Current British Formula 3 champions Carlin have announced their final 2 drivers for the upcoming 2012 season, with Jazeman Jaafar and Pietro Fantin revealed to have sealed the remaining spots.
Malaysian Jaafar will contest his 3rd British F3 season with Carlin in 2012, while Brazil’s Pietro Fantin will look to build upon his successful debut season last year. The pair brings Carlin’s entries up to only 5 after the team pruned its entries from 6 after pressure from the series organiser SRO, and rival teams. Jaafar and Fantin will drive alongside Harry Tincknell, Jack Harvey and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Having already claimed a maiden victory on his way to 8th overall in his debut season, 20 year-old Fantin has raised his expectations for his first season with a front-running outfit: “I have no other objective but to win the championship. Of course I will need luck, I will need to give my best performance and the car needs to be great. Last year was my first full season in the championship – it was OK, top 10 was what I expected – and I gained a lot of experience with the tracks. Carlin was the wisest and best choice for me for 2012, and now I know that I have the best car on the grid, and that gives me extra confidence.
“I want to be the next Brazilian champion of British Formula 3. It's possible – it is a matter of working hard, training hard and doing the best possible job.”
Jaafar meanwhile, is still only 19 on the verge of his 3rd British F3 season, and hopes his experience will help him finally launch a championship winning campaign. “There is still a lot for me to learn and Formula 3 is an ideal route for me. I'm still only 19 and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have the experience and I know the tracks, and I see no reason why I can't be at the front. It's a question of getting up to speed with the new car and as soon as all that is settled I think we will be at the front.
I will take it a step at a time. I don't want to rush into it thinking it's all about winning because I don't want to carry too much pressure. I just want to focus and do the job and I am sure the wins will come.”
Carlin will run 5 brand new Dallara F312 cars for first of the official pre-season tests next month, with the opening round of the Cooper Tyres British Formula 3 International Series scheduled to take place on the 6-7 April at Oulton Park.