Four more teams have announced its drivers for the 2019 FIA Formula 3 (F3) Championship with Jake Hughes, Niko Kari, Alessio Deledda and Artem Petrov joining the grid.
As the F3 teams undertake their first-ever run in the new cars ahead of the 2019 season, four more drivers have been announced as confirmed drivers to join the grid as HWA Racelab and Campos Racing complete its line-up.
After naming Keyvan Andres and Bent Viscaal in their set-up, experienced campaigner Hughes joins the new single-seater outfit as the British racer continues in the junior series below the Formula 2 level.
“HWA has such a long-standing experience in motorsport, I’m delighted to be part of the family now,” said Hughes. “It’s an exciting phase in the history of the company and I get to help write a new chapter.
“I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. Together we will take on Formula 3 and compete against the absolute top teams in single-seater racing. I can’t wait for the season to get started and to battle for wins.”
Team Principal HWA Racelab, Thomas Strick added: “It’s a stroke of luck for us that we were able to get Jake Hughes on board as a driver. He has already proven his strength at this level on multiple occasions.
“No doubt he will help us find our feet quickly in this new series. This completes our team for the 2019 season. We were able to find the perfect mix of different race driver personalities that will complement each other well.”
Another experienced driver to join in is Kari with the Finn named as Trident’s first signing of 2019. The former Red Bull junior doesn’t graduate to a full-time F2 season after four outings last year with MP Motorsport.
“I am excited to race under the Team Trident banner in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship,” said Kari. “I am sure that we will reach absolute-level results together. I have been in touch with the Milan-based team for years.
“We enjoyed some great testing sessions at the end of the last season at Abu Dhabi and there are now the right conditions to work together. The team is extremely high-level, technically and from a human standpoint, and I am sure there will be chemistry needed to experience a front-running season. I cannot wait to be on track.”
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager added: “I am extremely proud to announce that promising Finnish racer Niko Kari has joined the Team Trident family and will race in the 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
“Niko has the potential needed to aim for the title and make the step to the major racing series, in line with his skills. I can assure that Team Trident will give its best to help the new driver to reach a well-deserved success.”
Meanwhile, completing Campos line-up will be a former bike racer Deladda after the Italian made his F4 debut in 2018. He joins Sebastian Fernandez and Alex Peroni’s in the Spanish outfit’s F3 line-up.
“My target is to learn many things as possible and gain experience,” he said. “Campos Racing is a great team competing in many different championships including the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
“Everybody is always there for everything I need and they always help me with every step of my training and racing experience.” And finally, Jenzer Motorsport’s second F3 announcement was made with Petrov joining Yuki Tsunoda.
“I want to compete in Formula 3 because the level of competition is very high,” he said. “It will bring me a lot of experience. Races will be carried out with an absolutely new car for everyone so there is a chance to show a very good result.”
2019 F3 line-up so far:
Prema – Marcus Armstrong, Jehan Daruvala & Robert Shwartzman
Jenzer – Yuki Tsunoda, Artem Petrov
HitechGP – Juri Vips, Leonardo Pulcini
ART – David Beckmann, Christian Lundgaard & Max Fewtrell
Campos Racing – Sebastian Fernandez, Alex Peroni & Alessio Deledda
Carlin – Teppei Natori, Felipe Drugovich & Logan Sargeant
HWA Racelab: Keyvan Andres, Bent Viscaal & Jake Hughes
Charouz Racing System – Fabio Schrer, Lirim Zendeli & Raoul Hyman
Trident – Niko Kari
