Carlin will head to the season finale of the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with a three driver line-up consisting of Jake Hughes, Lando Norris and Daniel Ticktum. The British team, who have shown strong form in Hockenheim in previous seasons, will be looking to finish the 2016 season on a high.
Hughes is already a race winner in the GP3 Series this year, having claimed three podiums in total. The Birmingham born driver previously raced in Formula Renault Eurocup and ALPS and was a race winner in both categories. Before racing in Formula Renault, Hughes claimed the BRDC F4 title in 2013.
Speaking about his F3 drive, Hughes said,
“I’m really happy to be joining Carlin at Hockenheim this weekend, and very thankful to the team for this opportunity. We’ve come close to doing something in the past together, so it’s nice to have the chance now to race with the team in F3.”
Newly crowned Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup champion Norris will also make his racing debut in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship this weekend. 16 year-old Norris has put together a stunning season, taking three championship titles in total, including the Toyota Racing Series and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC honours. Norris was also a four times race winner with Carlin in his part programme in the BRDC British Formula 3 Series.
Norris said of the upcoming weekend,
“It’s great to finish off a successful season with the opportunity to race in FIA F3. There will be a lot to learn in my first weekend at Hockenheim but it’s a track I know well and holds special significance for me as the circuit where I won the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC championship earlier this month. It’s a very competitive field but as a team we’re aiming to be on the pace from the outset.”
Joining his former British F4 rival, Daniel Ticktum will return to the racetrack this weekend. The 17 year-old racer claimed 10 podiums in British F4 last season, including three race wins. The young Brit will return to racing this weekend with Carlin after a one-year absence and will be aiming to come back with competitive pace at Hockenheim, despite it being his first visit to the German track.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Ticktum said,
“I am ecstatic to be back racing this weekend and making my debut in the FIA F3 Championship after a year away from the cockpit. I’ve been doing a bit of sim work in preparation for the weekend so I’m beginning to get to know the track well and I like the feel of the technical final sector in particular. All in all, I’m looking forward to getting back out there, getting stuck in and really enjoying the weekend with the team.”
Trevor Carlin added,
“We’re very pleased to finish off the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with such a great line-up of young British talent. We realise that it is a daunting prospect for our three drivers to be entering their first race at this point in the season, but we have high expectations for both the drivers and the team. For us it’s all about qualifying, so we can prove once again the pace of the Carlin F3 package.”
Having recently completed FIA F3 test days, both Norris and Ticktum will be allowed to enter this weekend’s event under the conditions that they will not be eligible for championship points and will start all races from the pit lane as per the championship regulations. Hughes will be eligible to enter the event under normal conditions.
Carlin Press release