Carlin signs Honda-backed Natori, Buzz as title sponsor

Carlin has secured title sponsor backing from Japanese investment firm Buzz and signs Honda junior driver Teppei Natori for the 2019 FIA Formula 3 championship.

The British squad will be rebranded as Carlin Buzz in F3 this season while welcoming Natori for his maiden campaign in the new-look junior category.

Carlin, who secured a podium at last year’s Macau Grand Prix with Callum Ilott with backing from Buzz, are thrilled to retain its new partnership with the Japanese company as well as having Japanese Formula 4 race winner Natori join for 2019.

“We’re extremely proud to be carrying the Buzz name and colours on our FIA F3 race cars for the 2019 season,” Team boss Trevor Carlin said. “We had a great experience working together for the 2018 Macau Grand Prix and hope this is a relationship that can continue in the future.

“We also welcome Teppei to the team for the upcoming season following what has been a strong year racing in the Japanese Formula 4 Championship.

“Teppei already knows how to fight for wins and podiums so we look forward to working together and hitting the ground running during testing ahead of the first race in May.”

“I am very excited to be the part of Carlin Buzz Racing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship,” Natori added. “There will be a lot to learn this season, but we will fight hard together for the championship with the aim of becoming an F1 driver in the future.”

Natori becomes Carlin’s first signing for the 2019 Formula 3 campaign, with two seats left to fill, ahead of the shake-up in the class which becomes the official third tier of the FIA’s single-seater categories after merging with the GP3 Series.

All drivers and teams will compete in Dallara chassis powered by 3.4-litre Mecachrome engines. The eight-round 2019 season gets underway in Spain at Circuit de Catalunya on May 10-12.