Fabio Leimer is to return to
GP2 for a second season with Racing Engineering, with the Swiss driver being joined by Colombian star Julian Leal for the 2013 season.
"I am very happy I can drive again with Racing Engineering," said Leimer. "I already felt very comfortable in this team last year, our collaboration was extremely professional and I am happy we can continue to build on this."
Leimer scored a win in his debut for the team in the non-championship
GP2 Final event in Abu Dhabi at the end of 2012, but despite featuring toward the front of the grid on many occasions his luck was continually thwarted when it came to the 2012 championship.
Ill luck meant that he failed to win a race last year, although he claimed three second places and three third places over the course of the year. Even so, he was left frustrated to finish in seventh place in the driver standings at the end of the year, and eager for another chance to prove his abilities.
"I am convinced that in 2013 we have very good chances to win the championship," he said. " would also like to thank all those, who are additionally supporting me. It was not easy to obtain the funds for another season in GP2. Now I am optimistically looking forward and am impatiently waiting for the first race on March 23 to start."
Leimer will be joined at the team by 22-year-old Colombian driver Julian Leal, who comes to Racing Engineering after two seasons in GP2, initially with Rapax alongside Leimer in 2011 before moving to Trident Racing last season where he was paired with Stéphane Richelmi.
Leal has yet to clinch a podium position in his time in GP2, and hopes that a move to one of the leading teams in the series will be just the boost he needs.
"Racing Engineering is a team I believe in and where I feel that I can demonstrate the experience I have gained so far," he said. "I am happy we reached agreement and that Racing Engineering will be my team in 2013.
"I will be giving everything to achieve the best possible results," Leal continued. "It is a positive point to be able to work again with Fabio as he is a very fast driver and we will be able to compare the data to continually improve."