Manor MP Motorsport has announced Frenchman Valentin Hasse-Clot has joined the team for the remainder of the 2015 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 season, beginning with the second event of the campaign at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium this weekend, 30th/31st May.
Hasse-Clot’s arrival at the Anglo-Dutch team brings its entry in the blue riband 2.0-litre series up to a capacity four cars with the exciting 19-year-old joining round three race winner Dennis Olsen, Ignazio D’Agosto and Lasse Sorensen.
Having competed in the French Formula 4 Championship last year, Hasse-Clot graduated into the ranks of Formula Renault this season and immediately made an impact during the opening event of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup at Monza, taking a podium finish on his debut.
Also contesting the season opening Eurocup event at Motorland Aragon in late April with a rival team, Hasse-Clot has now joined the Manor MP Motorsport ranks and is determined to mount a serious challenge for more podium silverware and the ‘Rookie’ title.
“I’m pleased to be part of Manor MP as it is one of the best teams on the grid”, said Hasse-Clot, “As a rookie, it will be interesting for me to work in the same team as experienced drivers like Dennis Olsen and Ignazio D’Agosto. I will also be racing with Lasse Sorensen at the team, who drove with me last year in French F4. I know him well so it’s going to be good working together.
“After finishing on the podium at Monza on my first weekend in FR 2.0, my goal for the rest of the season is to score some big points and try and win the Rookie championship. I will work hard to be back on the podium soon!”
After winning the French National 150 Karting Championship in 2013, Hasse-Clot went on to end his first season in car racing 10th overall in the Renault-powered French F4 category before making swift progression up the single-seater ranks into Formula Renault this year.
Welcoming the French teenager to Manor MP Motorsport, Sander Dorsman said: “We’re all really happy to have agreed a deal with Valentin to join Dennis, Ignazio and Lasse in our Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 team, he’s a great young talent and has already shown his pace in the NEC.”
Hasse-Clot’s first Eurocup FR 2.0 qualifying session as a Manor MP Motorsport driver will get underway at 09.35 (local time) on Saturday, 30th May, at Spa-Francorchamps with race one of the weekend following at 13.50 (local time). On Sunday, 31st May, the second qualifying session will start at 09.00 (local time) with the race beginning at 12.25 (local time).
