EURO: Lotus F1 juniors join Signature Racing in F3

Signature Racing will make their delayed comeback to the Formula 3 European championship this season with a two-car team driven by Alexander Albon and Dorian Boccolacci.

The drivers are part of F1 team Lotus's young driver programme and will compete in the Volkswagen-powered Signature cars, with the team making its racing return to Euro F3 after a two-year absence.

Albon finished third in the Formula Renault Eurocup last season while Boccolacci had a successful year finishing second in the French F4 series.

Signature originally planned their return into Euro F3 last year with a Renault engine, but after pre-season testing showed they were terribly off the pace the team pulled out and opted for a longer development programme.

The French team entered one car at Imola for last season's Euro F3 with British driver William Buller at the wheel.

Signature team principal Philippe Sinault is delighted to have two Lotus F1 junior racers in his team and hopes his team have learnt from their difficulties of last season.

"I am very happy and honoured by the trust Lotus F1 have placed in me, giving me two of their junior drivers," Sinault said. "At the end of last year we managed to come back with an efficient technical package. With two cars we have a good format to evolve in the Euro F3 championship and if we can find a third quality driver we might enter a third car."

2015's line-up sees Albon, of Thai and British heritage, make his debut in the series and is son of former BTCC driver Nigel Albon, who raced for Harlow Motorsport in 1994.

"I am very happy to join the French team Signature," said Alexander. "After three years in Formula Renault 2.0, I feel ready for F3. We ran tests for the first time a few weeks ago, which were focused on understanding the car, how we will operate as a team, and I also worked on my own performance in the car. "