Carlin confirms move up to IndyCar, signs Chilton and Kimball

Carlin has announced it will move into the Verizon IndyCar Series for the 2018 season, signing Max Chilton and Charlie Kimball to its seats.

Established British junior team Carlin crossed the pond in 2015 and entered the Indy Lights series, winning the title in its second year with Ed Jones.

Team owner Trevor Carlin always stressed his long-term goal was to move up to IndyCar in the future, with a deal being struck for 2018 via a Chevrolet engine supply that was announced on Tuesday.

“We’re delighted to finally be able to announce our entry into the Verizon IndyCar Series, the result of a long-term ambition of the team,” Carlin said.

“To be joined on that journey in our debut season by brands such as Gallagher and Novo Nordisk and with drivers we already have a race winning history with in Max and Charlie, is beyond what we could have expected.

"By no means do we underestimate the challenge and competition that lies ahead, but I have great faith in the young and passionate team that our team manager Colin [Hale] and I have put together."

Both Chilton and Kimball join after being released by Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2017 season following the team's decision to downsize to a two-car entry.

Chilton previously raced with Carlin in Formula 3 and GP2, and joins after two years in IndyCar following his exit from Formula 1.

"Today’s announcement brings so much joy to everyone involved in making this a reality. Carlin being the first British team to enter the Verizon IndyCar Series in the modern era is a result of a lot of hard work and ambition following the team’s move into American racing a few years ago,” Chilton said.

“I am super excited for 2018 as Carlin is like family to me. Having raced with them on and off since 2009 and having had my most competitive years with the team, I know we can work toward great things in INDYCAR. The Verizon IndyCar Series is exceptionally competitive, but the introduction of the new aero package will help level the playing field slightly. I know that finding the maximum in a spec series like this is where Carlin really excels."

Carlin will become only the second team of Kimball's IndyCar career, with the American having raced with Ganassi ever since his graduation to the championship in 2011. He previously raced with Carlin in British F3 and World Series by Renault.

"“I’m so excited to join Carlin for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season. They were a big part of launching my career when I raced in Europe and we had a lot of success together back in 2005 in the British Formula Three Championship,” said Kimball.

“It seems like everything fell into place at the right time to have this opportunity to work with Trevor and the whole Carlin team again. I’ve already got two years of experience working with Max as a teammate and I think our strengths and weaknesses will really complement each other as we begin this new adventure.

"The Verizon IndyCar Series is not just gaining a new race team, which is of course exciting, but really gaining a capable and competitive group of people that make up this team."