Novalak, Ahmed and Das join Carlin Buzz Racing for 2020

Carlin Buzz Racing have announced three returning drivers for their FIA Formula 3 line-up in 2020, with Clément Novalak, Enaam Ahmed and Cameron Das making the step up, having all previously raced for the British team earlier in their careers.

Novalak has driven with Carlin for the past two seasons and joins on the back of taking the 2019 British F3 title. The 19-year-old clinched two wins and eight podiums on his way to being crowned champion in just his second season of single-seater racing.

The French racer first experienced F3 machinery during post-season testing in Valencia last October, impressing enough to earn the step up.

Novalak elated: “I’m very happy to be back with Carlin for another year and thrilled to be taking on the FIA F3 grid with them. I’m really excited to be getting back out on track soon and getting this season started.”

The Frenchman will be joined by fellow British F3 champion Ahmed, who took the title back in 2017 with a record breaking 13 wins.

Ahmed returns to Carlin following a race winning season in Japanese F3, where he finished third with two victories. The 20-year-old competed in the 2019 FIA F3 World Cup at Macau, finishing 22nd with Campos Racing. He also took part in post-season testing with PREMA in Valencia.

“I’m glad to be home,” Ahmed said. “I can’t think of a team I trust more than Carlin. They are family, and quite simply if I’m going to win, it’s only going to be with Carlin.”

Completing their 2020 roster will be Das, who returns to Carlin following two successful campaigns in British F3 and EuroFormula Open.

The American is a race winner in British F3 and the Toyota Racing Series, having began his single-seater career back in America, in the F4 USA Championship.

“I’m ecstatic to be back with Carlin this year,” Das elated. “Although it’s a new championship, I already know most of the Carlin team members, so I feel right at home. The car looks mega too in all aspects. I’ve been itching to try out a V6 with DRS, so the Bahrain test can’t come soon enough.

“Even with just sim experience, I’ve found this new generation International F3 very different to what I’m used to, but I’m certainly up for the challenge. I’d like to offer a huge thank you to my sponsorship partners this year, and to the Carlin team for making this dream a reality.”

Carlin finished 9th in F3 last season, with their highest placed driver, Felipe Drugovich, earning promotion to F2, scoring eight points.

“I’m extremely happy to have three drivers we know so well with us for the 2020 FIA F3 season," added Team boss Trevor Carlin. "We know what each of them are capable of, we know how they work, how they like to set-up a car and all of these elements will help us as we head into the season.

"We made some really big steps forward with the car towards the end of the 2019 and in Macau and I’m looking forward to working with Clem, Enaam and Cam to build on this in 2020. We’re very proud once again to do that as Carlin Buzz Racing and thank Buzz for their support of our FIA F3 team."