With a brief break in the British F3 International Series schedule, Carlin Motorsport will embark on a new challenge this coming weekend with its first foray into the F3 Euroseries at Hockenheim.
Richard Philippe and Rodolfo Gonzalez will both be making their debut in the series as the team looks to carry the form that has seen it win 81 times in the British series into the European arena, with both drivers having shown solid pace during pre-season testing.
I'm very excited, I can't wait to get in the car, Philippe younger brother of Champ Car race winner Nelson said. I'm getting on with the team really well, it's a nice environment and I'm very happy with Carlin which is important for a driver.
I'm eager to see exactly where we stand compared to the rest of the field. Our pace in pre-season testing has been very promising, but we don't know what everyone else has been doing in terms of weight and fuel loads. I haven't been to Hockenheim before, so it will be a challenge, but I think we will have a better idea of our pace after this first race weekend.
Gonzalez will also be visiting the German circuit for the first time as he steps up from the British championship and he admitted he couldn't wait to get back into a car in a racing environment.
I've never been to Hockenheim before, he said. It looks like a nice circuit; I've spoken to a few drivers who have been there, and I've seen it on Playstation! I'm looking forward to the entire weekend and starting in a new championship after such a long winter out of the car.
With the team being new to the series, team boss Trevor Carlin was eager to keep expectations in check ahead of the opening rounds but said he felt that points scoring finishes were a realistic aim for the weekend.
