Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Van Amersfoort Racing has named the four drivers it will run in FIA Formula 3 post-season testing later this month.
The first test is at Jerez on October 8/9, and the second is at Barcelona on October 15/16.
On the opening day of testing John Bennett, Ivan Domingues and Theophile Nael will drive, then the next day Jesse Carrasquedo Jr will take over the car piloted by Nael. For the Barcelona test, Bennett, Domingues and Nael will be action on both days.
Carrasquedo began his single-seater career in his native Mexico aged 13 in NACAM Formula 4, below the category’s minimum age limit, and won in Danish F4 when he was 14. It was harder for him to find success when he ventured into the Italian, Spanish and Emerati F4 championships, and at the end of last year he stepped up to Formula Regional with VAR.
He did two European championship rounds and had a best finish of 23rd, and in a full FRegional Middle East campaign with R-ace GP this year he finished no higher than 11th. Carrasquedo then returned to FREC, doing the first four rounds with G4 Racing and making the top 20 in a race once.
“Very excited to try the FIA F3,” said the 17-year-old. “Ready to learn as much as possible and do my best.”
Domingues is one year older and also has history with VAR. He came 11th in Euro 4 and Italian F4 with the team last year, and did the final two FREC rounds with them to prepare for a full 2024 campaign. So far he has claimed two podiums, and is in contention to finish sixth in the standings and top the rookie classification.
“I’m just super grateful and thankful for the amazing opportunity of testing in F3,” the Portuguese teenager said.
The 21-year-old Bennett had to be patient before getting his single-seater career into swing, which began by racing for Elite Motorsport in GB3 two years ago. He came eighth in the standings with one podium, was 10th the year after with two poles after switching to Rodin Carlin, and came close to winning the title this year with JHR Developments.
Bennett won three races, was on the podium eight other times and claimed three poles. He also raced in FRegional Middle East at the start of 2024, scoring one point to come 23rd in the standings, and has made a FREC cameo.
“Thank you to VAR for the amazing opportunity to partake in the F3 post-season tests,” noted Bennett. “I’m really excited to drive an F3 car for the first time, and I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”
Nael has raced for Sainteloc Racing throughout his time in cars, which has so far resulted in the 2023 Spanish F4 title and wins in FREC and FRME.
“I thank the whole Van Amersfoort team for giving me the opportunity to test an F3 car. I can’t wait to be on the Jerez track,” said the 17-year-old Frenchman.