Team West-Tec has signed Frenchman Mathieu Maurage to drive alongside team regular Max Snegirev at the new Algarve circuit on September 11-13.

Driving one of the team's Dallara-Honda F307s, Maurage will be making his F3 race debut although he has completed some test mileage earlier this year.

“I am really looking forward to racing in Formula 3 with Team West-Tec - and the Algarve circuit looks fabulous,” said the 18-year-old, who spent 2008 racing in the Auto Sport Academy Series and gained some good results in his first season of racing cars. “I must thank my sponsors for helping me to be able to race now.”

Meanwhile just one week after the event in the Algarve, the 2009 British Formula 3 Championship reaches its conclusion at Brands Hatch and Team West-Tec will welcome back one of its 2008 drivers, Ma Qing Hua.

The Chinese driver impressed in Spanish F3 last season, and was a very popular figure in the team, but his 2009 plans were stymied by the loss of sponsorship in the global recession.

But, having worked hard over recent months, Ma has put together a package to allow him to race again, and will be looking to achieve some positive results as he puts together his aims for 2010.

“It has been frustrating this year watching from the sidelines. But we have kept working and I am really happy to get the chance to race again now as we work towards 2010,” Hau stated.

John Miller, co-team principal at Team West Tec, is excited about his latest signings.

“We are really looking forward to working with Mathieu. I am sure he will have a lot to learn, but I am also sure he has the ability to show well. The Auto Sport Academy has a great history of producing good drivers, and I am sure Mathieu will be no exception,” Miller added.

“Ma Qing Hua is also a quality driver. We had plans together this year, as he did well with us last season, but unfortunately his sponsors were badly affected by the economic situation.

“He is bound to be a little rusty, as he hasn't been in a car since last December, but the whole team is really pleased to see him back on the track and I am sure we will see him do a good, professional job at Brands.”