Ben Barnicoat seals Hitech European Formula 3 Championship deal

Racing Steps Foundation protege Barnicoat completes the three-car line-up of new team Hitech, where he will join 2015 F3 race winner George Russell and fellow Renault 2.0 graduate Nikita Mazepin.

The deal comes after a planned move to join Prema Powerteam, which ran Barnicoat's RSF stablemate Jake Dennis in 2015, fell through.

"When I did my first test with them at Jerez in December, straight away I was really impressed with them before I even got in the car," Barnicoat told Autosport.

"They're very professional, and their set-up is just amazing - you get the real sense that they're here with the full intention of winning."

Barnicoat added that Hitech's procurement of former Prema man John McGill, who worked with Dennis last season, was an important aspect.

"The staff they've recruited are very impressive," he said. "John was an absolutely massive key factor because he was working with Jake and already has a strong relationship with Racing Steps.

"I've known Oli Oakes [Hitech director] for a long time because he's followed me since karting and he was pretty keen to get me there as soon as he knew the Prema deal was off."

Barnicoat has known new team-mate Russell since they started karting as cadets, and is looking forward to partnering him.

"We've been fighting each other all the way through and I'm sure it'll be a bit strange at first, but we'll be pushing each other all the way, which is good because it will help the team," he said.