Australian Horsten graduates to BRDC British F3 with Lanan Racing

British F4 race winner Bart Horsten has confirmed that he will compete in the BRDC British F3 Championship in 2020 with Lanan Racing.

The 17-year-old graduates to British F3 on the back of a strong maiden campaign in European competition in the British F4 Championship, taking a race win at Donington Park and nine additional podiums across the season, finishing fifth overall.

The Australian's career began in his homeland, after joining the Tiger Kart Club in his hometown of Perth and competing in karting, throughout Western Australia, until 2017. In 2018 he took part in selected rounds of the Australian Formula Ford Series during which he took three podiums and a fastest lap.

Moving to the UK at the start of 2019, Horsten enjoyed a fruitful campaign in British F4 that began with points finishes at Brands Hatch before a breakthrough podium and victory at Donington Park. Despite his inexperience compared to his fellow competitors, Horsten consistently delivered podium results including four in a row covering the Croft and Oulton Park weekends. Additional rostrums also came at Thruxton, Snetterton, Silverstone and at the final weekend of the year on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

Horsten had his first experience of the Tatuus BRDC British F3 car at Donington Park in October, when he joined the Lanan team's driver evaluation day and received guidance from Lanan's former F4 Champion and now F1 ace George Russell. He's enjoyed several other outings in the car since, and has now committed to the team for the 2020 British F3 season, joining British contender Josh Mason in the team's line-up.

Horsten commented: "I'm very excited to be moving up to the BRDC British F3 Championship with Lanan Racing for 2020. They have an excellent track record at this level, and I've really enjoyed working with them since our day at Donington a couple of months ago. That day made a big impression on me, the car was amazing and it was great to meet George Russell too. Since then I’ve got more familiar with the car and the team, and I'm very much looking forward to a competitive year with Graham Johnson and the Lanan guys in 2020."

Team Principal Graham Johnson said: "Bart has done a brilliant job with us in the testing we've carried out so far, and we were very keen to get him onboard for the 2020 season. We're delighted he's chosen to race with us, while he's done a fair bit of single seater racing, his experience of slicks and wings is just one season, so that makes his performances in F4 and in testing all the more impressive. He'll be one to watch next year."