Photo: FIA F3 European Championship
Ralf Aron has switched from Prema to Hitech for his second season in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship.
The 2015 Italian Formula 4 champion was a race-winner in his second F3 event at the Hungaroring in April, and finished seventh in the final standings, and second in the rookie classification.
In racing for Hitech GP next season, the 18-year-old Estonian will follow in the footsteps of his?advisor,?compatriot Marko Asmer, who won his 2007 British F3 title with the old Hitech Racing team.
Although Hitech GP is a separate entity founded by Oliver Oakes, Asmer’s former boss David Hayle is involved as team manager.
?I was pretty happy with my first season in F3?, said Aron.
?Of course, like any season there are areas you can improve and would have liked to have done better but it is a strong championship and you need to be consistent everywhere you go.
?Hitech did a very strong job this year and I feel confident in them giving me the car to fight at the front throughout next season.
“I have felt at home from the moment I tested with them after Hockenheim, and we are all pushing for the same thing which is exactly what you want as a driver.?
Announcing his first driver for 2017, Oakes added:??Ralf showed this season he can mix it with the experienced drivers and he produced some great results throughout the year.
“We kept an eye on his progress, as he was one to watch from F4 the year before, and were very impressed with everything we saw.
“To have Ralf onboard for 2017 is fantastic for the team and we?re confident he can mount a strong challenge for the championship.”
Russian Nikita Mazepin is expected to continue with Hitech next year, while GP3 racer Jake Hughes has been tipped to join the team after his late-season cameos with Carlin.