Scorpio Motorsport, the 2008 and 2009 Protyre Formula Renault Championship-winning team, has confirmed an initial two-car entry for the new season with Russias Ivan Taranov joining Brazilian racer Henrique Baptista at the Loughborough squad.Headed by the vastly experienced pairing of team principal Jon Pettitt and chief engineer Tony Trevor, Scorpio is still in discussion with several drivers regarding a possible third seat as the outfit eyes a sustained title challenge.Taranov, who originally hails from Togliatti in Russia, enters his third season in the category this year and the 18-year-old Bellerbys College Oxford student will undoubtedly go into the new campaign as a true contender.

Having switched to Scorpio for the final two rounds of last seasons championship, he immediately made a significant impact on his debut for the team by securing a career-best top four finish in the last racejust missing out on a maiden podium by a mere 0.9 seconds. The result also helped him to conclude the year in the coveted top 10 of the driver standings.South American racer Baptista, who resides in Eastbourne, made his car racing debut with Scorpio in the 2008 Protyre Formula Renault Winter Series but then took three full years away from the sport while studying at university.

Making a welcome return to action with the two-time championship winners last season, the Brazilian 21-year-old made good progress and achieved a best result of 11th position on his way to a top 20 championship finish. So far during winter testing, the signs are Baptista will take a major step forward in 2013.Commenting on the pairing, team principal Jon Pettit said: In testing Ivan has been looking monster quick, on old rubber hes been very good and although theres a little bit of work to do on new tyres hes looking incredibly strong. Although hes doing some races in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps as well, he is committed to the full Protyre Formula Renault season to try and win it.Henrique is maturing really well as a driver, the times hes been running in testing are definitely good for the top six I reckon and certainly good enough to be a regular in the top 10. Like Ivan, hes a great guy to work with so were looking forward to a very enjoyable and, hopefully, successful year.With over three weeks still to go until the start of the 2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship, Scorpio is still working to fill its vacant third seat. The team will also, once again, be utilising the driver coaching skills of Kieren Clark, who claimed the series title for the squad in 2009.Were still looking at running a three car team this year, added Pettitt, Were talking to a few drivers and if we can do a third deal well be very happy. We feel weve got a very strong team with Ivan and Henrique, and were happy with that, but three cars would be nice. Well see what happens in the next week or two.Scorpio will join the other teams from the Protyre Formula Renault Championship at Silverstone tomorrow, Thursday, 21st March, for the official pre-season test and Media Day. The opening event of the 2013 season will then follow at Donington Park in the East Midlands on Sunday, 14th April.Along with headline sponsor Protyre, Formula Renault is additionally supported by Michelin, The Lubricant Consultancy, Petronas Syntium and NGK Spark Plugs.