America's Tveter joins Carlin for Euro F3

Ryan Tveter will drive for open-wheel powerhouse Carlin in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2015. The 20-year-old New Yorker is the second American in Carlin's 2015 F3 lineup, where he will join Californian Gustavo Menezes and also Briton George Russell.

"It feels great to be joining Carlin for the 2015 FIA Formula 3 European Championship," Tveter said. "My first time in the F3 car was with Carlin at Silverstone at the beginning of December. I immediately felt very comfortable in the car, and the team's professionalism and experience really helped me to be very quick straight away.

"There were a lot of drivers going after the same seats so competition in testing was intense, but I am so pleased to have earned a spot," he added. "Moving up to FIA F3 with the most successful team in junior single-seater racing is a great milestone, and I'm working very hard for the season ahead.

• 50 entries filed for European F3

"I have to say that we have been very impressed with Ryan's performance so far," said team boss Trevor Carlin. "Not only was his pace very good, but Ryan also has a great approach and attitude. He wants to learn and he wants to win. We believe with Ryan's work ethic and application he will be a competitive driver this season, despite it being so early in his racing career.

"We had to make tough choices again this year as we were looking at a lot of talented drivers and only had six seats for FIA F3. Ryan proved himself very well in winter testing and we are excited to build on that for the season ahead."

British-based Carlin has an excellent reputation as a team that grooms drivers for Formula 1 and other top series. Some of its graduates include F1's Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel, Jaime Alguersuari, Daniel Ricciardo, Max Chilton, Narain Karthikeyan, Jean-Eric Vergne and Kevin Magnussen. In addition to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship it competes in GP2, GP3, Formula Renault 3.5, MSA Formula and, new this year, Indy Lights in North America.

Tveter had an impressive test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain last month. On the final day of that test he set the fourth-fastest time recorded overall, which was just 0.2 of a second off the time posted by 2014 FIA F3 multiple race winner Antonio Giovinazzi.

The FIA F3 European season begins in April at Silverstone. It consists of 33 races conducted during 11 triple-header weekends.

Unlike other seasons where Tveter was getting his first look at most of the tracks on the race weekend, he has already competed on seven of the 10 circuits that will host FIA F3 European events this year.

"The only circuits I haven't been to are Pau in France, which is a very tight and fast street circuit; Spielberg in Austria, and Norisring in Germany," Tveter said. "I can't wait for the season ahead. Carlin is such a strong team with great resources and structure. Everyone on the team works extremely well together and there's a real team spirit."

The young American advances to FIA F3 after a solid season competing in both the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC) series in 2014 with the Game Ready Injury Treatment System #16. The car was also supported by Switzerland's Autobau conference center and racing museum.

Tveter posted his first podium finish in Europe when he placed second in the NEC race at Assen, The Netherlands in August. His efforts also contributed to Josef Kaufman Racing winning the 2014 NEC team championship. Tveter finished a solid ninth in the NEC driver standings, just two points away from eighth place, in only his second full season of racing.