Russell gets Mercedes F1 role and ART GP3 drive on Pirelli tyresBritish driver George Russell has joined the Mercedes Formula 1 team’s junior programme and will race in the Pirelli-backed GP3 Series this year with top team ART Grand Prix.
The 18-year-old, who won the BRDC Formula 4 title and the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 2014, has spent the last two seasons racing in European Formula 3, and placed third in the 2016 standings. Last November he became the first driver to claim Macau Grand Prix pole position on Pirelli tyres on his first time on the famous street circuit.
Russell becomes the third driver on the Mercedes junior programme, along with Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon who have both gone on to become F1 race drivers with the manufacturer’s support. He will look to follow in the footsteps of both Ocon and new Mercedes race driver Valtteri Bottas by winning the GP3 title with French squad ART following a switch from F3.
“I am massively excited to be competing in the GP3 Series this year,” said Russell, who topped the post-season test in Abu Dhabi last month. “This will be a new challenge for me but I can’t wait for it. I have the right guys around me and I will give my all to help ART continue their long standing success in this championship.”
Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff said: “George's next challenge in GP3 will provide a good test of his credentials for the future. We have already seen with Esteban how effective this series can be as a training ground and, of course, this is the championship which propelled Valtteri into Formula 1, so we will follow George's progress with great interest.”
Hawkey to return for more GT Cup in Pirelli-equipped PorscheEsmee Hawkey is to return for a second season in the GT Cup this year with her Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport.
In her first season out of junior competition, 18-year-old Hawkey finished as runner-up in the GTA group in 2016, and will now be back for a title bid in the Pirelli-supplied series along with the GT Marques team.
“Last year was a good debut season for me in the GT Cup and the Porsche Cayman,” said Hawkey. “It’s always difficult when you are running a new car and we only got the Cayman just before the first race. We then had to wait until August before we got the upgrade package. That took a lot of weight out the car and we were much faster in the final few races. It was a shame we had to wait but we still took the title fight down to the last race of the year.”
“We’ll be starting this season where we left off so hopefully we can be in the mix right from the start and going for wins. I’ve got more comfortable in the car after a season’s racing and the team now know it well so I’m really looking forward to getting started and we’re optimistic for a good year.”
The GT Cup season begins at Donington Park on April 22.
GT Cup champions make LMP3 Cup switch with PirelliBack-to-back GT Cup champions Paul Bailey and Andy Schulz will switch to the Henderson Insurance LMP3 Cup Championship this year.
Bailey has purchased a Ligier JS P3 and will race it on Pirelli tyres in the new Bute Motorsport-organised series along with Schulz. In GT Cup, the pair won the 2015 GTO title in an Aston Martin Vantage GT3, then the GTC group crown with a Ferrari 458 Challenge in 2016, becoming the first to win consecutive titles in different groups.
“We are pleased to announce our entry into the new Henderson Insurance Brokers LMP3 Cup Championship for 2017,” said Paul. “We will be running a Ligier JS P3 and are finalising which team will be running the car.
“The Ligier was my only consideration for the championship entry and I am very much looking forward to racing a completely new type of race car for this season and meeting the challenges that this will present.
“I’ve raced for seven years but this year I want to focus on adapting to driving the sibling of the Le Mans prototype racers. I never dreamed I’d be able to do this and I look forward to the new challenge of the LMP3 championship.”
The first full season for the series will begin on April 22 at Donington Park.
Swift takes Brands Hatch rally win on Pirelli tyresPaul Swift used Pirelli tyres to win the Brands Hatch Winter Stages last Saturday, strengthening his lead in the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship.
Co-driven by Patrick Walsh, the Pirelli-supported precision driver took his first outright rally victory in his Ford Escort MkII.
The car was fitted with Pirelli’s Corsa Classic asphalt tyres, which are designed specifically for use on classic rally cars.
Swift now leads the championship by 33 points at the halfway stage, with four rounds remaining
