Written by Sean McKean and Vyas Ponnuri
It is only a month until the drivers and teams take to the first race of the season at Bahrain, and Formula 3 teams are once again working behind the scenes to bring the best of the talent onto their roster for the upcoming Formula 3 season. Here's a round-up of what the F3 teams have been doing over the past week....
Wisnicki Embarks on Full Campaign in F3
Following a lacklustre rookie season in 2023 - only competing in four rounds with PHM Racing - Polish driver Piotr Wisnicki was confirmed by Rodin Motorsport to take part in the full 2024 FIA Formula 3 season, completing their season’s lineup. In 2023, Wisnicki competed in the first four rounds of the season, taking a best finish of 18th in the Monaco sprint race.
Wisnicki expressed his excitement about not only being able to take part in a full campaign, but also what he’s seen regarding Rodin’s growth behind the scenes.
“I’m pleased to be able to announce that I’m joining Rodin Motorsport for the upcoming season. I’ve already raced in the championship so that’s given me a really good understanding going into this year.
I’m looking forward to putting everything I’ve learned in the past into this season. It’s great to be joining the team, I’ve been working closely with them over the past few weeks, and everything looks great, so I think we’re going to have a good year together.”
Team Manager Sam Waple also went on to explain what he sees in the Pole:
“Piotr had a part season racing in the championship last year and despite his limited track time, he’s learned a lot from this valuable time behind the wheel. Piotr has a fantastic attitude which matches our own ethos here in the team.I’m really looking forward to working with him this season, I’m sure he’s going to be a great asset to the team and an exciting driver to watch on track.”
Inthraphuvasak Steps Up to F3
On Saturday, it was announced by PHM AIX Racing that Thai driver Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak will be the second driver representing the team in FIA Formula 3. In 2023, Inthraphuvasak spent his time in the all-new Eurocup-3 championship, where he took four podiums along with two poles to help him to sixth overall in the standings.
Following a season in F3-level machinery last year, the Thai driver has great expectations for 2024: “I am extremely delighted to announce that I will be racing with PHM AIX Racing in FIA Formula 3. I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible and the team for giving me this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to get started in Bahrain in a couple of weeks!”
Rohland Rehfeld, PHM Racing’s Sporting Director, further elaborated:
“We are very happy to have signed Tas at an early stage, showing his trust in our still young Team. He is fully dedicated to our driver program including the UAE winter season as well as our FIA Formula 3 team.
“Tas has collected victories in each class and championship he was competing in so far, so he knows how to deliver. He is extremely ambitious and focused and in the post-season testing he already showed a very promising performance and work ethic. We are sure he will be one of the positive surprises in 2024.”
Wurz Completes Jenzer’s 2024 Line-up
Charlie Wurz completes the trio of drivers at Jenzer Motorsport for 2024, stepping up to a seat in the Formula 3 championship alongside Peruvian racer Matias Zagazeta, and American racer Max Esterson.
Wurz is the son of three-time Formula One podium-sitter Alex Wurz, who last raced for Williams back in 2007, taking a podium back at the Canadian Grand Prix that year.
The younger Wurz steps up to F3 after a part-time campaign in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) as well as a campaign in the Euroformula Open in 2023. The Austrian racer joined Cryptopower Racing Team in the latter’s second-half, racing the final four rounds of their Euroformula campaign.
Despite competing just half the regular season, Wurz finished sixth in the overall standings, scoring a brace of podiums, first at home, around the Red Bull Ring, before taking another at the Temple of Speed, Monza.
He backed up a strong third in race one at Monza by winning race two, and despite retiring in the next two rounds of the season, Wurz rounded out his season with a brace of runners-up spots around the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya, on his way to sixth in the standings, scoring 139 points, one more than 2024 PHM racer Joshua Dufek, another mid-season addition to the championship.
The Italian has also won championships in the past, triumphing in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship earlier in 2023, and having won the 2022 Formula 4 UAE championship in 2022, scoring two wins and 10 podiums on his way to glory in the Middle East.
Wurz was looking forward to racing with the Spanish team in 2024, and was quoted saying: “I am thrilled to be racing with Jenzer Motorsport for the 2024 FIA F3 season. I feel confident and comfortable having a team with such high motivation behind me. I can’t wait to get started in Bahrain in a few weeks time.”
Team Principal Andreas Jenzer too added on the positives Wurz would bring, and help take the team towards the front of the field:
“Part of Charlie’s blood seems to be pure fuel and passion! The FIA F3 official test days we did together at the end of 2023 as well as how he was able to shine in the demanding FIA F3 Macau World Cup event was very positive. Let’s push together to achieve great results and bring the Jenzer Motorsport car - featuring the new livery - once more to the front.“