Fittipaldi, grandson of Formula 1 legend Emerson, first joined Fortec in European F3 this year and ended the campaign as the squad's top-placed driver in 17th.

In the years before, the 19-year-old also contested British-based BRDC F4 and Protyre Formula Renault championships, taking a race win in the former and becoming champion in the latter in a campaign that featured a streak of eight consecutive wins.

"I am very pleased to continue working with Fortec in this new chapter of my career," Fittipaldi said. "The championship will be very competitive, so I know that it's going to be a big challenge.

"I am confident that we will have a strong package, but we will have to work hard in order to run at the front right from the beginning."

At Fortec, Fittipaldi joins Louis Deletraz, a likewise champion in a two-litre Formula Renault category and the son of former F1 driver Jean-Denis.

The British squad established itself as a frontrunner of the 3.5-litre series in the final five years of its Renault-backed era, finishing in the top three in the teams' standings in each year before 2011 and 2014 - before finally clinching the title in 2015.

"We are delighted to announce that Pietro will remain in the Fortec family," said team boss Jamie Dye. "Our relationship has grown well over the last year and there is trust from both sides. We all know we can do the job and can't wait to get started."

2016 Formula V8 3.5 line-up so far: