Rio Haryanto appointed new Manor Racing Reserve Driver

Banbury based Manor Racing has announced that Rio Haryanto will remain with the Formula One team for the rest of the season, having accepted its offer of a Reserve Driver role.

Rio will be available to deputise should either race driver be unable to take part in an event. He will also be immersed in engineering meetings and PR activities, as the team continues its support for his racing ambitions.

Rio grew up in Sulo Indonesia and started karting at the young age of six. He began his professional career in 2008 racing in three Asian-based series, Formula BMW Pacific, Asia Formula Renault Challenge, and Formula Asia 2.0. Two years later and Rio stepped up to GP3 in Europe, where he raced to victory at Istanbul Park and clinched fifth in the championship. The following season saw victories at the Nurbürgring and the Hungaroring: both in the wet.

Rio raced in GP2 in 2011 for the Carlin team, moving to EQ8 Caterham Racing for 2014. Switching to Campos in 2015 Rio secured victory in Bahrain, quickly followed by victory in Austria. He finished the season fourth with 138 points.

Manor Racing – in a previous guise – gave Rio his first F1 tests in 2010 and 2012 when he clocked up 300km of testing making him Indonesia’s first ever superlicense holder.