Photo: ITR
Dutch racer Dennis van de Laar will continue his relationship with Van Amersfoort in the 2013 season of the F3 European Championship, it’s been announced today.
Van de Laar, 19, has made his debut in cars in 2011, finishing seventh in Formula Renault 2.0 NEC with Van Amersfoort. He stayed with the team for the next year, moving on to German F3, where he was ninth with one podium, achieved during the opening round at Zandvoort.
“It is a great challenge for me to compete against the best Formula 3 drivers in the world,” said the Dutchman. “I pick up the gauntlet and have faith in good results. Last season I learned a lot and I hope I will be able to apply this experience in the European Championship. Let the season begin!”
The owner of the team, Frits van Amersfoort, was a bit more reserved in his comments: “We are looking forward to the new season. Participation in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship is the challenge my team was looking for after many years in the ATS Formula 3 Cup [German F3]. The grid is substantial and competitive, so it’s going to be a real challenge. After guest appearances in the Euro Series last season we know we can be competitive.”
In the 2012 running of German F3, Van Amersfoort fielded three cars, with Lucas Auer and Rene Binder racing alongside van de Laar (and GP3 graduate Daniel Abt taking the Dutchman’s seat for one round). With all of the aforementioned drivers already in contract with different teams in junior single-seaters, Richie Stanaway has been heavily rumoured to take the second seat at the team with which he won the 2011 German F3 title.