ADD Motorsports driver Mitchell Gilbert is looking forward to a new challenge after moving to Trident to compete in the GP3 Series.
The Australian will race at Silverstone with his new Italian team this weekend, just days after his final race in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
After engine problems hampered a promising start to the season, he is ready to draw a line under the last few months.
And the 20-year-old can’t wait to show what he’s capable of in his new surroundings.
He said: “I’m looking forward to a new start. It’s been a difficult season and there have been lots of problems – and we didn’t feel we were getting enough support.
“But this is now about looking forward. I got a call to join Trident and I’m really excited about the opportunity.
“They need to get back on track and so do I, so it’s a relationship that we are really positive about.
“There’s not a lot of time, but sometimes that can be a good thing – we’re hoping to be pretty good straight away.”
The GP3 Series follows the entire European leg of the Formula One Series - and Mitchell is excited about the opportunities that may come with it.
He continued: “I’m trying to look at it as an opportunity. Following Formula One will be a great experience and you never know who may be watching. It will be good to be on television as well.”
Although Mitchell is unsure what will happen after this weekend, seeing out the season in the series with Trident is very much on the agenda.
His first time out in the car will be on Friday when he will get a 45-minute practice before the qualifier on Saturday.
And after meeting the team and finalising the details, he’s raring to get going.
He added: “I spent the day yesterday with the manager Giacomo Ricci who helped me on the simulator to prepare as much as possible.
“The tyre is the same tyre as F1 – it won’t last long, just two laps or three at the most - so that’s the thing that will take the most getting used to.
“The car is a bit faster, but you’re driving it like a F3 car, so I don’t think that will prove to be too difficult.
“They’ve prepared me really well seeing as how little time we’ve had.
“I’m just excited to be able to concentrate on my driving again, and showing everyone what I’m capable of.”
