by admin | Mar 6, 2019 | F3 News, News
Belgian, Ulysse De Pauw, has completed the three-car BRDC British F3 team line-up for Douglas Motorsport.
The 17-year-old finished third overall in the French F4 Championship last year, in his first year of single-seater racing. Showing excellent consistency and speed, De Pauw scored a maiden podium in just his fifth race on the legendary Pau street circuit, and then followed that up with a breakthrough victory at Spa-Francorchamps.
Finishing inside the top seven at every race, he scored a total of five podiums and was just 13 points shy of the runner-up position in the championship standings.
His maiden single-seater season followed a superb karting career that began in 2009, and saw him claim the 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Minimax title. He was second in the 2013 BNL Karting Series in Rotax Max Junior and third in the 2015 WSK Super Masters Series in the KFJ category.
Further success followed in 2016 where he was third in WSK Super Master Series OKJ, before a busy season in 2017 which saw him take third place overall finishes in the WSK Super Master Series OKJ, WSK Champions Cup, IAME International Final and the WSK Super Master Series.
The Belgian teenager is the third F4 graduate to join the team for the forthcoming British F3 season, joining British F4 champion Kiern Jewiss and American F4 race winner Benjamin Pedersen at the squad.
Now moving up the single-seater ladder to British F3, De Pauw commented: “I’m really looking forward to the year ahead in BRDC British F3 with Douglas Motorsport, and want to thank everyone who helped and supported me to have the chance to take part in this championship. I am feeling confident as I make the next step up. For the second year I have a new car and new circuits to learn, but my first year of single-seater racing was very strong and having just missed out on second place in F4, it’s made me even more determined as I get ready for my first season in British F3.”
Team Principal Wayne Douglas commented: “We’re delighted to complete our three-car line-up with Ulysse. He’s demonstrated that he’s a very exciting driver with plenty of potential, and with our driver development programme should be one to watch this year. His performances in his first year of single-seater racing were exceptional, and he completes one of our most promising driver line-ups for many years, with graduates from three different F4 championships across the globe.”
by admin | Feb 28, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Douglas Motorsport are happy to announce yet another driver signing for the upcoming Michelin Ginetta Junior Champsionship. Bailey Voisin will make his car-racing debut in the junior series after signing for the team.
The Swiss born British racer, who is bilingual in English and French, started karting in Junior Max competition aged thirteen and last year competed in the Junior Rotax class of the Super One Karting Championship.
The sixteen year old, who currently studies in Bath, is now looking to take his racing to the next level this season in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship with support from Featured Developments and Thallo Capital.
Bailey Voisin: “I am thrilled to have joined Douglas Motorsport and really look forward to improving my driving skills with such a professional and supportive team. Having now met some of the other drivers and the wider Douglas team, I feel very welcome.
“My immediate goal in the 2019 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship is to do well in the Rookie Cup this season and hopefully I can look forward to a successful year as a Douglas Junior.”
Voisin is the third confirmed driver for the upcoming campaign, joining series returnees Gus Burton and Lorcan Hanafin.
Wayne Douglas, team principal: “Douglas Motorsport have started an intensive test programme with Bailey and his progression has been impressive. In his rookie season, the team and Bailey’s aim together is rookie podiums and wins which should see Bailey running at the front as the season progresses.”
by admin | Feb 25, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Lorcan Hanafin will aim to build upon an impressive introduction in 2018 as he returns to the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship grid this season with Douglas Motorsport
The former karter joined the Ginetta family last year with a strong pedigree as a former race-winner in the Renault UK Clio Cup Junior series, and he made a good first impression as he contested half of the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship season with Douglas Motorsport.
The 16 year old, who resides in the West Yorkshire town of Guiseley, was a consistent presence at the sharp end of the grid and finished in the top ten in eight of the fifteen races he contested, with the highlight being a superb fourth overall and a first Rookie Cup podium finish at Rockingham.
With a maiden race fastest lap under his belt as well at Silverstone, Hanafin capped off the campaign with more impressive pace in the Winter Series at Brands Hatch as he posted a second fastest time in qualifying and finished in the top six in two of the three races contested.
Hanafin will line-up alongside Gus Burton in Douglas Motorsport’s entry for the 2019 Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship and will race with support from MIS Motorsport, Grandma Wilds, Rally School Ireland and Reviv.
Lorcan Hanafin:
“I am really excited to continue working with Douglas Motorsport for the 2019 season. After finding my feet for the latter part of the 2018 season, I feel like I am now more prepared for a full campaign.
“We have completed a positive winter testing programme so far and I will head into the new season in a stronger position to fight for outright wins and hopefully get myself in contention for the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship title.”
Wayne Douglas, team principal:
“It is great to have Lorcan and MIS Motorsport back with us for another season. After a very strong Winter Series and some very promising testing, we are confident Lorcan will be a front runner from the opening race at Brands Hatch in April.”
by admin | Feb 22, 2019 | F3 News, News
Douglas Motorsport are excited to announce that USA F4 front-runner Benjamin Pedersen will compete in the 2019 BRDC British F3 Championship with the team.
The Danish-American makes the move to British F3 after several strong years in single seaters in the USA, including three campaigns in the Formula 4 United States Championship and selected races in last year’s F3 Americas Championship.
Pedersen, aged 19, made his single seater bow in 2016, taking a podium in his debut race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and securing a top-10 finish in the championship standings.
