After a highly successful 2020 campaign in British Formula 4, Australian Christian Mansell will take a step up this year, securing a seat in the BRDC British F3 Championship with Carlin Motorsport.
The move comes off the back of the 15-year-old’s stellar maiden season in British open wheel racing where he secured an outright race win and four podiums for Carlin, as well as comfortably claiming the Rookie Cup title.
Putting on an impressive display during the Formula 3 test day at Silverstone late last year, Mansell was then confirmed to run in the championship, becoming just the third driver to be announced for the category– which will host eight rounds in 2021.
With Mansell’s inclusion in the championship, the Newcastle based driver will also become the youngest Australian to get behind the wheel of a Formula 3 car in the United Kingdom.
“To be accepted into British Formula 3 is really cool because it’s something I was working towards all last year,” Mansell said.
“My aim was to be the best I could be and now that I am stepping up into bigger and better cars, the real challenge to be good enough begins. It’s one I am really looking forward to doing.
“Racing British F3 this year will make me the youngest Aussie to do so, which is amazing because it’s an achievement in itself.
“I am also really proud to be able to go round again with Carlin because they are such a strong team in this category and I just feel like it’s going to a phenomenal experience – especially since they have entrusted me to pilot their F3 car.
“The move has given me a lot of confidence and I am really pleased with the support I am receiving from all sides such as my family, Carlin and sponsors.”
While Mansell will enter the championship as one of the youngest on the grid, he is not intimidated by his fellow drivers and was relishing the opportunity to showcase his talent.
“The goal is to win. There is no other goal,” Mansell added.
“I am here to drive. I am here to deliver my best performance and I feel my best performance is to win. I want to go in there with a strong head and a good start to the season will be key.
“I learnt a lot of race craft in F4 with Carlin and I really feel like I can pull my weight now. I don’t think there is any other goal.
“And if we don’t win, that’s alright too because it is still another learning year in itself, but I won’t be using that as an excuse and I will be aiming to win.
“To finish fifth would sit well with me, but F3 is the level you make an impression and in the simple sense, I am hoping to make an impression.”
Mansell joins 2020 British Formula 4 Championship runner-up Zak O'Sullivan in the 2021 Carlin Motorsport’s British F3 line-up with the Surrey based team the current champions.
Mansell and Carlin Motorsport begin their 2021 BRDC British F3 Championship campaign at Oulton Park in April.Rising star’s brilliant 2020 rewarded with promotion to British F3
