King’s Lynn’s Alex Brundle to race for Carlin Motorsport in GP3 Series

Alex Brundle will be contesting this year's GP3 Series with the multi-championship winning Carlin Motorsport, Britain's leading non-Formula One motor racing team.

Introduced two seasons ago the GP3 Series is designed as a feeder championship for the well-established GP2 championship which is the main stepping stone to Formula One. The series supports the European F1 and GP2 events, allowing drivers to excel in front of the Grand Prix community.

'I am thrilled to be competing in the series,' said the 21-year-old King's Lynn racer. 'I was keen to move on to the F1 stage this year and I would like to thank the Carlin team for offering me a fantastic opportunity to do that.

'The work we have done so far has already given me an understanding of why the Carlin team are so successful and I feel very confident for the season ahead.'

The Surrey-based team has a distinguished history, since its formation in 1999, winning 185 races and claiming six British Formula Three Championships, plus the 2010 Formula Renault 3.5 drivers' title.

Forming part of the Formula One support package, the GP3 Series visits some of Europe's most prestigious race circuits and for the first time this year will race at Monaco, giving the GP3 drivers their first taste of the challenging street circuit.

The cars features a two-litre 280bhp turbo-powered Renault engine and a six speed paddle shift sequential gearbox, somewhat tamer than the 450bhp turbo charged Formula Two car which the local racer spent racing last year when he claimed three podium places and one pole position on his way to seventh overall and best British racer.

Brundle's first race for the crack Carlin squad will take place at Barcelona in early May, before visiting Monaco, Valencia, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Budapest, Spa-Francorchamps with the season finale at Monza during September.

'The GP3 Series also fits well with my commitments to Nissan in the European Le Mans Series allowing me to continue my development in single seater racing,' he continued.

Carlin Motorsport racing director Trevor Carlin added: 'We're delighted to welcome Alex to our team. GP3 is an extremely competitive series and a level playing field where driver talent can really make a difference.

'Having seen Alex race early on in his career in British F3, I'm sure that he will be a great asset to Carlin. Even at this early stage the team have been impressed with his maturity and work ethic and I'm sure we'll see some great racing from him this season.'