Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Nicolas Varrone will be driving for the team in the 2026 Formula 2 season.
The Argentine driver has been racing in sports cars since going over to Europe in 2018, and has won several trophies, including winning the 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGTE Am class. Prior to that, he also finished third in the 2021 Le Mans Cup in the LMP3 class.
Varrone now makes the switch to single seater racing, but does have previous experience in an F2 car having driven on the final day of post-season testing in Abu Dhabi last year.
At the announcement, the 24 year old spoke of how excited he was at the chance to race with VAR in 2026.
I’m super excited to be joining Van Amersfoort Racing for the 2026 F2 season. A very professional team with a lot of history and success. Can’t wait to get behind the wheel and start working with them. Thankful to everyone who believed in me all these years. Varrone on the news.
We’re very pleased to welcome Nico to Van Amersfoort Racing for our 2026 FIA Formula 2 campaign. His experience and achievements in endurance racing, including his success at Le Mans, speak for themselves. Stepping into Formula 2 will be a new challenge, but with his talent and technical understanding, we’re confident he will adapt quickly to the environment. We’re looking forward to working with him and believe his arrival will bring great value to the team as we take on the season together. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal.
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Bruno del Pino will be racing for them in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 season.
Del Pino returns for a second campaign in F3 after a rookie year in which he had plenty of positive moments, including a second-place finish in the Imola Sprint Race.
Prior to that, the 19 year old finished third in the 2024 Eurocup-3 Championship as well as the 2022 FIA Motorsport Games Formula 4 Cup.
The Spaniard is now set to return for another season in F3 with VAR and at the announcement he expressed how excited he was for the opportunity.
I’m really proud to be joining VAR. It’s a project that excites me a lot, and I’m thankful for the trust the team has shown in me ahead of the 2026 season. I can’t wait to give my best on track and work hard to help the team achieve great results. del Pino on the news.
We’re excited to welcome Bruno to the team as he completes our FIA Formula 3 line up for 2026. With a season of F3 already under his belt and a strong record in Eurocup-3, he brings both experience and proven consistency to the team. The upcoming post season tests will give him the chance to get familiar with our environment and we will prepare together for the season ahead. We’re looking forward to working with him and are confident he will be a strong asset as we take on the 2026 campaign. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal.
Hiyu Yamakoshi will be stepping up to FIA Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing in 2026.
The team has confirmed the Japanese driver as their second signing for next season following the confirmation of Jesse Carrasquedo.
Yamakoshi made his single-seater debut in 2023, going on to race in the Italian F4 and Euro 4 Championship in 2024, claiming four wins across both series, finishing third and fourth overall respectively.
He then stepped up to Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2025, finishing twice on the podium and currently sits eighth in the standings.
Speaking about his promotion for 2026, Yamakoshi said he was please to be continuing with Van Amersfoort Racing into F3.
First of all, I would like to say thank you to everyone who gave me this opportunity. This will be my third year working with VAR which I think is going to be really helpful for my first FIA F3 season. I can’t wait for my F3 tests and I’m already very excited to get my F3 race weekend. See you at our first official test at Jerez. Yamakoshi on the news.
We’re pleased to continue our journey with Hiyu as he steps up to FIA Formula 3. He’s been great to work with so far, a hard worker with a professional approach, and we’re confident he will adjust well to this next step on the international stage. The upcoming tests will be his first chance to get behind the wheel of the F3 machinery and lay the groundwork for a strong season ahead. We’re looking forward to supporting his development and are confident we can achieve great results together. Brad Joyce, VAR Team Principal.
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed their first driver signing of the 2026 season, with Jesse Carrasquedo set to join the team next year.
The Mexican driver has previous experience in Formula 3 having competed in two rounds already this year in Barcelona and Spielberg, achieving a best result of P13 in the latter’s Feature Race.
Carrasquedo also previously took part in both 2024 post-season tests in Jerez and Barcelona.
Prior to that, the 18 year old made the step up to single seater racing in 2022 in the Spanish and Italian F4 Championships. Since then, Carrasquedo has competed in the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships, as well as the Eurocup-3 category.
He is now set to graduate to Formula 3 full time in 2026, and at the announcement, Carrasquedo spoke of his excitement at the chance to join VAR.
I’m very excited to join VAR for my first full F3 season. They’re a very professional team, and I’ve participated with them before in FRECA, so I’m quite happy with this move. I hope this season will go very well with them. Carrasquedo on the news.
We’re proud to have Jesse back with the team and excited to work with him again. His talent and determination have been clear to see, and now that we will work together full-time, we can build on the progress he’s already made. The upcoming post-season F3 testing will help him get more familiar with the car and prepare him to thrive over a full season. Together, we’re aiming for strong results and continued growth in the year ahead. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal.
It was as you were at the start, with pole-sitter del Pino keeping teammate Tramnitz behind, while Mari Boya stayed in third ahead of fellow Campos driver Tsolov in fourth.
In fifth, Noel Leon was coming under threat from PREMA Racing teammate Ugo Ugochukwu, as well Rodin Motorsport rookie Louis Sharp at the end of the opening lap.
Tramnitz made the DRS count at the start of Lap 3 to take the lead from del Pino at the entry of Turn 2.
Moments later, Ugochukwu overtook Leon at the same corner for fifth, but he soon dropped to sixth as Sharp completed a double overtake on both PREMA drivers at the exit of Turn 4.
A Virtual Safety Car soon turned into a full Safety Car on Lap 5, as AIX Racing’s Nicola Marinangeli stopped on track at the exit of Tosa with a wheel off his car.
Racing resumed at the start of Lap 9 of 18 and it was a good restart for the MP top two as they built up a 1.8s lead. Boya was struggling through and dropped from P3 to out of the points before another Safety Car came out.
The Spaniard retired to the pit lane, while the marshals cleared Matias Sagazeta’s DAMS Lucas Oil car from the gravel at Tamburello, following an incident with Callum Voisin.
