Marussia Manor Racing is pleased to announce that Cypriot Tio Ellinas will join the team for the 2012 season, driving alongside Russian Dmtry Suranovich and Brazilian Fabiano Machado.
Tio impressed in winter testing running with Marussia Manor Racing in Valencia and Jerez, showing strong pace in all conditions. He adapted quickly to the category, underlining his potential and marking him out as one to watch in 2012.
The twenty year-old began his career in karting. From 2001 to 2009 he won 101 of the 131 races he competed in. He won the Cyprus ICA Junior Class three times as well as the Cyprus KF2 Karting Championship and the KZ2 Bridgestone Cup in 2009. That same year he also won the inaugural Grand Prix Shootout competition in the United Kingdom.
Tio stepped up to single-seater racing in 2010, competing in the British Formula Ford and winning 3 races on his way to 4th place and top rookie in the championship. In 2011 he switched to the Formula Renault UK Championship, winning two races and finishing in third position.
Marussia Manor Racing will be out on track for the first time this season at the first pre-season test that will take place on 21-22 February in Estoril, Portugal.
Tio Ellinas
“I am very happy to join Marussia Manor Racing. It’s a winning team and I am really looking forward to building on the progress made during the two tests. I felt immediately at home in the team and now I can’t wait to get back in the car again and race in my first GP3 season.”
Pete Sliwinski, Team Principal
“We are delighted to have Tio as part of the team this season. He did a very good job at the tests at the end of last year, demonstrating that he has the potential to be fighting at the top. Now we have our complete 2012 driver line-up we can focus totally on getting ready for the first test before the start of another exciting season.”
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