F4 U.S. champ lands Carlin F3 drive

Formula 4 U.S. champion Cameron Das will move across the Atlantic to race for Carlin in the 2017 BRDC British Formula 3 championship.

The 16-year-old from Maryland raced with the team at the BRDC Autumn Trophy at Snetterton in October, finishing seventh, and continued testing through to the end of year.

"British Formula 3 feels like the natural next step in my racing development," said Das. "I've already had a chance to see Carlin in action and I couldn't be more excited to spend the 2017 season with them."

Das earned the inaugural F4 U.S. crown with the help of a remarkable eight-race win streak at the end of the season, and Carlin owner Trevor Carlin said that he it excited to see what his new charge can achieve in the U.K.

"It's great news to have Cameron joining us for the 2017 season," Carlin said. "His stats speak for themselves. It takes a lot for a driver to dominate any part of the season in the way that Cameron did with F4 U.S. last year, both physically and mentally. So, we're looking forward to welcoming him to the team."

Steve Oseth, SSCA Pro Racing Vice President, said that Das's F3 opportunity is an early vindication of Formula 4's aim to provide a low-cost bridge from karting to cars.

"Cameron is continuing to show his development as a driver and young adult that he exhibited in the F4 U.S. Championship," he said. "It is gratifying to see his work throughout the 2016 season payoff. The skills he developed in F4 will continue to provide him the tools on which his continued development will be based."