Tramnitz once again had a good restart while del Pino held off Tsolov in the battle for second as Sharp kept a watching brief from P4.
The DRS was enabled at the start of Lap 14 of 18 and del Pino was using it, not only to pull away from Tsolov, but also to close in on Tramnitz down the main straight.
Leon had a scruffy lap as he ran wide at the exit of Turn 7 in a battle with Tuukka Taponen for seventh, dropping him to P9 behind Noah Stromsted.
Roman Bilinksi, now in P6, was showing tremendous pace, setting the fastest time of the race on Lap 15, which brought him right onto the back of Ugochukwu.
The Rodin driver was not close enough into Turn 2 to make a move, but behind him Stromsted was to take P7 from Taponen at the same corner. Onto the penultimate lap and Ugochukwu ran wide into the gravel at the entry to Acqua Minerali, dropping him from fifth to eighth.
Tramnitz though had managed the race perfectly and crossed the line to take victory in the Imola Sprint as del Pino made it a first one-two in Formula 3 for MP Motorsport.
The full top 10 are- P1: Tramnitz, P2: del Pino, P3: Tsolov, P4: Sharp, P5: Bilinski, P6: Tsolov, P7: Taponen, P8: Ugochukwu, P9: Leon and P10: Guisti.
Day 3-
It was a great start from Ramos, who got ahead of Camara on the run down to Turn 2, while Stromsted dropped to fifth after starting in P3, with Tuukka Taponen and Louis Sharp getting ahead.
Camara was told over the radio to stay with Ramos and on Lap 4, the Brazilian retook the lead from the Van Amersfoort Racing driver.
Trident was keen to make up for the start as Stromsted recovered one of the places he lost thanks to a nice move round the outside of Sharp on Lap 6 at Turn 2,
Onto Lap 8, and Ramos had managed to stay within DRS range of Camara. The pair were over two seconds clear of Taponen, who was coming under pressure from Stromsted.
The Dane got back to where he started after overtaking the ART Grand Prix driver into Turn 2. Just behind, Roman Bilinski overtook his Rodin Motorsport teammate Louis Sharp for fifth at the same corner.
Further behind, MP Motorsport were making moves as Tim Tramnitz overtook Noel Leon for ninth at Piratella, while Alessandro Giusti dived to the inside of Nikola Tsolov at the penultimate corner.
Boya was flying and moved past the Rodins on Lap 14 and 15, first Sharp an then Bilinski, both at Turn 2, putting him up to P5.
Sharp was beginning to fall through the field and lost out to Tramnitz and Guisti, and by Lap 18 of 22 was in ninth. Ramos was closer than ever to Camara now at the start of Lap 19, and his race long pressure finally paid off, going to the outside of the Trident driver.
Camara was in trouble now as he struggled on his tyres and after running wide at Acque Minerali, Stromsted was through to second.
It was a team effort for MP on the penultimate lap as both Tramnitz and Giusti went round the outside of Bilinski at Turn 2, promoting then to P6 and P7 respectively.
On to the final lap and Stromsted closed to within DRS range of Ramos, but the VAR driver held on to claim his first Formula 3 Feature Race victory.
The full top 10 are- P1: Ramos, P2: Stromsted, P3: Camara, P4: Taponen, P5: Boya, P6: Tramnitz, P7: Giusti, P8: Bilinski, P9: Tsolov and P10: van Hoepen.
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Rafael Villagomez will return with the team for the 2025 FIA Formula 2 campaign.
The Mexican driver finished his rookie season in the Championship last year with 24 points and a best finish of seventh in the Melbourne Feature Race.
It continues his affiliation with the team after spending three season racing with them in FIA F3, having also finished eighth in 2021 edition of the Euroformula Open in VAR colours.
Speaking about his confirmation for the 2025 season, Villagomez said he was excited to continue the work he and VAR have done in F2 so far.
I’m extremely excited to stay and carry on in Formula 2 with VAR. Important year for myself and the team. Towards the end of the year things started shape up better so I’m looking forward to carry on. A lot of work has been done over the winter so I’m looking forward to start testing and Barcelona. Villagomez on the news.
We’re excited to have Rafa stay with our FIA Formula 2 team for the upcoming season. He made significant progress last year, and we’re excited to continue working together to further his development. We’re confident he’ll build on his performances and achieve better results. Brad Joyce, Van Amerfoort Racing Team Principal.
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed that Santiago Ramos will race for the team in the 2025 Formula 3 season, completing their lineup for the upcoming season.
Ramos who will race alongside Theophile Nael and Ivan Domingues, returns for a second F3 season after finishing the 2024 campaign 16th in the Drivers’ Championship with 44 points.
The Mexican driver achieved one podium which came at the final round of the season in Monza where he finished second in the Sprint Race, as well as a pole position at Imola with Trident.
He is now set to race for Van Amersfoort Racing in 2025 and following the announcement the 20 year old is delighted to return for a second season.
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be joining Van Amersfoort Racing for the upcoming FIA Formula 3 season. After showing some strong pace last year, I’m confident that with VAR’s support and expertise, we’re set for an incredible season. I can’t wait to get back in the car and fight for great results together! Ramos on the news.
We are delighted to welcome Santiago to our FIA Formula 3 team for the upcoming season. We’ve followed his progress over the years and have been impressed by his skills and determination. Santiago showed great potential during his rookie F3 campaign, and we are confident that, with the right support and environment, he will be able to reach his full potential with us. We look forward to working with him and helping him continue advancing in his racing career. Van Amersfoort Racing Team Principal, Brad Joyce.
Ivan Domingues will step up to FIA Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing. The team confirmed their second driver for the upcoming campaign, with the Portuguese driver joining the Dutch team after a year in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine.
Domingues made the move to single seaters in 2022, racing in the Italian and UAE Formula 4 Championships, finishing 15th and 16th respectively.
He did improve to 11th the following year in Italian F4 and matched that overall finishing position in the Euro 4 Championship which was a dual campaign that year, racing with Van Amersfoort in both.
