GP3 champion Hubert among six-strong 2019 Renault Sport Academy line-up

He romped to the GP3 title last season, and now Anthoine Hubert has been confirmed as one of six drivers in the Renault Sport Academy line-up for 2019.

The highly-rated French racer (pictured above left) was a Renault-affiliated driver last year, but following his exploits in GP3, which saw him become the last champion in the series' history (replaced on the Formula 1 bill in 2019 by the new Formula 3 championship) he has now been signed up as a fully-fledged Academy member.

Joining Hubert and Chinese up-and-comer Guanyu Zhou, whose arrival as Development Driver was announced on Tuesday, is another brand-new addition to the Anglo-French squad’s junior programme - Brazilian teenager Caio Collet.

The trio will join Formula Renault Eurocup champion Max Fewtrell, Eurocup rookie winner Christian Lundgaard and Victor Martins (pictured alongside Hubert above), who have all been retained to complete a six-strong Academy line-up.

Four of the drivers will be present at Grand Prix weekends this season, with Hubert and Zhou competing in F2 and Fewtrell and Lundgaard doing battle in F3.

Martins and Collet, meanwhile, will combine their Academy duties with the Formula Renault Eurocup, which races at nine F1 circuits including Monaco, Abu Dhabi and Great Britain.

“We’re extremely pleased to have such a talented pool of drivers on the Renault Sport Academy," said Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport Racing Managing Director.

“All six drivers have shown themselves to be exciting talents in the junior categories and we look forward to working with them in 2019.

“The Formula 1 team will draw benefits from having a group of outstanding drivers – both in the short-term and long-term – and the Academy will continue to help in that way for years to come.

“We’re looking forward to continuing with Max, Christian, Anthoine and Victor and we’re really pleased to have Guanyu and Caio beginning their journey with the team. We’ll be supporting all six drivers to help them enjoy a successful season.”