Tuukka Taponen steps up to Formula 3 with ART Grand Prix for 2025

ART Grand Prix have confirmed their second driver signing for the 2025 Formula 3 season, with Tuukka Taponen set to race for the French outfit next year.

Taponen made the step up to single seater racing after a trophy-laden career in karting and finished second in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship thanks to his 10 podiums, which included four victories.

The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy talent also finished fifth in both the Italian F4 and Euro 4 categories that same year before winning the Formula Regional Middle East Championship at the start of 2024.

Since then, Taponen has been competing in the Formula Regional European Championship and currently sits third in the Standings with four victories.

The Finn is now excited to make the step up to F3 full-time having already made his debut with ART this season at the penultimate round in Spa-Francorchamps.

“I am really excited about the F3 contract with the ART GP team for the 2025 season," said Taponen. "They already showed interest in me in the summer, giving me the opportunity to participate in last season's FIA F3 Spa competition. The team immediately impressed me both on and off the track and it felt like coming home.

"ART GP has a long and successful history and I want to be a part of it in the future. ART GP is a familiar team to us Finns. For example, Valtteri Bottas won the championship with ART GP team before moving up to the Formula 1 series.”

Team Principal Sébastien Philippe added: “We are very pleased to welcome Tuukka Taponen to the team for 2025. He’s a young driver with great potential, and his performance with us at Spa showed that he has what it takes to succeed. We’re excited to see how he will develop in the new era of Formula 3 and are confident that he will be a strong asset to the team."