Domingues then made the step up to FRECA last season, remaining with the team and achieved two podiums en route to finishing 10th in the Drivers’ Standings.
I feel very positive and confident about racing with VAR for the 2025 season in the FIA F3 Championship. It will be my third year with the team and I can’t wait for the start of this new challenge! Domingues on the news.
We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Ivan to our F3 Team for the upcoming season. Ivan has been a part of our family participating in our F4 and FRECA Team already. He has shown great results and determination. We’re confident he‘ll be a fantastic addition to our lineup and we’re excited to work together to achieve more good results on track again and be part of his development. VAR Team Principal, Brad Joyce.
John Bennett will be stepping up to FIA Formula 2 this season with Van Amersfoort Racing the team has confirmed.
Bennett took part in the final two rounds of the 2024 season for the Dutch team, he scored points in Lusail and then drove for the team during post-season testing around the Yas Marina Circuit.
The British driver made his single seater debut in 2022, racing in the GB3 Championship before making his Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine bow in 2024. Bennett also drove for VAR during the post-season Formula 3 tests in October.
Speaking about his step up to Formula 2 for 2025, the British driver said he was raring to get going.
I am delighted to be racing with VAR in Formula 2 for 2025. Since my first day testing in F3, it has been a great environment to work in. Thank you to the team for all their support, and I cannot wait to get started next year! Bennett on the news.
We are delighted to welcome John to our full-time Formula 2 line-up for 2025. His progression through the final rounds of the 2024 season demonstrated his ability to quickly adapt in challenging conditions. The team is certain that he is ready for this next step. We look forward to supporting him throughout the season as he continues to grow and compete at one of the highest levels of motorsport. Brad Joyce, Van Amersfoort Team Principal.
Theophile Nael will be stepping up to FIA Formula 3 next season with Van Amersfoort Racing the team have confirmed.
Nael took part in post season testing with the team and makes the jump up from Formula Regional European Championship.
The Frenchman began his racing career by winning multiple karting titles in France before moving into single seater in 2022. He won the 2023 Spanish F4 crown in style, winning eight race and taking pole five times across the season, earning 14 podiums overall.
This year, he raced in the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships, claiming wins in both and finishing 11th and ninth overall respectively.
I am delighted to join Van Amersfoort racing for the F3 season in 2025. This new adventure fills me with ambition. I can’t wait to take on this challenge with the new F3 car. It’s an honour to work alongside such a talented and historic team. Together, we will give our best on track and aim for great results! Nael on the news.
We are delighted to welcome Théophile to our Formula 3 team for 2025! He has already shown exceptional potential and a professional approach during the post season test days with us. Stepping into Formula 3 is a significant challenge, but we believe in his ability to adapt and thrive. We look forward to helping him grow and achieve success in the upcoming season. Rob Niessink, Van Amersfoort CEO.
Van Amersfoort Racing have announced that they are set to continue their partnership with Rafael Villagomez, as he makes the step up to FIA Formula 2.
Villagomez joins having achieved multiple points finishes in his three years in Formula 3, including at the final round of the 2023 campaign in Monza. The 22 year old also comes with experience in F2 machinery having completed the post-season test for the team last year at Yas Marina.
This means the Mexican driver is set to race in Van Amersfoort colours for the fourth consecutive season having competed for the Dutch outfit in 2021 at the Euroformula Open Championship, and in the following two years in Formula 3.
I am very excited to step up to F2. I am ready for this next level up. The dynamics coming from an F2 car are overly impressive, but I grew great confidence after a successful post-season test in Abu Dhabi last year. The test has proven to both myself and the people around me that F2 is the right category for me to further develop myself as a driver. The team and I know each other very well, which will only be of great benefit to all of us. I look very much forward to continuing our journey together and getting the season started.
Villagomez on the news.
As a team, we always aim for long-term cooperation with our drivers. The benefits of such a long-term relationship are extremely valuable and will help Rafael to progress at a high pace, as his experience in F3 will do of course. As a result of his unparalleled determination, we’ve seen Rafael grow and mature strongly as a driver and he is ready for this next challenge. We are fully committed to offering him our continuous support, especially in this exciting next chapter of his racing career.
Van Amersfoort Racing have completed their roster for the 2024 FIA Formula 3 campaign with the confirmation of Sophia Floersch’s return to the Dutch team.
The Alpine Academy driver makes the switch from PHM Racing, after earning her and the team’s maiden points in the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race this year.
The German driver brings with her plenty of single-seater experience. After racing in ADAC Formula 4 and European F3, she finished seventh in the 2019 Formula Regional European Championship with VAR, before making her F3 debut in 2020.
Switching to endurance and sportscar racing full-time the following year, Floersch is three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans participant, alongside having competed in DTM and the World Endurance Championship.
I am super excited to be back with Van Amersfoort Racing, it feels like coming home. I have confidence in our ability to progress and deliver strong performances together in the upcoming FIA F3 season.
Floersch on the news.
Obviously we are very pleased to have Sophia back with us. We did Macau together this year which has been great. We believe that her experience in FIA F3 plus her familiarity with the team can benefit us next season.
Tommy Smith will be getting back behind the wheel for Van Amersfoort Racing in his sophomore FIA Formula 3 season next year.
The Australian driver experienced a challenging rookie campaign, but after positive showings during the three post-season tests and the Macau Grand Prix.
The 21 year old’s racing career began in the 2017 – 2018 New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship, achieving his first podium that same season. Two consistent campaigns would follow in the Australian F4 Championship, achieving eighth and seventh in the Standings.
2021 saw Smith compete in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, in addition to a three-round appearance in the GB3 Championship. Sticking with GB3 for 2022, he secured 18 points-scoring finishes, including one victory at Spa-Francorchamps and a podium in the opening round.
Continuing with Van Amersfoort Racing for another year is an incredible opportunity. The team and I have had a great partnership so far, and I cannot wait to see what 2024 brings us. I’m eagerly waiting for the challenges ahead, and ready to give it my all for a great second season in FIA Formula 3.
