AMERICAN ACE CLOSE TO BRITISH F3 CAMPAIGN
F4 champion Das in talks with Carlin
American single-seater champion Cameron Das is in talks to contest the full BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin next year.
The 16-year-old from Brooklandville, Maryland won this year’s Honda-powered US Formula 4 Championship and joined last weekend’s Autumn Trophy contest with the Farnham team as he assesses his options for 2017. He finished seventh in the Autumn Trophy points with a best placing of fifth on his first visit to the Norfolk track.
“I’m in talks with teams, but I’m mainly focusing on trying to get a seat with Carlin,” said Das, who took eight consecutive wins to seal this year’s US F4 title.
“British F3 is a very good starting step as a platform towards European F3 and the strength of coaching and training in the UK is just so high that I’m very eager to ensure my next career step is in Europe.
“I’ve enjoyed my taste of the British F3 Championship, the car is a lot of fun and it’s a big step up from an F4 car.”
Autumn Trophy champion Enaam Ahmed is also chasing a return to the full championship next season, but is unlikely to remain with Carlin.
Ahmed won two of the three races on a one-off outing with Carlin last weekend, and said his 2017 programme was up in the air. He previously finished fifth in the full 2016 championship with the Douglas Motorsport team.
“I raced with Carlin this weekend as a big sponsor came in and wanted me to race with them,” Ahmed said. “I’m not actually sure where my future lies and I certainly haven’t signed with anyone yet.
“Carlin kept me calm and collected this morning [Sunday] with the bad weather disrupting things. Winning the title is a huge boost for me in my 2017 aims.”