F3: Fortec, Double R alter Euro series lineups

Fortec Motorsport and Double R Racing are both set to change their driver line-ps for the next round of the Formula 3 European Championship at the Red Bull Ring in August.

Australian Mitch Gilbert has called time on his F3 campaign with Fortec in favor of a switch to GP3. Swede John Bryant-Meisner has sufficient budget at least for the Red Bull Ring, where he is likely to be joined at Fortec by Mexican Alfonso Celis Jr.

Fortec is hoping to conclude a deal with Celis, who is racing in GP3 this season with Status Grand Prix, to compete in the Austrian event as well as the following round at the Nurburgring. It will be a return to the team for the 17-year-old, who competed in Formula Renault with Fortec last year and also contested the British F3 round at the Nurburgring and the European F3 event at Zandvoort.

Meanwhile, reigning South American F3 champion Felipe Guimaraes has split with Double R. The Brazilian scored points in the opening round at Silverstone but recently slumped to five successive non-finishes.

"Everything was getting horrible and we decided not to continue," Guimaraes said. "It's a lot of money and we were not achieving good results. I'm still trying to race in European F3, but I don't know with which team."

Double R has yet to confirm any replacement for Guimaraes.