Ilott switches from Van Amersfoort to Prema for 2017

Callum Ilott has opted to switch to reigning European Formula 3 champions Prema Powerteam for 2017 after just one season with Van Amersfoort Racing.

The British star has been the past two years in the Euro F3 series and claimed his maiden race win in the second race of the season in 2016 on his way to sixth place in the drivers' championship.

Looking to make the vital step up the grid to become a title contender, Ilott has switched to Prema Powerteam who saw Lance Stroll wrap up the 2016 title ahead of his team-mate Max Gunther while Nick Cassidy in fourth and rookie Ralf Aron in seventh rounded out an emphatic campaign for the Italian squad.

Ilott has confirmed he turned down opportunities to look into joining GP3, GP2 and Indy Lights in order to focus on his F3 ambitions and is ultimately aiming to emulate Stroll's charge to the 2016 title which has seen him move into F1 with Williams next year.

"We looked at all the possibilities for 2017; GP3, Indy Lights as well as GP2 but in the end with only two years of car racing experience, another year in F3 made the most sense," Ilott said. "From my F3 discussions, it is clear that all the teams are working incredibly hard to win the 2017 Championship but Prema's record is impeccable, and having decided to return to F3, it is the logical team for me to join.

"Now it's time to take that knowledge and aim for the championship in 2017 and to start the test program as soon as possible. The demand for places at Prema means team mates will no doubt be some of my strongest competitors but Prema has shown it can manage multiple cars and drivers successfully so we can all push together to create some new records in the category.

"With its successful GP2 squad, I think it's also a team that offers the chance to climb the ladder to F1."