Macleod joins Carlin for GP3

19 July 2011

Carlin are pleased to announce that British Driver Callum Macleod will be joining the team for the remainder of the 2011 season. The former Autosport McLaren BRDC nominee has already tasted success in the British Formula Ford championship and the European Formula 3 Open championship and has previous experience of Carlin’s GP3 car. Macleod will race alongside the team’s regular drivers; Conor Daly and Leonardo Cordeiro.

Macleod won the British Formula Ford championship in 2007 claiming 14 wins and 18 poles, with his success that year earning him a nomination for the BRDC McLaren Autosport award.

Macleod was nominated for the award again in 2009 after becoming the European Formula 3 Open Copa Cup champion. Macleod regularly finished in the top six overall – taking a podium at Spa ahead of many newer and faster cars – and took a total of seven class wins throughout the season. Graduating to the main European Formula 3 Open championship for the 2010 season Macleod finished second overall taking eight podiums including three wins along the way.

More recently Macleod tested Carlin’s GP3 car in Jerez and has been aiding the team’s GP3 squad as a driver coach, so has been involved with the team and car since the start of the year.

Speaking about the rest of the season, Macleod said, “I’ve been a driver coach for Carlin so I know how well they work together and what a great team they are, so I’m really pleased to have the opportunity to race with them.

“I’ve never competed at the Nürburgring or in Budapest so the next two rounds will definitely be a steep learning curve for me although I do aim to be running near the front. Looking further ahead in the season I’ve raced at Spa and Monza before so they should be slightly easier for me, but we’ll have to see how the first two go.

“I have driven the Carlin GP3 car in pre-season testing and really enjoyed driving it however that was back in November at Jerez, even so I’m fairly confident I can get to grips with it quickly.”