Virtuosi to run Russian Time GP2 team

The entry will remain under the Russian Time moniker, with Svetlana Strelnikova continuing as team principal, but Virtuosi UK will replace iSport in managing the team.

Virtuosi team director Andy Roche was involved in GP2 in its early years before setting up the Auto GP project with owner Declan Lohan.

"I am very, very pleased that the qualities of our team have been recognised and to be able announce this move into GP2," Lohan told AUTOSPORT.

"Andy Roche was involved in GP2 right from the beginning, and he will act as team manager. We think we have the right personnel to do the job.

"We got the call from GP2 and Russian Time, and went to Geneva to meet them. Our dealings with Svetlana were positive and Virtuosi will take over the service contract to run the cars.

"Everything is now going ahead and we've booked the flights and hotels for the first test in Abu Dhabi. We will be announcing drivers shortly."

Lohan confirmed the move into GP2 will not mean an end to Virtuosi UK's involvement in Auto GP.

Russian Time won the GP2 teams' title in its maiden season in 2013, having been created via the purchase of iSport at the start of the year.

It faced an uncertain future after the death of founder Igor Mazepa early last year and a subsequent split with the Motopark team that had run the GP2 operation on its behalf.

iSport personnel returned to run Russian Time and its lead driver Mitch Evans took fourth in last year's standings.