Smith on the news.
Tommy is a great character to work with and we’re thrilled to extend our partnership for another season. With his rookie season behind him, 2024 will be the year where he can put his experience in the championship to use. We’re excited to see how he will perform next year.
Van Amersfoort Racing have announced that reigning EuroFormula Open Champion, Noel Leon will make the step up to FIA Formula 3.
The 18 year old joins the third tier after claiming the 2023 Euroformula Open title, where he grabbed sevens wins and 16 podiums to grab the title.
Leon made his single seater debut in 2018, competing in one round of the NACAM Formula 4 Championship with a two-race appearance the next year. A full season follow up campaign in 2019-20 saw him take the title, achieving seven wins, 10 pole positions and 15 podiums.
2021 saw him secure both the Formula 4 United States Championship and NASCAR Challenge Series Mexico titles, before moving to the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine for the 2022 season.
Being part of Van Amersfoort Racing has been a joy so far. We did the post-season tests and Macau together which was a positive experience and great preparation for the upcoming season. I cannot wait for the season to start!
Leon on the step up.
We’re delighted to welcome Noel León to our team for the upcoming FIA F3 season. Noel showcased himself as a talented and driven racer. His previous single-seater experience and determination will help him in preparing for a competitive 2024 season.
Van Amersfoort Racing have announced that race winner Enzo Fittipaldi will be joining the Dutch team for the 2024 Formula 2 season.
Having already gotten behind the wheel for VAR at the Yas Marina post-season test, the Red Bull Junior driver says he’s hugely looking forward to the next chapter in his career as he prepares to put his experience to good use when adapting to the new F2 cars.
After making his racing debut in 2016, Fittipaldi went on to secure the 2018 Italian F4 title in his second campaign, in addition to third in the ADAC F4 Championship. Stepping up to the Formula Regional European Championship the following year, he brought home two wins and 13 podiums on his way to second in the Standings.
Two campaigns in Formula 3 followed in 2020 and 2021, where the Brazilian driver achieved his first podium finish in Budapest Race 2. This helped Fittipaldi earn a mid-season Formula 2 call up in 2021 with Charouz Racing System. Returning for a full campaign the following year, he became one of the standouts of the season, grabbing six podium finishes to claim eighth in the Drivers’ Championship.
This season, he added to that tally, triumphing in the Sprint Race at Spa-Francorchamps for his maiden victory. Securing a further four podium finishes with Rodin Carlin, Fittipaldi went on to finish seventh in the Drivers’ Standings.
I am very excited to be a part of Van Amersfoort Racing. The team and I had a positive first experience working together during the F2 post-season test in Abu Dhabi last week. Right now, I am looking forward to next season, which will be a new challenge for all. Racing in the new 2024 F2 cars will be exciting, and I am confident that the team and I will have a great season together.
Fittipaldi on the news.
During the F2 post-season test, we have experienced that Enzo is a great character to work with. He is a great fit for our team, and his experience in F2 will be beneficial as we head into a new era of Formula 2. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the upcoming season together.
Light rain ahead of the race meant half the field opted to start on the wet tyres. Utilising the dry soft tyres, reverse polesitter Crawford held the lead through the opening corners, but it was Arthur Leclerc who made the most of his choice to start on wets.
Jehan Daruvala spinning off into the gravel at Turn 7 brought out an early Safety Car at the start of Lap 2.
Out front, Leclerc opted to stay out and held the lead at the restart on Lap 4. Second-place Richard Verschoor dropped a wheel over the sausage kerb and spun off at the exit of Turn 1, which resulted in another Safety Car.
Another beneficiary of the soft tyres, Novalak had already made up 16 places after dispatching Isack Hadkjar for fourth and soon caught Correa. A spin for Fittipaldi between Turns 3 and 4 after catching the grass led to the Virtual Safety Car.
Clement Novalak crossed the line in P3 but got disqualified after the race as his cars rear tyre pressure were below the limit required.
The full top 10 are- P1: Crawford, P2: Martins, P3: Hadjar, P4: Correa, P5: Stanek, P6: Hauger, P7: Doohan, P8: Bearman, P9: Vesti and P10: Nissany.
Day 3-
From second on the grid, Vesti got the better launch at lights out, immediately snatching the lead from polesitter Victor Martins. The ART driver also lost out to teammate Theo Pourchaire by Turn 1 and his early struggles continued.
After making up five places alone on the opening lap, Iwasa was up to ninth on Lap 6. Amaury Cordeel squeezed Dennis Hauger onto the grass exiting Turn 1, leaving the door wide open for Iwasa to overtake them both.
Pourschaire was the first of the leading pack in for his mandatory stop on Lap 8, followed in by Maini and Jehan Daruvala. Doohan and Martins swiftly joined them in a lap later, whilst Vesti extended his opening stint for another lap before handing the lead over to Fittipaldi.
Arthur Leclerc and Oliver Bearman were both in for supersofts on Lap 27. While the PREMA Racing driver rejoined at the tail end of the order in 18th, the Monegasque driver was forced to pull off to the side of the track shortly after his pitstop, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.
Converted to a full Safety Car on Lap 29, the alternate strategy runners capitalised, with Verschoor completing his mandatory stop and coming out in fifth.
The full top 10 are- P1: Verschoor, P2: Iwasa, P3: Vesti, P4: Doohan, P5: Bearman, P6: Fittipaldi, P7: Pourchaire, P8: Crawford, P9: Martins and P10: Daruvala.
Caio Collet will be joining Van Amersfoort Racing for his third season in Formula 3, as the Brazilian racer makes the switch from MP Motorsport.
The 20 year old, first made his F3 appearance in 2021, scoring two podiums, including one on debut in Barcelona.
After a successful rookie season, Collet put in more strong performances in 2022 earning sprint race wins in Budapest and Zandvoort where he went on to finish eighth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Prior to his move to F3, Collet secured the 2018 French F4 title in his maiden season in single-seaters. There he achieved an impressive 11 podium finishes which included seven victories.
