Motorsport for my second GP3 season feels good”, said Boccolacci. “I know they are eager to show well in their debut season. The team brings a lot of experience from Formula 2 and Formula Renault 2.0. With Niko as one of my team-mates, I know we can spur each other on to great performances. I’m really looking forward to the season.”

“We are happy to welcome Dorian into our team for 2018”, said Sander Dorsman, team manager at MP Motorsport. “He showed amazing speed in 2017 – from the first laps in pre-season testing he set a stunning pace, often the only driver capable of challenging the established frontrunners.

"With Dorian and Niko, it’s good to have two drivers that are well capable of achieving podium positions and fighting for victory. We can’t wait to work with both of them.”

Before stepping up to the GP3 Series, Boccolacci took two wins, two poles and seven podiums on his way to second place in the 2016 Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, while also taking third in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup.

In 2014, his debut season in motor racing, the Frenchman took second place in the French F4 Championship before then moving into the FIA Formula 3 European Championship for 2015.