F3: Double R lineup takes shape

Double R Racing has secured its first driver for the 2015 Formula 3 European Championship, and already has one lined up for 2016.

German Nicolas Pohler moves up from the Euroformula Open series to drive one of the team's Dallara-Mercedes cars after tests last month. The 19-year-old German also tested for other Euro F3 teams, including Mucke Motorsport and Team West-Tec.

Double R ran just one car in Euro F3 in 2014 for Felipe Guimaraes, but was absent from the last few rounds after the Brazilian split from the team. It then ran Roberto Merhi to fourth in the Macau Grand Prix.

This year it looks likely to start the campaign with at least two cars and team boss Anthony Hieatt is known to be negotiating with Hong Kong driver Matthew Solomon, who tested several times with Double R in the winter.

Pohler said: "I felt good with Double R right from my first test and I was impressed with the professionalism and dedication to provide me with the perfect car."

REDDY LINED UP FOR 2016

Meanwhile, Indian Tarun Reddy plans to graduate to F3 with Double R in 2016 after competing for the team in the new MSA Formula category in Britain this year. Hieatt engineered Narain Karthikeyan in British F3 at Carlin Motorsport, when he became the first Indian to win an F3 race in Europe, and believes Reddy has good potential.

"I watched him in Chennai [in the MRF Challenge] last weekend and he looked racey against older and more experienced drivers," Hieatt said. "India needs its next one-in-a-billion and he's one of the best I've seen for a while. He's got a good personality and I think he's got a good future."

Originally on Autosport.com