Honda places protege in ART GP2 team

Matsushita, who is backed by McLaren's new Formula 1 engine supplier, tested for ART in Abu Dhabi at the end of last year, completing 74 laps across two half-day sessions.

"I would like to thank ART for giving me the opportunity to race in GP2," said the 21-year-old.

"This is a big challenge but I am determined to do my best as GP2 is the best way to race in F1, which is my dream.

"I would like to express my thankfulness to Honda, who support my challenge."

Matsushita partners 2014 runner-up and '15 pre-season favourite Vandoorne at ART, and the French squad has been pleased with how the Japanese racer has adapted to his new surroundings.

ART team manager Sebastien Philippe said: "Nobuharu will have many new things to discover and the start of the season will be marked by a learning phase for him.

"But ART has full confidence in his qualities and in the team's experience to help him adapt very quickly to the discipline.

"He has no European culture, but he quickly integrated himself into the team at the Abu Dhabi tests."

Matsushita's deal continues ART's association with Honda-backed drivers, following Takuya Izawa's place in its 2014 line-up.

It also tested 2007 Macau Grand Prix runner-up Koudai Tsukakoshi in Abu Dhabi last year, and Matsushita was the faster of the two during that week.

Trident also completed its 2015 driver line-up this week, with Rene Binder - who tested for the team at the end of last year - moving from Arden to partner Ferrari protege Raffaele Marciello.

Pierre Gasly, Alex Lynn

Marco Sorensen, Julian Leal

Stoffel Vandoorne, Nobuharu Matsushita

Jordan King, tba

Raffaele Marciello, Rene Binder

Arthur Pic, Rio Haryanto

Norman Nato, tba

Yet to announce drivers: Russian Time, MP, Rapax, Status, Hilmer, Lazarus