Dutch racing driver Bart Hylkema has just a few days to wait until his Formula 3 career gets properly underway with the opening three rounds of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series taking place at the world-famous Monza Circuit in Italy next weekend, 16th/17th April. The 21-year-old, who will compete in the newly rebranded 'Rookie Class' with the T-Sport team, graduates to Formula 3 this season having honed his craft in the ranks of Formula Renault over the last three years. For 2011 he will receive continued backing from long term sponsors Geothex, TORO, Club Car, Ditch Witch and Annika Schultz Communications. Becoming a podium finisher in only his second season in the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup, he went on to establish himself as a consistent front-runner in Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 last year and took two podiums on his way to sixth overall in the ultra-competitive championship. Since choosing to graduate to British F3, the aspiring Formula One driver has been impressively strong, showing great pace at the wheel of his Mugen-Honda powered Dallara F307 during official testing at Oulton Park, Silverstone, Rockingham and, this past week, at Snetterton in East Anglia. "Testing has been good and now I can't wait for the first race, I'm really looking forward to it", said the Delft-based racer, "Obviously it's my first year in Formula 3 and to understand everything takes time but I've learnt as much as any driver can up to this point. I'm quite happy with the time difference to the A Class (International) cars and the team is happy with my progress. "I've never been to Monza so I can't wait for the first round. I do feel quite at home at European tracks due to my experience, it's all of the UK tracks we've tested at during the pre-season which have been a completely new experience for me." Bart added: "I want to get the maximum result I can from each weekend. I really want to dominate the Rookie Class, win the title and try to be as far forward as I can among the A Class runners - the midfield is the aim but we'll have to see what happens." British F3 - breeding ground of F1 Champions British F3 remains one of the key stepping-stones for aspiring Grand Prix drivers and over the years the list of racers who have progressed to F1 reads like a veritable who's who. Past F3 title winners who have gone on to win the FIA Formula One World Championship include legendary figures such as Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Nelson Piquet.  In more recent times, 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button was a front-runner in British F3 in 1999 and the 2007 British F3 National Class Champion (now rebranded Rookie Class) Sergio Perez made his F1 debut in Australia during the first Grand Prix of the season last month.  "The heritage of British F3 is definitely one of the main reasons we chose the championship", added the Dutchman, "It's established as one of the strongest categories below F1. It's certainly not easy, I know it'll be a very big challenge, but it's great to be a part of it - I can't wait for the season to start." The 2011 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series will be contested over 30 rounds at some of the globe's most famous tracks. Beginning at Monza in Italy next weekend, 16th/17th April, the series will then visit three UK tracks in succession - Oulton Park, Snetterton and Brands Hatch. From there the championship will travel to the Nurburgring in Germany, Paul Ricard HTTT in France and Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium before returning to the UK for the season run-in at Rockingham, Donington Park and Silverstone.