SWEDISH ACE LUNDQVIST JOINS BRITISH F4 WITH DOUBLE R

Lundqvist already looks at home behind the wheel of his Double R machine – Photo: Jakob Ebrey

Highly rated Swedish single-seater champion Linus Lundqvist will race in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford in 2017, competing for Double R Racing.

17-year-old Lundqvist stormed to glory in the Scandinavian-based Formula STCC Nordic championship in 2016, winning 10 out of 14 races, as well as the North European Zone title.

In 2017 the Stockholm resident will set about his biggest challenge to date, leaving the Swedish arena to go head to head with some of motor racing's most promising prospects in the UK’s official FIA Formula 4 series.

Lundqvist will take to the grid with Woking-based outfit Double R Racing and is eager to make a name for himself in the UK’s leading single-seater championship.

"It's great to be able to take this step and to measure myself against the competition in the F4 British Championship," said Lundqvist.

"This has been my target since winning the Formula STCC Nordic title last autumn, and I'm equally thrilled and grateful that we've made this happen along with Double R Racing.

“To be competing in single-seaters in Britain, in the heart of motorsport, is definitely a dream come true for me."

Lundqvist has already got plenty of Ford EcoBoost-powered miles under his belt having tested the British F4 racer for three days at Silverstone, topping the times on each occasion at the home of the British Grand Prix.

"Testing has been very, very positive," added Lundqvist. "It was all brand new to me; the car, the track, the tyres and the team, but the guys at Double R Racing have been fantastic and really helped me to acclimatise.

“This will be a big challenge for me, having only raced on the narrow tracks in Scandinavia, but I hope to be fighting for wins before too long.

“I want to establish myself abroad and prove what I can do, and to that end I'm sure British Formula 4 is the right path. I really am extremely excited and I can't wait for the first race!"

Formed in 2004, Double R Racing currently fields cars in British F4 and F3; winning the F3 drivers' title with British F4 graduate Matheus Leist in 2016.

The crack Double R Racing team claimed four wins last year in the F4 British Championship with Australian youngster Zane Goddard, who also added four more podium finishes to his tally over the course of the season.

Among those to have raced for the squad are the likes of Bruno Senna, Felipe Nasr and Lundqvist's countryman Marcus Ericsson of the Sauber F1 team.

"I have to say that I'm genuinely impressed by what I've seen of Linus this winter," said Double R Racing team boss Anthony ”Boyo” Hieatt.

"Testing went incredibly well. He turned up for the first time at Silverstone, a tough track with a lot of fast corners, and he immediately set the pace.

“He comes highly recommended by some people and I firmly believe that we'll be running right at the front with Linus this year.

“I'd expect us to fight for race wins and the title, and we're all excited to have Linus on board."

A packed pre-season testing schedule begins in earnest this week on Friday 3 February at Oulton Park. Drivers will aim to get to grips with their Ford EcoBoost-powered machines ahead of the first meeting of the season which will take place at Double R’s ‘home’ track Brands Hatch, on 1/2 April.

Alex Battipaglia (Source: British F4)