AHMED JACK COZENS
COMPLETES F3 SWITCH TO CARLIN “Ahmed must win the F3 title this year”
BRDC British F3 Autumn Trophy champion Enaam Ahmed has targeted winning the full championship this year after agreeing a deal to race for Carlin.
Ahmed, 16, scooped the Autumn Trophy title at Snetterton last October after switching to Carlin for the event, and has now agreed a deal to contest the main championship with the outfit in 2017 – which will be his second year in the series.
The junior karting champion competed with Douglas Motorsport in F3 last season and led the standings after the opening round at Snetterton – where he scored a victory – before eventually finishing fifth overall.
Ahmed, who is currently in New Zealand preparing for this weekend’s opening round of the Toyota Racing Series, said Carlin offered him the best opportunity to land title success.
“I finished off the season with Douglas Motorsport and Wayne [Douglas, team boss] gave me such a good car, I learnt a lot with him but, in my opinion, Carlin have the best cars underneath them,” he said. “I wanted to get a deal together for the Autumn Trophy just to try them out, and Trevor [Carlin] agreed. It was probably even more competitive than the main series, but we came out on top ahead of some great drivers.
“I knew I was going to do another season in British Formula 3 because there’s no sense in continuing to move up if I haven’t won anything. I think Carlin are the best team going into this year and they’re going to give me the best shot at winning.
“The TRS deal actually fits quite well. Testing is good, but getting race experience is another level – I’d rather do TRS than 10 or 20 tests in January and February; I’m going to get a lot more out of it.
“I understand I may be favourite going into the season because I have some experience, but I’ll still be one of the youngest drivers in the championship.
“I have some unfinished business. Last year, I might have had the speed to win the championship, but maybe not the consistency. But I have a good opportunity this season with Carlin to right that wrong.”
Team boss Trevor Carlin added: “Enaam was a great asset and addition to the team when he joined us for the Autumn Trophy last year. His attitude towards getting the job done was great, he impressed with his natural ability in the car and also with his strong race craft.”
Ahmed is Carlin’s second signing for the 2017 campaign, the team having previously announced James Pull as one of its drivers. American Cameron Das is expected to complete the squad’s three-car line-up, having competed alongside Ahmed and Pull in the Autumn Trophy.
in 2016 with Daniel Harper.
“Karting will always be an important part of my motorsport career, wherever I may go,” said Canning. “However you have to move on to make progression to achieve your dream.
“This is the perfect time for me to move on and prove myself at the next stage of my development. I believe that Douglas Motorsport and I can achieve great things.”