Photo: Fotospeedy
Cian Shields will move across to the FIA Formula 3 Championship next year with Hitech GP after being Euroformula runner-up in 2023.
The 18-year-old follows the champion Noel Leon in staying in the third tier of single-seaters rather than step up to Formula 2.
Shields will be reuniting with Hitech, as he drove for the team in GB3 last year as a car racing rookie. He came 13th in the standings with one win in a reversed-grid race, achieved on his sixth start in the series. There were also two second places in reversed-grid races, with his best result in a regular race being a fifth place.
He built on that experience in Euroformula, winning four reversed-grid races with the dominant Motopark team.
“I am excited to join Hitech in FIA F3 next year. It will be a new challenge for me, but one I am looking forward to,” said Shields.
“Having raced with the team in GB3 in 2022, I have every confidence that they will allow me to develop in my rookie season in the series. Looking forward to getting the season started in Bahrain.”
He will be team-mate to Macau Grand Prix winner Luke Browning and Formula Regional European Championship runner-up Martinius Stenshorne.
Hitech’s F3 team manager Paul Bellringer commented: “We are delighted to add Cian to our F3 line-up for next season. We are confident in his ability, having raced with the team in GB3 last year and taking a win and podiums together. Here’s to a successful season ahead.”