The following year saw him finish fifth in Formula Renault Eurocup, claiming six podiums along the way. He then returned for a second campaign in 2020, Collet took five wins and seven further podiums on his way to finish second in the Championship.
Exciting times are coming as I am extremely motivated to get started with Van Amersfoort Racing. During their first year in F3, the team proved to everyone how much potential they have. From my side, I am very confident going into the new season. I have used the winter period effectively and feel ready, more than I ever did. I have set high goals for myself, and the team is as motivated as I am to take the maximum out of this year, so let the games begin!
Collet on his move.
Caio has shown in the past how fast and talented he is, making it extremely exciting to have him as part of our F3 driver line-up this year. Caio brings valuable experience to the team, which will help us to grow at an even higher pace than last year. Clearly, he is determined to perform strong this year, and so do we as a team. Our motivation levels are really high, the least said, and our crew is very much looking forward to working with an experienced driver as Caio!
Van Amersfoort Racing has confirmed that Rafael Villagomez will be racing with the team in 2023 in his third FIA Formula 3 campaign.
Villagomez began his single seater career back in 2020, winning the Richard Mille Young Talent search and racing in British and French F4, consistently scoring points in both that season.
Graduation up to Euroformula Open in 2021, with VAR brought four podium finishes and P8 in the championship, he also paired that campaign with his rookie season in FIA Formula 3, driving for HWA Racelab.
Last season, his focus was solely on a follow-up F3 campaign, and he will be sticking with VAR for this year’s Championship.
I am really excited about competing in Formula 3 again. Both myself and the team have grown a lot last year and it’s great to be able to continue working together in 2023. I have used the winter period to fully prepare myself physically, and I am really excited to be already racing in January in FRMEC. It feels like this is the best approach to get fully ready for the season and I can’t wait for it to finally kick off again!
The 21 year old said.
It is great to continue working with Rafael this upcoming season. Rafael is very dedicated to his goals, which makes him an absolute pleasure to work with. Having a driver in the team for multiple seasons has clear benefits. Due to the intense contact, you grow stronger as a team, which ultimately is key for performing well on track. Our crew is very committed to support Rafael in progressing both on- and off the circuit and all are fully dedicated to book strong results this season!
Tommy Smith will be making his Formula 3 debut for Van Amersfoort Racing next year, as the Dutch team confirms the Australian racer as their first signing for the 2023 campaign.
The 20 year old steps up off the back of his first full season in the GB3 Championship, where he took a maiden victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
A consistent performer, Smith would finish eighth and seventh in the standings across his two seasons in the Championship. Alongside this, he gained further experience in both the 2019 Toyota Racing Series and the F3 Asian CHampionship, finishing 10th in his sophomore Asian F3 campaign at the beginning of 2020.
After almost a year out, Smith dovetailed a full season in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine with a three round appearance in the GB3 Championship. Remaining in GB3 for the 2022 season, the Australian went on to achieve 18 points-scoring finishes in 24 races, including one victory and a further podium finish.
I am absolutely thrilled about this opportunity. Having raced in both FRECA and GB3 championships, stepping up to the FIA F3 feels like the right next move. I’m certainly aware that it will be a challenging season in which I will have to learn and adapt continuously, but I am convinced I am taking on this challenge with the right team. VAR’s achievements already in their first year competing in FIA F3 are a clear indicator of their level of commitment, and I look very much forward to get started with them and the championship!
Smith on his move to F3.
We are excited to have Tommy as part of our driver line-up. He is new to the FIA F3 Championship, but Tommy’s time spent in FRECA and GB3 will certainly help him to pick up quickly. Tommy is very eager to learn and quickly book progress. He showed this positive attitude already in the past and that will help both Tommy and the crew to jumpstart the season. We look very much forward to supporting him in this important next step of his career!
Juan Manuel Correa will be returning to Formula 2 full time for the 2023 season with Van Amersfoort Racing, completing the team’s line-up alongside Richard Verschoor. It will cap off his remarkable and hard-earned comeback following the major injuries he sustained at Spa-Francorchamps in 2019.
His confirmation comes after a one-off race weekend appearance at the final round of last season at Yas Marina with the team. Correa also took part in post-season testing with VAR following the final weekend, ending up with 222 laps under his belt.
The 23 year old has plenty of single-seater and sports car experience to rely upon in his relatively short career already. Starting his open-wheel racing in ADAC and Italian Formula 4 in 2016, Correa graduated to GP3 and Toyota Racing Series for full seasons in 2018, finishing 12th and 4th overall.
He then made the move to FIA Formula 2 in 2019 and scored two second place finishes that season before the tragic events in Belgium. After an extensive period of rehabilitation and training, Correa returned to racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship this year. He earned a memorable podium in the Zandvoort Sprint Race en route to P13 in the Drivers’ Championship.
Being back full-time in Formula 2 means more to me than most people can imagine. It is not just an achievement in itself to be on this grid, but it also is a realization of a goal that has been the epicenter of my efforts for the last three years, so it is a very emotional achievement. I am super grateful for the opportunity that Van Amersfoort Racing is giving me. I am very hungry, I am very motivated, and I know the team is as well. I am sure together we, the team and my teammate Richard, will make a great line-up and create a great working environment for everyone. We will be pushing each other to continuously improve, because we all want to do well this upcoming season. F2 is a competitive category, and I think Van Amersfoort Racing has done a really good job in their first year in the championship. With the little experience they had, they’ve put on a very impressive performance. I am looking forward to seeing how I can help the team improve and work together with them in this very exciting season!
Correa on returning to F2.
