Highly rated Estonian driver Aron departs Prema Powerteam for Hitech GP Category race winner to spearhead British team’s three-car challengeHitech GP is confident of mounting a major challenge for title honours in only its second season of FIA Formula 3 European Championship action next year having today, signed exciting Estonian talent Ralf Aron to spearhead its 2017 attack.
Aron, who became a race winner in his maiden season in FIA Formula 3 this year during only the second event of the campaign in Hungary, was a consistent front-runner throughout his rookie campaign and went on to end the championship seventh in the overall standings.Securing another podium finish and no fewer than five other top four results in the main title battle, the 18-year-old from Tallin was also Vice-Champion in the Rookie Championship with a total of five class victories.
“I was pretty happy with my first season in F3”, said Aron, who is managed by fellow Estonian Marko Asmer, British F3 Champion with the previous incarnation of Hitech in 2007, “Of course, like any season there are areas you can improve and would have liked to have done better but it is a strong championship and you need to be consistent everywhere you go.“Hitech did a very strong job this year and I feel confident in them giving me the car to fight at the front throughout next season. I have felt at home from the moment I tested with them after Hockenheim, and we are all pushing for the same thing which is exactly what you want as a driver.”
After ending its first season in FIA Formula 3 second in the Team Championship, Hitech GP is determined to challenge for outright honours in both the entrant and driver standings next year and sees the arrival of Aron as something of a major coup.
“Ralf showed this season he can mix it with the experienced drivers and he produced some great results throughout the year”, said Hitech GP’s Oliver Oakes, “We kept an eye on his progress, as he was one to watch from F4 the year before, and were very impressed with everything we saw. To have Ralf onboard for 2017 is fantastic for the team and we’re confident he can mount a strong challenge for the championship.”
The 2017 season will again be contested across 10 race weekends, three rounds at each event, with the championship visiting some of the globe’s most prestigious and challenging circuits, including Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Monza in Italy, Hockenheim and the Nurburgring in Germany and Pau street circuit in France.
