Roberto Faria will move up from Fortec Motorsports’ British Formula 4 team to front its return to BRDC British Formula 3 for the remainder of the year.
Brazilian karting graduate Faria has spent a season-and-a-half racing for Fortec in British F4, and picked up two podiums and a pole position. He is currently sixth in the 2020 standings, while team-mate Luke Browning leads the points at the halfway point.
Faria will now contest the four rounds that complete the British F3 season, and after testing privately in the car he will make his official test debut today (Thursday) before this weekend’s Donington Park round.
“I’m very happy to make this next step in my career and I hope to do my best to take this opportunity,” said Faria. “I know it will be very challenging, but I feel like I am ready.”
Long-time category frontrunner Fortec had planned to run historic F3 graduate Christian Olsen in BRDC British F3 this year, but the Danish racer ended up not competing and the team has missed the first three rounds as it had no other drivers signed.
Fortec team principal Richard Dutton added: “After an extremely positive test with our BRDC British F3 team at Snetterton earlier in the year, I can fully understand Roberto’s desire to move up into the series for the remainder of 2020 in preparation for next season.
“It’s a difficult championship, and with limited testing mileage, it’ll certainly be a challenge, but we’re confident it’s one Roberto will adapt to well.
“We’ve had a successful partnership so far during our time together in British F4, and I’m looking forward to seeing that evolve with this next step on his journey. We look forward to seeing how he gets on this weekend at Donington Park!”
The team had also planned to compete in Euroformula with two of the new Dallara 320 cars this year, fielding its 2019 British F3 line-up of Johnathan Hoggard and Kris Wright. As in British F3, it has skipped the first three rounds.