Carlin set for GP3 opener

05 May 2010

Following a successful start to the 2010 season which has seen the Carlin team take seven out of ten victories across two championships, the British squad are now preparing for the inaugural GP3 race in Barcelona this weekend. Carlin, who have been amongst the front-running teams throughout pre-season testing will field McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Dean Smith, American Josef Newgarden and Brazilian racer Lucas Foresti in the 2010 season.

The new GP3 Series will support all European rounds of the Formula One World Championship this season, with the exception of Monte Carlo. Each team will run three drivers, creating a 30 car field of some of the most talented drivers in Europe.

Carlin's team will feature Formula Ford UK vice champion Josef Newgarden. The 19 year-old American racer is quickly moving up the motorsport ladder and was sixth quickest in the GP3 mini qualifying session last month, earning him the number 14 on his race car for the 2010 season. Alongside Newgarden in the Carlin garage will be Formula Renault 2.0 UK champion Dean Smith who finished sixth in the last test session in Barcelona. Completing Carlin's GP3 team in the number 16 car will be 17 year-old Brazilian Lucas Foresti, who also races with the team in the British F3 International Series.

British racer Smith is looking forward to his first weekend of GP3, "Testing went really well, there are still some things that we will only know after a full race weekend, but we've learnt a lot in a very short time. I think we've got a really good car and Barcelona is one of my favourite circuits; I've been quick there in GP3 testing and Formula Renault. It's going to be important to learn how the track changes throughout the race weekend; the track will be used almost constantly throughout and I think that could have quite a big effect on performance and set-up. We need to get to grips with that as quickly as possible so we can continue to develop and be at the front.

"GP3 brings together some of the best drivers in Europe and of course the best teams, so it's going to be a tough weekend, but we've also got a good package so I really don't see why we shouldn't be fighting for podium positions from the start."

Speaking about the team's first GP3 event, Trevor Carlin said, "We're very proud to be one of ten teams selected to be involved in this first season of GP3. The team have worked incredibly hard on every level to make sure that we are in the best possible shape for the season opener. We've had some very successful pre-season testing and we have three young drivers with a lot of potential. This weekend will be an unknown quantity for all the teams and I'm sure it will be very competitive, but all the ingredients are there for some strong results for Carlin."