Sam Bird's decision to sign with Manor Motorsport for the 2008 F3 Euroseries season means he will be reunited with former Carlin team-mate Niall Breen, with the Irish driver having previously signed up to join the squad for next season.
The 21-year-old enjoyed a fine season in the British F3 International Series with the Carlin team, taking his first F3 win at
Snetterton and finishing the year in fifth place in the standings after stepping up from the Formula
BMW UK Championship.
Now, with the chance to step up to the Euroseries, Breen said he was confident of another fine season ahead.
"I've had an extremely good rookie season in the British Formula 3 Championship and I'm certain I can be very competitive in the Formula 3 Euroseries with Manor Motorsport next year," he said. "With a race win and four second places during the year, I'd like to thank Carlin Motorsport and my engineer, Jimmy Goodwin, for giving me that opportunity.
"Now I'm really looking forward to racing in Europe – it'll be a new challenge to learn the new circuits which will stand me in good stead for the future. My new engineer, Pete Sliwinski, is very experienced and we got on well at the initial test I did in October with the team. I'm confident we'll be winning races in '08."
Team boss John Booth said he was sure that Breen will be amongst the front-runners in his rookie Euroseries season.
"I've been watching Niall for two or three years, since he was in the Formula BMW UK series and won the title in 2006," he said. "I'm delighted to have him in the team and pleased that he's had the courage to step up to the Euroseries as it would have been easier for him to succeed in the British F3 Championship. The Euroseries is much tougher and I'm sure he's going to win races in his first year."
