NEWS

TEAM NEWS 3 FEBRUARY 2012: Carlin’s Cooper Tires British Formula Three International Series 2012 driver line-up has been finalised with the announcement that Jazeman Jaafar will drive for the team in the upcoming season. The 19 year-old Malaysian starts his third season with the Carlin team, having continued to impress the Surrey based squad with his development in the junior categories.

Jaafar’s career has seen him compete in the Asian Formula Renault 2.0 series before moving to the Formula BMW Asia Championship in 2007 where he ultimately secured the championship taking 10 wins along the way. Jaafar spent two years competing in Formula BMW Europe before moving to the British F3 Championship with Carlin in 2010.

His solid 2011 British F3 campaign with Carlin saw the PETRONAS-supported driver rack up four podiums and a string of points finishes putting the young Malaysian sixth in the overall championship standings.

The young Malaysian’s final 2011 race in Macau proved to be another great showing despite the weekend’s difficult conditions – finishing the race in an impressive eighth position after making his way through the field.

Jaafar completes Carlin’s five driver 2012 line-up following the announcement of his team mates Carlos Sainz Jr, Jack Harvey, Harry Tincknell and Pietro Fantin.

Jaafar said, “Having the continuity of staying with Carlin is vital to me. It means that we can hit the ground running with the new model of car which we’re all racing this season and as I know all the mechanics and have built a good rapport with my engineer, we’ll be straight into the development work from the first test of the year.”

Trevor Carlin added, “Jazeman had a really strong year with us in 2011 and I’m delighted and proud that PETRONAS entrusted us with developing Jazeman’s career further in 2012.  He proved last season that he was consistent front runner who was always in the hunt for podiums.  If he continues to drive in the same way that he did last year it definitely won’t be long before he’s on the top step of the podium.”

The 2012 British F3 season gets underway on the 6th/7th April at Oulton Park.