Photo: formel3.de
American racer Gustavo Menezes has been confirmed as one of the drivers for the Van Amersfoort Racing lineup in German F3.
This will mark the first full season European campaign for the 19-year-old. After a successful karting career in America, where he took multiple national championships and was a factory driver for the Tony Kart squad, the young American began single-seater racing on the Mazda Road to Indy in 2011. After competing in the Star Mazda Series in 2011 and 2013, where he finished eighth and ninth respectively, achieving a best finish of third overall at Iowa in 2011.
This will not be the young Americans first attempt at European racing after competing in three rounds of the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championship with Interwetten.com Racing, achieving points scoring finishes in each race.
Team owner Frits Van Amersfoort believes Menezes has what it takes to compete at the front, ?In the winter tests we got a good impression of Gustavo?s racing skills: he could become the big surprise of the ATS Formula 3 Cup.?
Menezes believes that with Van Amersfoort he has chosen the right overall package for his first full campaign in Europe, ?I tested with Van Amersfoort Racing in December. I immediately felt comfortable with the team and we made great progress in a short space of time. So I am delighted to be racing with Frits and his team. It was a big decision to move from the US to Europe, but I really think Van Amersfoort Racing has much to offer me. My goal is to take every race as it comes and focus on doing the best every time I am in the car.?
Last season Van Amersfoort Racing ran Daniel Abt, Lucas Auer, Ren? Binder and Dennis van de Laar with Auer being the best finisher is second place overall and taking out the SONAX Rookie-Pokal. The German F3 season kicks off at Oschersleben on April 27th & 28th.