Carlin Buzz Racing has announced the signing of Brazilian Felipe Drugovich for the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

Drugovich joins the re-named outfit alongside Teppei Natori after a successful 2018 where he won three single-seater titles. He started off the year winning the MRF Challenge winter series and followed it up a dominant performance in Euroformula Open.

The Spanish F3 was part of the EF Open series which the Brazilian won as well. “I am very happy to join Carlin for this new challenge for both the team and I. Carlin has welcomed me so well, and that is just an amazing start for this big journey.

“Carlin has always been one of the teams I really wanted to work with and now I will be part of it, so now is time to make things happen together,” Drugovich said. The 18-year-old becomes the 13th confirmed driver for the new F3 series starting in 2019.

Trevor Carlin added: “We are so excited to welcome Felipe to the team after what was a fantastic performance in the Euroformula Open Championship last season. He certainly impressed many, including us, with his speed and consistency throughout the year.

“So, I can’t wait to see what he can achieve in a new championship in the FIA Formula Three car. We look forward to hitting the ground running at the first test.” Testing of the new car starts in March and will carry on in April.

2019 F3 line-up so far:

Prema – Marcus Armstrong, Jehan Daruvala & Robert Shwartzman

Jenzer – Yuki Tsunoda

HitechGP – Juri Vips, Leonardo Pulcini

ART – David BeckmannChristian Lundgaard & Max Fewtrell

Campos Racing – Sebastian Fernandez, Alex Peroni

Carlin – Teppei Natori, Felipe Drugovich