We are excited to have Juan Manuel on board for our second season in the FIA F2. We have had many drivers in the past, but I have to say that the level of commitment that Juan Manuel shows is simply incredible. Besides that, his experience is valuable and will help to further develop both driver and team into the championship. You can imagine we are very eager to start the season in F2 and with the driver line-up we have, our staff is extremely motivated to progress at a high pace. We are convinced that Juan Manuel and Richard will complement each other massively, both on- and off the track, which we see as a strong asset. For now, we make full use of the winter stop, allowing the drivers and crew to further connect and prepare for the season opener at Bahrain!
Van Amersfoort Racing has confirmed that two-time race winner, Richard Verschoor will be driving for the team in next season’s Formula 2 Championship.
Verschoor, tested with the team at the post-season test at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi, finishing the first day in the car as fastest overall.
The Dutch driver will now link up with his compatriots at VAR for next year, a prospect that Verschoor says he is hugely looking forward to already.
Debuting in single seater racing back in 2016, Verschoor has shone at multiple levels since. He won at Formula 4 level before graduating to Toyota Racing Series in 2017, where he finished third overall with three victories. He went one better the following season with P2 in the series before moving into FIA Formula 3 in 2019. He was victorious in Macau that season and after two season in F3, graduated to F2.
I am extremely excited to return to the F2 grid again in 2023 and I am really happy to do so with Van Amersfoort Racing. It is special to be able to announce this on my 22nd birthday as well! As both myself and VAR have grown a lot during last year in F2, I feel very confident about the upcoming season. For me, testing with VAR during the post-season test at Abu Dhabi instantly confirmed their extreme determination to further grow, and that suits my attitude very well! It will be an exciting year and I especially look forward to racing in Melbourne, not to mention Zandvoort. I’m ready for another year of F2 excitement!
Verschoor on his new seat.
Of course, it is special to have a talented, Dutch driver like Richard as a part of our 2023 F2 line-up. It might be needless to say that we, as a Dutch team, enjoy very much the opportunity of having a countryman as part of our driver line-up, especially at this high level of racing. Last year we went on a huge learning streak, which for sure will continue into the new season. Richard brings, besides his raw talent and race craft, valuable F2 experience to the team and that will surely benefit us when it comes to further developing the car. He impressed strongly during the post-season test with us at Abu-Dhabi, setting the fastest overall time on the first day out on track. As last year, 2023 is going to be another exciting year for all of us and we look forward to the moment the lights go out for the first time in Bahrain!
Van Amersfoort Racing took to social media to announce that Jake Hughes will not be racing the next two rounds due to having a positive covid test. David Beckmann will be replacing him for the double header in France and Hungary.
As France and Hungary are consecutive race weekends, Hughes won’t be able to recover in time and will miss both rounds.
After finishing sixth in Formula 3 in 2020, Beckmann has yet to compete in a full season of Formula 2, budget issues saw him dropped by Charouz halfway through the 2021 season, despite taking two podiums for the team.
These rounds will be Beckmann’s third and fourth this season, having already been a stand-in already this season. In Imola, he replaced Cem Bolukbasi after his injury in the previous round. Then Beckmann took Amaury Cordeels spot, as he had to serve a race ban after acquiring 12 penalty points on his license.
Beckmann has managed to grab points already this season, but another four points could easily bump him up to 19th in the standings, which is very impressive considering he’ll have only competed in four out of ten rounds.
Also still driving as a substitute for the next two rounds in Roberto Merhi, who is replacing Ralph Boschung until he recovers from his neck injury.
Wishing Jake Hughes well and we will see him back on the grid soon!
As the five red lights went out, Colapinto made the perfect getaway from pole position, but behind him Ido Cohen went down from his front row spot to fifth, whilst Collet went from fourth to second. Collet remained glued to the rear of Colapinto and with the assistance of DRS along the pit straight he breezed past his opponent.
Collapinto’s pursuit of Collet was halted as a safety car was developed after O’Sullivan spun out of seventh and was joined moments later in the same gravel trap by Josep Maria Marti. Racing resumed on lap 10 but the green flags were only out for a couple of minutes as Reece Ushijima and Federico Malvestiti clashed exiting the first chicane necessitating the Safety Car once again.
There was a frantic two lap race to the flag and Colapinto seized the initiative to sweep past Collet along the pit straight. The Brazilian was left vulnerable as the fast charging Hadjar but the two cars interlocked on the approach to the first chicane, Collet was out whilst Hadjar relinquished positions after going through the gravel.
Position
Driver
Team
1
Franco Colapinto
Van Amersfoort Racing
2
Victor Martins
ART Grand Prix
3
Jak Crawford
PREMA Racing
4
Roman Stanek
Trident
5
Isack Hadjar
HiTech Grand Prix
Top 5 sprint race
Day 3-
Feature Race-
Stanek held his position off the line, then briefly took the lead from teammate and polesitter, Zane Maloney before the Barbados driver took charge of the race. Stanek then inherited the lead from his teammate as Maloney spun on the second safety car restart. But it wasn’t all sunshine for Trident driver as Bearman got the better jump and went ahead into Tamburello.
Jak Crawford, then repeated Stanek’s move on his teammate, Bearman to take 2nd place on the final lap, with Isack Hadjar capitalising on a clash between Bearman and Saucy at the first Rivazza further around the lap to take third as Bearman dropped to 4th.
A drying track led much of the field to opt for slicks but several drivers risked the wets in a bid to make a jump up the order. One of those who risked it, Caio Collet managed to charge through from ninth on the grid to lead by the end of lap one but his advantage was short lived as their was a safety car.
Position
Driver
Team
1
Roman Stanek
Trident
2
Jak Crawford
PREMA Racing
3
Isack Hadjar
HiTech Grand Prix
4
Oliver Bearman
PREMA Racing
5
Arthur Leclerc
PREMA Racing
Top 5 Feature Race
The Championship-
It’s heating up at the front now, as Victor Martins still leads the championship but he is tied on points with PREMA’s Arthur Leclerc. With Roman Stanek in third just one point behind, we then have Jak Crawford in 4th again one point behind Stanek and rounding out the top 5 is Isack Hadjar who is again one point behind.
