F1's Manor Racing signs Rio for 2016 season

JAKARTA. Formula One's (F1) Manor Racing has officially signed Indonesian Rio Haryanto for the 2016 season, the team announced on Thursday.

“We are delighted to announce Rio as our second race driver for 2016," Manor Racing's owner Stephen Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Rio is the only Asian driver to partake in the 2016 F1 season, and he is the first-ever Indonesian to reach the premier racing tournament.

"Rio’s huge following in Indonesia is great for the team and for F1. They are keen to see him on the grid and we’re confident that we’ll see him enjoying some exciting battles in the year ahead,” said Fitzpatrick, whose team is based in the UK.

With Manor, Rio will hit the F1 track with Germany's Pascal Wehrlein. (Niken Prathivi)