A big obstacle disappeared in front of Tuukka Taponen

Tuukka Taponen continues as Ferrari’s junior driver. MANUELANICOLETTI.PHOTO

Ferrari announced the drivers of its junior program for next year.

Finland’s formula promise Tuukka Taponen continue in the program. The 17-year-old Taponen, who was selected for the Ferrari Driver Academy last year, will move up to the Formula Regional series next year, where he will compete in the ranks of the French R-Ace GP.

Ferrari reduced the number of juniors for next year. For Taponen, it is significant that in the season that ended, he competed in the Formula 4 series with Taponen James Wharton will not continue in Ferrari’s junior academy.

Wharton beat Taponen in the Middle East F4 championship and also finished ahead of the Finn in the final points of the Italian F4 series. However, Taponen only drove in the series in his first season, while Wharton already had experience with cars in that class.

Wharton’s departure from Ferrari makes Taponen’s journey to formula one easier in a certain way. The junior places supported by Ferrari decrease as you get closer to the Formula Ones.

In the upcoming Regional season, the Italian team will compare Taposta To Rafael Camara. The pressure is on the shoulders of the Brazilian, as he already has less than a year of experience in series cars.

After the Regional, there are still the Formula 3 and Formula 2 series ahead before moving up to the royal class. Ferrari will have one driver in each junior series next year.

In addition to Wharton, Ferrari’s junior academy left Arthur Leclerc. The star driver of the Italian team Charles Leclerc the brother drove in the Formula 2 series last season, but due to weak performances, that path has ended.

However, Ferrari says that even the younger Leclerc will continue to be part of the Ferrari family. This means a driving position in GT races or in the WEC series.