Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Tuukka Taponen

  • Taponen moves to MP Motorsport for 2026

    Tuukka Taponen will return for a second season in Formula 3 next year, making the move to MP Motorsport for the 2026 campaign.

    The 18 year old had a stellar rookie year in F3, achieving three podiums on his way to finishing ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.

    Prior to that, the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member had a trophy-laden step karting career, before making the step up to single seater racing in 2021.

    Taponen then finished second in the 2023 Formula 4 UAE Championship, before becoming the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Champion. Later that year, he took third in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.

    He is now set to continue in Formula 3 for another season, and is delighted to be back and to be racing with MP.

    I’m really pleased to join MP Motorsport for my second year in Formula 3. It’s wonderful news to have confirmation of my immediate future so early. It means that I have a productive winter with the team and the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy ahead of me, as we work together on the best possible preparation for the 2026 season. MP is one of the leading teams in the championship, having finished third in this year’s teams standings, and I look forward to becoming part of their family and adding to their success.
    Taponen on the news.

    At MP Motorsport, we are all happy to welcome Tuukka into our Formula 3 squad for 2026. Ever since his promotion from karts, Tuukka’s quick rise through the ranks has been remarkable. He has been one of our fiercest rivals in the past two years, so having him on our side for 2026 is absolutely great news. Along with Mattia and Alessandro, Tuukka will add to MP’s strong 2026 line-up of extremely talented youngsters all capable of fighting at the sharp end of the Formula 3 grid.
    MP Motorsport Team Principal, Sander Dorsman.

  • Taponen steps up to Formula 3

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

    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, all thanks to his 10 podiums, which included four victories.

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

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

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

    I am really excited about the F3 contract with the ART GP team for the 2025 season. 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.
    Taponen on the news.

    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.
    Sebastien Philippe, Team Principal.