GP3 race winner Jake Hughes will leave the series to join the European Formula Three championship with Hitech GP in 2017.
The 22-year-old raced for DAMS in the 2016 season, winning two rounds in the sprint races in Germany and Abu Dhabi.
He also claimed two other podiums in the Spanish and Italian feature races and one pole position in the opening round at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The Brit finished the season in eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship with 90 points. Hughes also took part in the final round of the 2016 F3 season in Hockenheim, finishing third in the final race, before competing in the Macau Grand Prix, where he finished sixth.
Hughes says that he is delighted to make the switch to the different category to continue his progression in racing.
“I’m extremely happy to be racing with Hitech GP in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship in 2017, I’ve loved every minute in the car during testing and get on so well with all of the guys in the team, we all work really well together,” he said.
Oliver Oakes, the team principal of Hitech GP, said that Hughes’ efforts during 2016 influenced the decision to sign him.
“We are extremely pleased to have signed Jake for next season,” he said.
“He’s a driver who has impressed us, not just in his one-off appearances in G3 but also the job he has done in GP3 this year. He’s clearly a very capable, adaptable and quick young driver and will be one to watch for sure next season in FIA F3.”
Drivers switching between the two series is a usual occurrence at this level of motorsport, with recent champion Charles Leclerc and race winners Alex Albon and Jake Dennis all graduating from F3 to GP3 in 2016.
Although Hughes and others are finding drives for next season, no drivers have currently been confirmed for the 2017 GP3 season.
