F3: Barnicoat moves to Hitech

British Formula Renault Eurocup race winner Ben Barnicoat has joined Hitech Grand Prix for his rookie Formula 3 European Championship campaign.

Racing Steps Foundation protege Barnicoat completes the three-car lineup of new team Hitech, where he will join 2015 F3 race winner George Russell and fellow Renault 2.0 graduate Nikita Mazepin. The deal comes after a planned move to join Prema Powerteam, which ran Barnicoat's RSF stablemate Jake Dennis in 2015, fell through.

"When I did my first test with them at Jerez in December, straight away I was really impressed with them before I even got in the car," Barnicoat said. "They're very professional, and their setup is just amazing – you get the real sense that they're here with the full intention of winning."

Barnicoat added that Hitech's procurement of former Prema man John McGill, who worked with Dennis last season, was an important aspect.

"The staff they've recruited are very impressive," he said. "John was an absolutely massive key factor because he was working with Jake and already has a strong relationship with Racing Steps. I've known Oli Oakes [Hitech director] for a long time because he's followed me since karting and he was pretty keen to get me there as soon as he knew the Prema deal was off."

Barnicoat has known new teammate Russell since they started karting as cadets, and is looking forward to partnering him.

"We've been fighting each other all the way through and I'm sure it'll be a bit strange at first, but we'll be pushing each other all the way, which is good because it will help the team," he said.

Originally on Autosport.com