The Hitech Formula 3 Team has announced who will replace the suspended Martinius Stenshorne on this weekend's races at Silverstone, after the Norwegian was banned from racing in one other category.
Australian James Wharton will make his Formula 3 debut on the British Grand Prix, stepping up from the European Regional Formula by Alpine Championship, wherein he currently sits sixth overall.
Wharton, a former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, has finished in the highest five within the last two seasons of the Italian Formula 4.
McLaren junior Stenshorne, who won the sprint race in Melbourne, joined the Chris Dittmann Racing team for the GB3 meeting at Silverstone in April and finished a better of ninth.
His participation within the meeting was in breach of Article 10.4 of the Formula 3 Sporting Regulations, which requires prior written consent from the promoter or the FIA ​​to take part in one other series. As a result, his suspension was announced in May.
The FIA ​​document announcing the penalty for 18-year-old Stenshorne stated: “The driver of Car 15 explained that he was not aware of the necessities of Article 10.4 and that each activities, the test and his participation within the GB3 event, were organised by his management team.
Martinius Stenshorne, CDR
Photo: JEP
“A team representative explained that he was unaware of the driver’s involvement in the GB3 test and competition at Silverstone until he received the call from the stewards, but admitted that Hitech Pulse-Eight were present at the event as they had three cars in the GB3 Championship.”
The FIA ​​explained that if permission had been sought, it will not have been granted “due to the similarities between the GB3 car and the F3 car and the sporting advantage gained by the driver”.
Wharton also made a guest appearance on the GB3 event at Silverstone with Team Fortec, ending in a better of eleventh place on his category debut.
“I can’t thank Hitech Grand Prix enough for the opportunity and the trust they have shown in me by letting me get behind the wheel this weekend at Silverstone,” said Wharton.
“This is the biggest opportunity I've had in my career so far. It's going to be a tough weekend, but I can't wait to show what I can do.”
