Photo: Fotospeedy
Euroformula Open champion Brad Benavides will return to the FIA Formula 3 grid with AIX Racing for the rest of 2025.
The Florida native, who holds American, Spanish and Guatemalan nationality, last raced in the series three years ago with Carlin.
Having previously only contested a handful of partial campaigns in lower formulae, he would see out the season with a single points finish in the Spa sprint race.
He went on to make the jump to Formula 2 for the following 2023 season, joining the tie-up between PHM Racing and Charouz with backing from AIX, but would concede his seat to Josh Mason after nine of the 13 rounds.
Benavides did retain the backing of AIX as he stepped back to Euroformula last year and won the title with Motopark.
He now takes over the F3 seat that was occupied in Melbourne by Nikita Bedrin, who finished sixth and fourth in the two races in Australia, and in Bahrain by Freddie Slater, who finished second on debut in the sprint race.
Bedrin had passed up an offer to remain in the seat for Bahrain to focus on his Formula Regional commitments with Sainteloc Racing, while Slater is engaged in a busy dual programme across FRegional and GB3.
AIX says Benavides will race in all the remaining rounds.
“I’m truly grateful and excited to be back with AIX Racing,” he said. “It’s always a blessing to return to the grid, and I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel for Imola.
“Thank you to everyone who’s supported me — family, friends, and the team — for always believing in my path.”