BRITISH ACE AITKEN GETS GP3 GRADUATION

Double Formula Renault champion signs for Arden and targets F1 feeder title

Rising British star Jack Aitken will graduate into the GP3 Series this year with Arden International.

Aitken enjoyed a successful 2015 campaign, landing both the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and ALPS championships with the Koiranen GP team.

The 20-year-old had been weighing up a move into either GP3 or the Formula 3.5 V8 series for this year, but opted for GP3 after a strong test run with Arden in Abu Dhabi last November where he topped the times in a session.

Aitken joins fellow Briton Jake Dennis at Arden for a full GP3 Series assault.

Arden general manager Julian Rouse said: “We first worked with Jack in 2013 in the Formula Renault 3.5 young driver test and he was already impressive then. Now he has finished his studies and has had the chance to fully focus on racing in 2015, and the performance from him has been outstanding.

“We had a very good test in Abu Dhabi [last year] and it showed that Jack is clearly ready to challenge for race wins in his rookie season in GP3 so we are really looking forward to continuing our success.”

Ex-mclaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Aitken added: “I became close with the guys at Arden early in my career so I’m really excited to be racing with them. Having come off the back of a championship-winning year in a very competitive series I’m keen not to rest on my laurels and take the fight to the next level.”