Masters to return to Zandvoort

The Masters of Formula 3 race will return to Zandvoort in 2009 after two years away from the Dutch circuit, autosport.com can reveal.

The renowned event, which along with the Macau Grand Prix attracts a large international entry, had to move to Zolder for 2007 and 2008 due to noise restrictions at Zandvoort.

However, circuit bosses have announced that due to a shake-up in the 2009-10 A1GP calendar, where Zandvoort will move from its usual autumn date to spring 2010, the F3 race can return to its home circuit for this year.

Zandvoort COO Erik Weijers said: "Since the decision by the Dutch supreme court in 2007, we have been working hard to get the Masters of Formula 3 back to Zandvoort.

"The event was founded at Zandvoort back in 1991 and has established a strong heritage. Because of the noise restrictions in The Netherlands, we had to run the previous two events at Zolder in Belgium.

"This turned out to be a good alternative, but all teams and fans agreed: the Masters of Formula 3 belongs at Zandvoort."

This year's race will take place on June 13/14. Previous winners include David Coulthard, Takuma Sato and Lewis Hamilton.

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Lancaster to lead SG line-up

Jon Lancaster is to return to SG Formula for a shot at this year's Formula 3 Euro Series title.

The former ART driver, who took one win in his rookie season, previously raced with SG in the 2007 Formula Renault Eurocup, where he finished second in the championship.

Team boss Stephane Guerin was delighted to work with Lancaster again.

"At the end of the 2007 season he won six out of eight races - he was unbeatable," said Guerin.

Henkie Waldschmidt stays on with SG for a second year of F3, while Andrea Caldarelli graduates from their FRenault squad. Both men are members of Toyota's young driver programme.

Guerin is expecting a big step forward from his team in their second F3 Euro Series season. Former champion (and another SG FRenault driver) turned Renault Formula One reserve Romain Grosjean assisted with the team's testing programme during the winter.

"The big difference this season compared to last is that we are ready," said Guerin.

"This year we are not rookies anymore; our aim in F3 is to be amongst the front-runners a lot more often. To achieve that aim we have to progress on the technical side but we also have to help our drivers to improve.

"This year we'll be expecting a lot more from Henkie Waldschmidt. His talent and turn of speed are not in dispute but now it's up to him to make experience count. Andrea Caldarelli has adapted well to the team's methods in Formula Renault 2.0, but he's not lost an ounce of his Italian passion."

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Oakes completes Carlin line-up

Carlin Motorsport have completed their British Formula 3 line-up for this season by signing Oliver Oakes.

The 21-year-old contested five rounds of the championship last season with Eurotek Motorsport and is hoping to make a title challenge in a full campaign with the champion team this year.

"Last year ended really well with pole at the final race and for a team that only started in June we did a really good job," Oakes told autosport.com. "Carlin have proved that they're pretty much the best F3 team in the world and that's where every driver wants to be.

"I'd tested with them before the end of last year and it's been on the cards for a while so it's nice to finally have the deal done. The goal is obviously the title and testing so far has been good, but winter testing doesn't count for much. I'm confident I can do it though."

Oakes is also looking forward to working with Volkswagen following Carlin's partnership with the manufacturer.

"There will be a little bit to adjust to with the different characteristics of the VW engine, but we just have to get out there and do the job. It's nice to have the support of a big manufacturer and with it being their first year in British F3 hopefully we can impress."

Team boss Trevor Carlin is pleased to be working with Oakes again after running him in Formula BMW in 2006.

"Oliver is a long-standing friend of the team and we've been watching his progress keenly since he drove for us in BMW," said Carlin. "I believe that with some hard work and consistency, he could be a real contender in 2009.

"He scored his first ever win with us and we hope he will play a significant part in the team's future successes."

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Fortec sign Spaniard Victor Garcia

Spanish Formula 3 racer Victor Garcia has joined Fortec Motorsport for a British F3 campaign this season.

The 18-year-old is the first of four signings that Fortec hope to make in the coming weeks, and he aims to follow in the footsteps of his countryman, Jaime Alguersuari, who won the title in his first season of British F3 in 2008.

"I used to race against Jaime in karts and sometimes I used to beat him, so it would be fantastic to follow his example and to win in the UK," said Garcia. "I don't have much experience of the circuits yet but I am looking forward to the challenge."

Fortec's chief race engineer Mick Kouros was impressed with Garcia's form in testing and has high hopes for the coming season.

"He set fast times at all the circuits we visited and was quick to adapt to our car and the tyres," said Kouros. "We're looking forward to helping him challenge for championship victory."

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Prema retain Coletti for Euro Series

Stefano Coletti will continue with Prema Powerteam in the Formula 3 Euro Series this season.

The 19-year-old Monegasque joined the Italian team four rounds into 2008 after being dropped from the Red Bull Junior programme and parting ways with Signature-Plus.

Coletti had a front row start at Le Mans and a best result of fourth in the Hockenheim finale and is hopeful that he can challenge for podiums and victories in 2009.

"I have to thank Prema for the opportunity that they gave me in 2008 when, in a difficult moment of my career, they believed in me and gave me a competitive car," said Coletti.

"The season will be difficult and important for my career because I aim to obtain the results that each young driver dreams about. I have trust in Prema that I will have at my disposal all that is needed."