He was runner-up in the FIA standings in his 2nd season in 2017, taking three wins and a total of six podiums throughout the year, including an impressive double triumph in front of the F1 paddock at the Circuit of the Americas.
With two full seasons under his belt, Pedersen returned to the F4 series in 2018, securing two more wins and 4 podiums in the 30+ car field, but also combined his efforts with four rounds of the 2018
F3 Americas Championship, securing 10 podiums from the 11 races he competed in and finishing third in the championship standings. He finished his season with another impressive showing at the
United States Grand Prix event, taking two second places in F3, and challenging for victory in F4 on the same weekend.
Looking ahead to his British F3 debut at Oulton Park on 20-22 April, Pedersen commented:
“I can’t wait to make my race debut in the United Kingdom. I’ve secured good results in my open wheel career so far, but Europe was always going to be the next step and Britain has always had the
strongest competition, so I’m looking forward to getting out there competing for the championship.”
Team Principal Wayne Douglas added:
“We’re really pleased to add Benjamin to our line-up for this year’s BRDC British F3 Championship. He’s got plenty of experience already in single seaters and showed last year that he can adapt quickly to F3 machinery. We’re really looking forward to working with him and are very confident that he will deliver some great results this year.”
Benjamin Pedersen’s move to the 2019 BRDC British F3 Championship, also introduces a new partnership between Douglas Motorsport and Global Racing Group. Global Racing Group develops
and runs one of the premium development programs for young drivers through F4 and F3 in the US, and with this new partnership the next steps for young, talented drivers in the US are being
introduced in their single seater careers.
by admin | Feb 20, 2019 | Ginetta Junior Championship News, News
Douglas Motorsport are please to welcome Gus Burton for the 2019 Ginetta Junior Champsionship. Gus competed in five meetings across the 2018 championship with a number of top ten finishes, including a 6th place in the final round at Brands Hatch
Gus returned for the Winter Series and produced a superb display, picking up a pair of pole positions, leading all four races at one stage and coming away with a maiden podium finish in the series.
Through his racing Burton supports The Sparkle Foundation, whereby every penny of corporate sponsorship he raises is being used to improve the life chances of vulnerable children in Malawi. As well as raising money for the charity this way, Burton also promotes awareness by running a dedicated charity livery on his Ginetta G40.
Gus Burton: “After spending my races last season adapting to the rear wheel drive Ginetta G40, building on my racecraft and overall pace, I’m confident that this season I’m capable of achieving some great results in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship.”
Wayne Douglas, team principal: ““We are really happy to have Gus with us for his first full season in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship. After getting his first pole positions and leading all four races in the Winter Series, we’re confident he can be running at the front from round one.”
The Ginetta Junior Championship returns on April 6th at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit.
by admin | Jan 23, 2019 | F3 News, News
Reigning British F4 champion and McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Kiern Jewiss will race in the BRDC British F3 Championship this season, after confirming a deal with Douglas Motorsport.
The 16-year-old dominated the 2018 British F4 Championship in his debut season of single-seater racing, claiming a record-breaking number of points and podiums, and the largest winning margin in the series’ history. His success saw him become a BRDC Rising Stars member, inducted into the Motorsport UK Academy Team and then the youngest finalist in the history of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.
Reigniting the winning partnership from 2017, Jewiss will rejoin Douglas Motorsport two years after they first teamed up for the British driver’s maiden season in cars, when he was crowned Rookie Champion in the Ginetta Junior Championship – with Douglas Motorsport finishing the year as the Teams’ Champion.
For the 2019 season, Kiern will once again fly the flag for FM Conway, as the ‘Green Arrow’ returns for another year of on-track action and will also be representing Morgan Bros as he takes on the next challenge in his career.
Looking ahead to the BRDC British F3 season, Jewiss is delighted to be joining Douglas Motorsport and has set high expectations for himself.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Douglas Motorsport for the 2019 BRDC British F3 campaign! I know Wayne and the team at Douglas Motorsport really well and I’m excited to be back working amongst the team for my first season in BRDC British F3. The team have shown that they are front-runners, and can win races like Jamie Chadwick did last year, and I hope to replicate this success in 2019.
“The BRDC British F3 Championship is a proven championship and one that has helped a lot of top drivers develop their skills and is the perfect platform for me at this point in my career and age.
“Everything I do, I aim to do my best in so, of course, I will be looking at having as much success as possible and winning races. I know it won’t be easy but I’m confident I can rise to the challenge.”
Kiern Jewiss was BRDC F4 Champion in 2017
Kiern Jewiss was Ginetta Junior Rookie Champion with Douglas Motorsport, 2017
Team Principal Wayne Douglas is delighted to have the reigning British F4 Champion join his team for the year ahead.
“We are all very excited to have Kiern joining the team for the 2019 season! He was here in 2017, when he raced in Ginetta Juniors, and we were all amazed by his talent behind the wheel and his attitude out of the car. Since then, he has become a Champion in single-seaters at his first attempt and I know that working together we can have a very successful year.”
Mark Blundell, CEO of MB Partners, who manage Jewiss, sees this as a huge opportunity for Kiern to build on his career successes.
“Kiern and Douglas Motorsport is a great match and the chemistry is already there from their title-winning campaign in 2017. Kiern has broken records in every championship he has entered and this is another fantastic opportunity to show his value to the motorsport world. Together with Douglas, FM Conway and Morgan Bros, Kiern has all the support he needs to have another strong year in the racing seat and we are all very excited to see what he can achieve.”