Looking at the teams, it is PREMA who are comfortably sitting in the top spot on 95 points. ART Grand Prix are in second with 63 points so quite a big gap between the two. In third is Trident with 50 points.
We now have a months break until round 3 of the 2022 championship, where we will be in Barcelona, Spain!
With the teams already having some track action here for the pre-season test, the field of 30 drivers took to track so set themselves up for hopfeully a competitive weekend.
After the light went green and a few flurry of laps, it was MP Motorsport’s Caio Collet who set the fastest, however his effort was still some way of the true pace.
The times began to tumber, as the drivers gathered further experience at the Bahrain International Circuit. But it was the reigning team champions, Trident who got off to a strong start this weekend, as Roman Stanek ended Free Practice on top with a 1:48.012.
PREMA’s Arthur Leclerc moved himself up into second place, in which he was less than a tenth of a second behind Stanek. With Rookie, Gregoire Saucy launching himself into 3rd.
In the final 10 minute, there was a brief yellow flag due to Reece Ushijiam coming to a stop in sector one but was able to get his car moving again.
Position
Driver
Team
Laptime
1
Roman Stanek
Trident
1:48.012
2
Arthur Leclerc
PREMA Racing
1:48.090
3
Gregoire Saucy
ART Grand Prix
1:48.099
4
Izack Hadjar
HiTech Grand Prix
1:48.285
5
Caio Collet
MP Motorsport
1:48.402
Top 5 Free Practice
Qualifying-
Gregoire Saucy was the first to jump to the top of the timesheets, placing himself just over one-tenth of a second in front of Roman Stanek. Most of the drivers, then returned to the pit lane as the qualifying session hit the halfway point.
With 10 minutes to go, a lot of the drivers came out of the pitlane and set their minds to some more push laps. Colapinto set a fire laptime, which saw no-one be able to replace him at the top spot.
The top 12 switch round for tomorrows sprint race, so we will have Rookie, Zak O’Sullivan on pole position, lined up next to another rookie and FDA driver, Ollie Bearman with David Vidales rounding out the top 3 for tomorrows starting grid.
The Formula 3 2022 grid is complete before the first round this weekend in Bahrain, the first of 9 rounds and 18 races across the year.
There are 14 rookies this year, including Zak O’Sullivan in which his come of the back of 3 impressive year, being runner up in Ginetta Junior Championship, runner-up in F4 British Championship and GB3 Champion last year. Ollie Bearman, also comes inot F3 being the ADAC Formula 4 Champion and Italian F4 Champion.
Which drivers should we look out for this season?
Trident drivers, they are coming of the back of winning the 2021 Team standings, and no doubt will be wanting to do it again.
PREMA, you can never ever count out, obviously they have won the drivers championship 3 years in a row. As well as this, Arthur Leclerc has already won one championship this year and it looks like F3 will now be his main focus.
Martins and Collet, both with Alpine Academy will be looking to fight for the championship this year. It is their second year in F3 and will be hoping to move up to F2 next season if they provide the results.
Juan Manuel Correa sticking with ART Grand Prix, hoping to fight for more points this year as he goes into his second year in Formula 3.
Formula 2 has now had all their drivers confirmed for this year. The 2022 season will see a 14 round calendar, and 28 races across the year.
Half of the grid are rookies this year, with reigning Formula 3 Champion, Dennis Hauger making the step up into F2. As well as many different drivers from all different F1 team juniors, but 2022 their will be no Ferrari Driver Academy drivers, with the most recent drivers graduating to other roles…
Which drivers should we look out for this season?
Definitley both PREMA drivers, they will be want to go for both the drivers and teams championship for a third year running.
Liam Lawson moving to Carlin, is definitely one to watch, he had a few reliability issues last year, so if he doesn’t have those this year hopefully he can be a title contender.
ART Grand Prix, have a very strong line-up this year, Pourchaire will be wanting to go for the drivers championship, and Vesti will be wanting to help as the team and possibly fight for the team championship.
Jack Doohan, Olli Caldwell, Jake Hughes and Clement Novalak all stepped into F2 seats last year with some scoring points rather quickly. These 4 are ones to look out for, with scoring points consistently.
Formula 2 is back next Wednesday the 2nd of March in Sakhir, Bahrain for pre-season testing, then 2 weeks later is the first race of the season!
Van Amersfoort Racing have confirmed their final spot by signing Franco Colapinto for the 2022 season he will be along side, Rafael Villagomez and Reece Ushijima.
The 18 year old will step up on the back of a busy season, where he took on single-seater and LMP2 racing. He finished sixth in Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine, as well as making appearances in the European and Asian LeMans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The Buenos Aires born racer made his Formula 3 debut at the post-season test in which he was the fastest on track on the second day.
He first made his single-seater debut in the final round of the Spanish Formula 4 Championship in 2018 winning the last of four races, which resulted in stepping up full-time in 2019 where he dominated the series, winning 11 times and taking 14 podiums overall.
He then spent 2020 competing in Formula Renault Eurocup and the Toyota Racing Series, where he placed third in both before moving to Formula Regional in 2021.
“I really enjoyed my first time in the F3 car,” said Colapinto. “It is obviously way more powerful than the FRECA car, but at the same time has surprisingly similar driving characteristics to the LMP2 car; fast and loads of downforce. A significant difference to the LMP2 class will of course be tyre management, but I like that intelligent part of racing. I really look forward to teaming up with Van Amersfoort Racing as they have such a strong history. They take their return to the FIA F3 championship extremely serious, and I am really excited to be part of that journey. The crew is motivated and an absolute pleasure to work with. Pre-season testing at Bahrain is just around the corner and I can’t wait for it to start!”
VAR CEO Rob Niessink said: “We are excited to have Franco on board for our debut season in FIA F3. Looking at his career so far, he has shown to not only possess a good portion of raw talent, but that he also has the capability to quickly adapt to circumstances. We had our eye on him already as a potential candidate, which was reinforced after seeing him perform during the post-season test at Valencia, early November last year. We have thoroughly structured our F3 team over the winter period and are more than ready to hit the track early March in Bahrain.”
