The R-Tek Formula 3 team has concluded negotiations with Double R – the team of new
F1 world champion
Kimi Raikkonen – to purchase two cars for the 2008 Australian Formula 3 Championship National Class.
The team has purchased two Dallara F304s for the new campaign with one driver already signed for one of the seats. A second driver will be signed in due course.
“We have chosen to contest the new National Class in F3 next year given that Opes Prime will provide the winning driver of a Spiess-engined car with a fully funded championship drive the following season or $40,000 in cash,” team owner Ian Richards said prior to flying to the UK to take delivery of the cars. “We have already signed one driver and have another seat available, but ideally they will both be hungry for success and chasing the National title is the ideal way for them to progress their racing careers with the knowledge that a title win will set them up well and truly beyond next season.”
Richards will be on hand at the Raikkonen-Robertson team facility located at Woking in the UK to oversee the fitment of the new engines for the cars bound for Australia.
“When you are contesting a title chase with all drivers having the same power unit, you really have to be on top of the game and that's why I have chosen to purchase the chassis from Raikkonen-Robertson,” he said. “They are a top team in the toughest F3 Championship in the world and as well as obtaining excellent cars and a very large spares package we will also have access to very good data.”
In addition to the two cars that will arrive in Australia in December, R-Tek is also to run rookie F3 driver Jesse Wakeman in an F301 chassis in 2008 making it a three car operation.
