Carlin secure GP3 entry
01 October 2009Multiple F3 champions Carlin Motorsport have been granted an entry into the new GP3 series. The British squad are one of only ten teams selected to run three cars in the new GP2 support series. The eight round series will run alongside European F1 and GP2 events in 2010.
Carlin, who currently run cars in British F3, F3 Euro Series and Formula Renault 3.5, are the most successful team in British F3 history. The team sealed its fifth British F3 title earlier this month with Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo's predecessor Jaime Alguersuari won the title for Carlin in 2008 and is currently in his rookie season at the Toro Rosso F1 team.
Carlin has played an important role in the career of many F1 drivers; in fact of the current grid, more than 40 per cent of today's F1 drivers have driven a Carlin race car. Carlin intends to continue this heritage with its GP3 team.
The GP3 Series will offer young drivers a competitive car in a cost effective series, and also allow drivers to adapt and race in an F1 environment. With a Dallara designed chassis and a 2 litre 280bhp turbo powered Renault engine, the GP3 championship will perfectly complement Carlin's other race programmes in Formula 3 and Formula Renault 3.5.
Carlin's GP3 team will be based at the team's Chessington factory in Surrey - the former Brabham F1 facility - which is also home to Carlin's Formula Renault 3.5 cars.
Team principal Trevor Carlin said, "We are absolutely delighted to have been granted a place in the new GP3 Series. You only need to look at the success of GP2 in the short time it has been running to see the possibilities for GP3. We see GP3 as a fantastic stepping stone for teams and drivers to GP2 and F1 and we look forward to an exciting 2010 season."