Team boss Angelo Rosin added: "To be able to count on a driver of great talent such as Coletti allows us to look to the future with greater confidence. He made enormous progress during his stay with us, learning and applying advice and at the same time giving valid technical indications to our engineers.

"We will start with maximum focus and effort to be among the contenders in a championship that we won in 2003."

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ART complete Euro Series line-up

Formula 3 Euro Series champions ART Grand Prix have completed their line-up by announcing deals with Jules Bianchi, Valtteri Bottas and Adrien Tambay, alongside Esteban Gutierrez, who was confirmed yesterday.

Bianchi was a race winner as a rookie in the championship with ART last season and also won the Masters of F3 at Zolder. The Frenchman is aiming for the Euro Series title this year.

"I'm delighted to continue my career with ART, I just hope we'll do a bit better together and be crowned in 2009," he said. "I am part of the best team in the championship and I am aware that I have an advantage, it will be up to me to make the difference."

Both Bottas and Tambay - son of former grand prix driver Patrick - will be stepping up for their rookie seasons in the category. Bottas won the Formula Renault Eurocup and North European Cup last year, while Tambay finished third in Formula BMW Europe.

Bottas turned down an opportunity to join Renault's Driver Development programme last year and is confident that with ART he can prove he made the right decision.

"Renault offered me a deal in the spring but I didn't go along with it because I want to keep my options open for the future," he told Autosport.

"To be with ART in the Euro Series is a big step in my career," he added. "It will be my first year in the series, it's a tough one and there are a lot of talents out there.

"I always want to be first but you have to be realistic and my aim will be to try to learn as much as I can, to win races, and to be the best rookie of the year."

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ART sign Gutierrez for Euro Series

Champion Formula 3 Euro Series team ART Grand Prix have confirmed Esteban Gutierrez as the first of their four drivers for the coming season.

The 17-year-old Mexican won the Formula BMW Europe title in 2008 and will step up to F3 with the team that has won the championship for the last five years.

Gutierrez tested for ART for the first time at Magny-Cours back in November and decided to commit to the French team after more outings before Christmas.

"I feel very happy to have come to an agreement with ART, to compete in this series," he said. "I will put all my effort and dedication to obtain the best possible results with a lot of enthusiasm."

ART boss Frederic Vasseur added: "Esteban had a very strong and successful season in Formula BMW last year and I am pleased to confirm him as ART F3 driver. He did a very good job during our winter test at Magny-Cours and the collaboration with our engineers was perfect.

"The gap between Formula BMW and F3 is important but I am sure that Esteban will be a hard worker, he will improve during the season and will be able to score some wins."

Gutierrez will begin his pre-season programme with ART when the testing ban is lifted for the first official test at Estoril in mid March.

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Carlin confirm VW engine switch

Carlin Motorsport have confirmed their switch to Volkswagen power in Formula 3 after announcing deals with Red Bull Junior drivers Brendon Hartley and Daniel Ricciardo yesterday.

Volkswagen revealed to Autosport in November that all Red Bull drivers in F3 would have VW power in 2009, and Carlin have made the switch from Mercedes to maintain their link with the energy drinks company's young driver scheme.

Carlin had their first test with Volkswagen engines at Valencia before Christmas, running Ricciardo and other confirmed drivers for their British campaign, Max Chilton and Henry Arundel, and also tested Oliver Oakes and Jake Rosenzweig.

The team will also run VW engines in the F3 Euro Series and have signed Hartley, who finished third in the British championship with them last year.

Carlin have run Red Bull drivers since 2006 when both Sebastian Vettel and Adrian Zaugg contested the Renault World Series with the team. In 2008, the team ran four Red Bull Juniors, British champion Jaime Alguersuari, Hartley, and Robert Wickens and Mikhail Aleshin in Formula Renault 3.5.

Volkswagen will field six cars in Britain next season, four with Carlin and two with T-Sport who have made the switch from Mugen-Honda power. VW will also expand its Euro Series programme with Carlin and the Kolles & Heinz Union team joining Signature in running their engines.

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British Formula Three front runner Brendon Hartley will switch to the F3 Euro Series with Carlin Motorsport next year, the team confirmed on Wednesday night.

Hartley secured several victories during a maiden campaign in British F3 in 2008 but lost out to teammates Jaime Alguersuari and Oliver Turvey in the final standings.

However, with Carlin continuing their tie-up with Red Bull's junior driver programme, the New Zealander will remain with the outfit for an assault in Europe in 2009.

As well as confirming Hartley, Carlin Motorsport have announced that Daniel Ricciardo will join their team for next year's British F3 championship. The Australian was a front runner in last season's Formula Renault Eurocup championship, taking six wins but missing out on the title by just four points.

Speaking about the signings, team boss Trevor Carlin said: "Brendon is a very valued and well liked member of the team. He showed stunning pace in British F3 last year and towards the end of the season a new maturity and confidence emerged in his racing, which I’m sure we’ll see again in F3 Euro Series in 2009.

"In British F3 we’ll be joined by Daniel Ricciardo and I’m delighted that Red Bull have entrusted us with one of their most promising young drivers.

"Daniel has been fantastic so far in testing; he’s been quick, consistent and has gelled really well into the team. 2009 will be his first full year in F3, but I think we can expect some great performances from him."

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