Van Der Merwe signs for Carlin Motorsport.

Fast rising South African talent Alan van der Merwe has joined Carlin Motorsport's championship-winning squad to contest next season's British Formula Three Championship.

The 21-year-old spent two days testing the car in Pembrey last week and impressed team boss Trevor Carlin. He will continue his development process over the winter before the new season begins. He is expected to join the highly-rated F1 tester Anthony Davidson in the team.

Trevor Carlin - Team Owner - said: "I've known Alan for a quite a while now. He gets on very well with Anthony Davidson and he's been quite close to the team for most of the year. He's got a sensible head on his shoulders and he works hard at his job. I think he's a dark horse. We tested him for two days at Pembrey last week and he went better than we had originally hoped. He had no spins, no offs and just got quicker and quicker. For sure, he hasn't peaked yet. It's crucial to get the atmosphere in the team well balanced. Alan will work hard and will get lots of support from the team and from Anthony. With Alan and Anthony we have a very solid base for 2002."

Alan van der Merwe who is currently aiming for third in the British Formula Ford Championship with two rounds remaining added: "I couldn't wait to get in the car and see how it felt, and it was great to have more power. Carlin are definitely the top team in F3, they have proved that this season, and I will know when I go into the races that I've got the best possible equipment at my disposal. Formula Three will be a two-year project for me, but the team has such a wealth of knowledge about how to run at the front that I will be able to accelerate my learning process. It has the data which I will have access to and I am sure to have a quick team-mate to compare myself against."

Jim Warren - Alan VDM's Manager - who has also run the Milton Keynes based driver in his World Championship winning Formula Ford team this season, as well as Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen in the past few years, explained: "It is a great opportunity for Alan to get the best possible grounding he can in Formula Three," he said. "Alan has spent two years getting the best development he can, and he will be able to put all the lessons he has learned to good use."

Carlin have dominated F3 this season with lead driver Takuma Sato taking the crown with four races remaining and victory at the Marlboro Masters, his team-mate Anthony Davidson, also won the prestigious Pau F3 street race from pole.

In the meantime, van der Merwe will continue his Formula Ford campaign at Brands Hatch this weekend on the Indy Circuit, he will be aiming to close the gap on third placed works Van-Diemen driver Richard Goransson whom he lies just 10 points behind.