My Opinion-
This is a good move in my opinion, his definitely talented enough to be in Formula 3 so it will be interesting to see how he can fully adapt to a full F3 season than just the post-seaon test, but he how’s promise.
Rafael Villagomez will be spending his second season of Formula 3 with Van Amersfoort Racing.
In his rookie season with HWA Racelab, he also competed in the Euroformula Open Championship, taking five podiums with VAR to finish eight overall in the standings.
The Mexican, only made his debut in single-seaters in 2020 but already has lots of experience, he finished 11th in British F4 and 6th in French F4, before running in the final four races of the 2020 Euroformula season.
“Last year was certainly a learning year for me, which I knew it would be,” said Villagómez. “The move up from Formula 4 to FIA F3 was a big step, but I enjoyed every minute of it. Now I feel ready to compete at a higher level and aim for points and podium finishes. Having raced with them in Euroformula Open last year, I know Van Amersfoort Racing very well. It gives me great confidence to have them at my side, especially since I know how dedicated they are towards this program!”
Van Amersfoort CEO Rob Niessink added: “It is always great to be able to progress with a driver into a second year. Both driver and crew have grown close together during the season and despite Rafael moving up to another category within VAR, we know him well and he knows our way of working through and through. Rafael faced a steep learning curve last year, something that was anticipated. For the upcoming season, his approach is certainly focused on scoring points and finishing on the podium. Besides the fact that our crew fully supports Rafael in every step he makes this season, he also brings along valuable F3 experience gathered last year. Clearly, we are thrilled to get this journey started and are looking forward to pre-season testing at Bahrain early March!”
My Opinion-
Good move for him, he already knows the Dutch team well so thats already a bonus. It will be interesting to see how he does racing wise in Formula 3 with the team.
Van Amersfoort Racing has announced their first driver for Formula 3 and that being Reece Ushijima!
Ushijima will be stepping up from the GB3 Championship after a title-challenging season with HiTech Grand Prix, he finished fourth overall with three poles, two wins and seven podiums.
Not only did he compete in GB3, he also competed in the 2021 Asian Formula 3 Championship where he ended the year as the second highest-rookie in 11th place!
The 19 year old, enjoyed a successful post-season F3 test with the team on Days 1 & 2 before he went to Campos Racing for the third day and he managed to finish 2nd overall in the afternoon session.
Ushijima first started his karting career at 13 years old, he initially started in Japan but then moved to Europe. After four years of karting, he went on to the BRSSC Formula Ford Winter series to make his single-seater debut where he qualified on pole and finished third and second in the races.
“To be racing with such an experienced and successful team as Van Amersfoort Racing is a great privilege,” said Ushijima. “Seeing how motivated and hardworking they were during post-season testing at Valencia has made me really excited to what we can achieve this year. It may be an uphill battle, as it is both the team’s and my first year competing in the FIA F3, but I believe we can achieve something special with our combined determination. I cannot wait to get the season started!”
Van Amersfoort CEO Rob Niessink added: “We first worked with Reece during post-season testing at Valencia last year and he impressed us. It will be both his and our first season in this car, so for sure there is lots to be learned, but Reece’s determination excites us. His interaction with the team was impressive and he showed to be a quick learner. The level of progress he booked during the two days he tested with us is a clear indicator of his potential. We have been preparing our entry into this category to the finest detail and are absolutely thrilled to get going early next month!”
My Opinion–
This is a good move, definitely got the talent to be in F3 so it’ll be interesting to see how he does for the full season.
Van Amersfoort Racing have now confirmed their line-up for the up-coming season with Amaury Cordeel taking the second seat beside British driver Jake Hughes.
2022 will be Cordeel’s first season in F2 as he makes the step up from Formula 3, he tested with the team at post-season testing where he finished sixth in the afternoon session of day 3.
Last year was the Belgian’s first year in Formula 3 where his best finish was 11th. He competed in three different series in 2020 where he had spells in Formula Renault Eurocup, the Castrol Toyota Racing Series and F3 Asia.
The 19 year old never karted professionally and made his move into single seaters with only testing experience at 14 years old. He debuted in 2017 at the French Formula 4 series where he placed 16th, he then switched to Spanish F4 the following season in which he won the title with 12 podiums including four wins and four pole positions.
“I am extremely excited to make this step up to F2,” said Cordeel. “I got to know the car during the post-season test at Abu Dhabi and it is an impressive drive. The power increase in comparison to F3 is obviously very noticeable, but I felt comfortable behind the wheel. I am very well aware that the season ahead will be a challenging one and I will face a steep learning curve. However, having Van Amersfoort Racing as my team to rely on gives me great confidence. I am thankful for the trust they’ve put in me and I look very much forward to being part of their FIA F2 debut. The level of dedication and professionalism shown during the test at Yas Marina was impressive, the least said. I will put my learnings from F3 to best use and together with the support of VAR, will build up from there onwards. I have been using the off-season to get in optimum shape, both physically and mentally, not to mention the endless hours I’ve spent in the simulator. I feel ready!”
VAR’s CEO Rob Niessink added: “After the test at Abu Dhabi, we knew we wanted Amaury in the car. He is very committed to performing and forms a good match with the team. He proofed to be an intelligent driver and learns quickly, something we highly value in a driver. Our crew is excited and set up to support him in every way possible, assisting him to reach his full potential. As this is both his and our first time in the FIA F2 championship, we know it won’t be a walk in the park, but as a team, we are extremely dedicated to performing and leaving a mark starting with the very first outing at Bahrain and onwards!”
My Opinion-
Not going to lie, I am a bit mixed feelings on this… I feel like he should of stayed in Formula 3 to see if he can rack up some point finishes instead of moving to F2 without grabbing any points. But considering he tested with the team at the post season test, they clearly trust him. I think Cordeel will have a lot of eyes on him come March to see how he performs.
Jordan's Track Talk 