Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, LLC Photography
Pro Mazda champion Rinus VeeKay will compete in the 2019 FIA Asian Formula 3 Winter Series with title-winning team Hitech GP.
Hitech has won 11 of the 12 races held so far in the inaugural Asian F3 season, and won the teams’ title last time out at Ningbo. VeeKay started his 2018 season in the MRF Challenge, finishing third in the standings, then took the Pro Mazda title at his first attempt. As a result he’ll be racing in Indy Lights next season.
?This is the perfect preparation for my Indy Lights season in America – fielding many miles in a state-of-the-art Formula 3 car with an extremely professional team,” said the 18-year-old Dutchman.
“I was at the team?s facility in Silverstone and they work at the same level as a Formula 1 team. I also met my engineer, a highly experienced and critical person who can make me an even better driver. That?s exactly what I?m looking for.?
VeeKay made his single-seater debut in a VdeV Challenge cameo in 2016, taking two podiums. For 2017 he switched to USF2000, finishing second to Oliver Askew, and simultaneously drove in BOSS GP, finishing second in that too.
?We are delighted to welcome Rinus to the team for the Asian F3 Winter Series,” said Phil Blow, Hitech’s team manager for its Asian F3 squad.
“His success over the past few years proves that he is an extremely capable driver. Following such a successful season in the inaugural Asian F3 Championship this year, we are confident that we will be able to secure some promising results in the Winter Series.?
The inaugural Asian F3 Winter Series will begin on January 13 at the Buriram circuit in Thailand, which will also a main season round next year. The second and third rounds of the season will take place at?Malaysia’s Sepang circuit on the weekends of January 20 and February 24.