It is with excitement that Carlin is thrilled to announce that Lando Norris will join the FIA Formula Three European Championship for the 2017 season with the team. Norris has been one of the most thrilling young talents to watch recently and since he started single seat racing in 2015 has won an impressive four Championship titles including the MSA Formula title with Carlin. Norris has been a force to be reckoned with over the course of the season and has already raced in the FIA F3 European car both at Hockenheim and at the Macau GP in which his strong display saw him carve his way through the field to 11th.
Since joining the team in 2015 Norris, now 17, spent his first single seat race season in the MSA Formula. Starting his campaign in style the British racer clinched the crown with a total of eight wins before going on to take the title in the Toyota Racing Series early in 2016.
Norris then raced in a variety of championships with success including two further championships victories in the Formula Renault NEC and Eurocup championships while competing in a shortened season of the 2016 BRDC British Formula Three Championship with Carlin where he took a total of four wins and eight podiums. Norris’ speed was further underlined with his four pole positions which made him the joint highest placed across the entire field, despite his curtailed programme.
Norris already has experience in the FIA Formula Three car following a debut race this season at Hockenheim in order to confirm his eligibility for the Macau GP which he competed in with the team last month. Contact with the barriers in the Qualification Race meant that he had to start from the back of the grid for the 63rd Macau GP FIA Formula Three World Cup however Norris amazingly carved his way up to 11th – an incredible 15 places higher than his starting position on the grid.
The announcement comes following confirmation last week that Norris becomes the latest McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner at the 2016 Autosport Awards – an accolade that will see him test a McLaren Formula One car as well as become part of their simulator programme. Norris joins an impressive list of previous winners such as David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Oliver Turvey.
Norris said of the signing, “I’m very happy to be driving for Carlin in 2017. Next season marks my third season racing for them [Carlin]. The guys in the team are great, we enjoy spending time together, we all get along very well and importantly I believe they are the right team for my first season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. It’s a very competitive series but I’m sure that I have the right ‘package’ to challenge for the title having shown good pace at Hockenheim and Macau.”
Racing director Trevor Carlin said, “We are very pleased and proud that Lando and his management have chosen to stay with the team for a third season, and I’d like to thank them for the trust they’ve placed in our FIA F3 team after two very promising outings in Hockenheim and Macau. Lando is an incredibly exciting young driver and has already shown in his short career his talent, dedication and work ethic. We very much look forward to working with him again in 2017 and showing what we can achieve together in FIA F3.”
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