A trio of British drivers will join the FIA European Formula 3 Championship finale at Hockenheim with Carlin, with Lando Norris, Jake Hughes and Dan Ticktum all making their debuts in the series.
Norris is making the move into the championship on the back of a terrific season in Formula Renault 2.0, where he clinched both the Eurocup and NEC crowns with Josef Kaufmann Racing, and will be using the event to prepare himself for a planned full season in 2017.
“It’s great to finish off a successful season with the opportunity to race in FIA F3,” said Norris. “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.”
Hughes is currently racing for DAMS in the GP3 Series and took a victory at Hockenheim in July, and the twenty-two-year-old is delighted to be able to race for the Carlin team in Germany this weekend.
“I’m really happy to be joining Carlin at Hockenheim this weekend, and very thankful to the team for this opportunity,” said Hughes. “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.”
Ticktum makes his return to motorsport after an enforced year on the sidelines due to a ban for dangerous driving back in 2015, but had three race wins in British F4 last year.
“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,” said Ticktum. “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.”
Both Norris and Ticktum will be eligible for points at Hockenheim due to completing FIA F3 test days, and both will also start all three races from the pit lane. Hughes will be able to contest the races as normal, while all three are using the event as a prelude to the Macau Grand Prix at the end of November.
