Sam Abay says anything inside the top eight would be a good achievement as he prepares for his maiden season of racing in the British F3 International Series.
The Australian teenager moves into F3 with Carlin having contested the Formula
BMW UK Championship last season with Team Loctite and has enjoyed a solid pre-season at the wheel of the 2008-specification Dallara as he prepares for the opening rounds of the year at
Oulton Park on Easter weekend.
Having been one of four rookie drivers to secure a seat with the multiple title winners for the season ahead, Abay admitted he was enjoying life with the team thus far.
"I'm wrapped as I have the chance to race for Carlin and have the chance to race a new 2008 car," he told
Crash.net during the annual media day at
Silverstone. "It's a great feeling as stepping up from Formula BMW with 140hp and relatively low down-force into an F3 car is a massive step forward and it just gets better from here on. I love driving the car and love driving for the team and it's all going well so far.
"Carlin are a very professional team and they put in 110 per cent all the time, on and off the track. They are driven to win, just like me, and it's all I can ask for them to put in as much as they can, because I know I will. So far, it's been working great, my engineer Paul is fantastic, the team works well together and my team-mates are all quick so we can all learn from each other."
Testing to date, aside from a brief hiccup during the media day test itself, has seen Abay running towards the top of the times and he admitted he was looking to try and run regularly inside the top ten in his debut season.
"Last year was one of the most competitive years in Formula BMW UK and this year I've heard that it's shaping up to be one of the most competitive years in F3 which is good for me as I'll learn more," he said. "Anything inside the top ten or top eight would be great for me considering where I've come from and the level of experience I have at the moment.
"But if I can get a few wins and a few podiums under my belt, then that would be the cherry on the cake."
