IN 2019 FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP
Hitech GP has added F3 Asia Winter Series runner-up and ex-Formula Renault Eurocup driver Ye Yifei to their line-up in the newly-formed 2019 FIA Formula 3 Championship. The 18-year-old Chinese driver will be joining Red Bull Junior Juri Vips and GP3 frontrunner Leonardo Pulcini, forming a three-car assault.
Making his mark as the first Chinese to compete in the French F4 Championship at the age of fourteen in 2015, Yifei secured two wins in his single-seater debut. He continued his battle the following year in the French F4 Championship, clinching championship honours, fourteen wins, fifteen fastest laps and ten pole positions. Gaining recognition as the first Chinese driver to win the French F4 Championship is testament to his pace and ability behind the wheel.
As the first Chinese driver to compete in a single-seater championship held in Europe, a campaign in the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2017 saw Yifei secure two wins, five podiums and three fastest laps. In the same year, Yifei took part in the Northern European Cup (NEC), winning several races. He also finished third in the 2018 Formula Renault Eurocup standings, and was the first Chinese to be classified in the top three in a major European Formula Championship.
In 2019, Yifei made his debut in the FIA F3 Asian Winter Series, with considerable success finishing second in the overall championship, clinching four race wins and five podiums.
Following a merge between the FIA F3 European Championship and the GP3 Series, with the aim to simply the junior single-seater ladder, the 2019 FIA F3 Championship is set to get underway on 10-12 May at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Commenting on the signing with Hitech GP for the 2019 FIA F3 season, Ye Yifei said:
“I am extremely happy and excited to join Hitech GP for the upcoming 2019 season in the FIA F3. Hitech GP is one of the leading teams in Europe given the result they’ve shown in recent years. I have also proved myself as a Chinese driver to have led a big part of the championship and fought for the title last year in the Formula Renault Eurocup. I feel very confident to team up with Hitech GP alongside two experienced and highly skilled teammates. This year will be a tough fight with the newly introduced F3 in a 30-car field but I am absolutely sure that with the team we will be fighting right at the top.”
Hitech GP's Team Principal, Oliver Oakes, added:
"We are delighted for Ye to join us in the newly formed FIA Formula 3 Championship for the upcoming season. His pedigree to date in French F4 and Formula Renault is evident. We were impressed by him in the Asian F3 Winter Series, so we are looking forward to having him as part our line-up for the season.”
