Photo: ACI Sport
Formula Regional European Championship driver Pierre-Louis Chovet has joined FIA Formula 3 for the Spa-Francorchamps round, replacing Renault junior Max Fewtrell.
Eighteen-year-old Chovet has been racing with Van Amersfoort Racing in FREC, and took a podium finish last weekend on home soil at Paul Ricard.
His signing with Hitech comes after Fewtrell announced on Monday that he had left the team after a run of underwhelming results.
At Hitech Chovet joins Red Bull junior duo Liam Lawson – who is fighting for the title – and Dennis Hauger, who has also taken to the podium this season.
“I’m extremely proud and excited to participate in the next FIA F3 rounds with Hitech GP, one of the top F3 teams,” Chovet said.
“I know it’s going to be a huge challenge, but I will do everything I can to give the team as strong as a result as they deserve. I’ll be working hard with Liam and Dennis to ensure I deliver.”
At this stage Chovet’s deal only covers Spa, with Hitech stating his appearance would “coincide with his FREC commitments” and that it would announce its line-up for “the third seat” for the final rounds at Monza and Mugello in due course.
Chovet has been working with 2013 GP3 series runner-up Facu Regalia as his driver coach and was joined in VAR’s FREC line-up by the Argentine driver last weekend.
Prior to that, Chovet raced part-time in Euroformula Open after doing two seasons of the French Formula 4 championship in 2017 and 2018.
His move into FIA F3 in place of Fewtrell is one of several changes to the field for Spa. David Schumacher has switched from Charouz to Carlin with his replacement still to be named, while Campos is set to name a substitute for Sophia Floersch who is prioritising her European Le Mans Series programme.