CARSINGLE-SEATERF3

Multiple F3 Euro Series champions ART Grand Prix will go head to head against their British championship counterparts later this season.

The French team, which has won the European title for the past six years, will enter its four Mercedes-powered Dallaras at the upcoming Spa-Francorchamps races at the end of the month, before also contesting the season’s penultimate Algarve round.

Current Euro Series points’ leader Jules Bianchi will spearhead the team’s assault alongside regular team mates Esteban Gutierrez, Valtteri Bottas and Adrian Tambay, son of ex-grand prix driver Patrick.

British F3 championship co-ordinator Fiona Pawley recognised the importance of ART joining the series.

"We are delighted that a team with such a Formula 3 pedigree will be joining the series at Spa; it will be fascinating to see how they get on against the cream of the British teams,” she said. “We very much hope that some of the other Euro Series teams will take advantage of the gap in their calendar and also come to join the Cooper Tires series."

ART Grand Prix CEO Frederic Vasseur meanwhile stressed that competing in the British championship could help the team in the European campaign.

"Spa-Francorchamps and Algarve are two beautiful circuits and it will be very profitable for our drivers to race there, as they will most likely have to race there in the near future. It is also a good occasion for ART Grand Prix to race against the British teams, in a different environment and where we will have to learn and handle new technical parameters. This experience will widen our knowledge and skills package, which means this project is positive all round for ART Grand Prix and their drivers."

Catch British F3 action on Motors TV throughout 2009.


Tom Hornsby