Dan Ticktum heads glittering entry for Asian Winter Series debut

Buriram, Thailand (January 9, 2019) ? Reigning and two-time Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix-FIA F3 World Cup champion Dan Ticktum heads a dazzling line-up for the debut of the Asian Winter Series which gets underway this weekend at Thailand?s FIA Grade 1 Buriram International Circuit. The truly international entry includes an impressive array of young talent, with Red Bull Junior driver Ticktum providing a formidable benchmark.

Bringing with him an impeccable motorsport pedigree is David Schumacher, the 17-year-old son of former F1 star Ralf and cousin of reigning FIA F3 European Champion, Mick. Racing alongside Schumacher at Pinnacle Motorsport will be 16-year-old reigning F4 Spain champion Amaury Cordeel of Belgium, and Malaysian star Akash Nandy, sixth in the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA in 2018.

Joining Ticktum at Hitech Grand Prix – F3 Asian team champions in 2018 – are 18-year-old Rinus VeeKay of the Netherlands, 2018 Pro Mazda champion; Singaporean youngster Pavan Ravishankar; and 2018 Formula 4 South East Asia champion Alessandro Ghiretti of France. Ticktum?s fellow Red Bull Junior Team driver Jack Doohan, who turns 16 on January 20 and is the son of five-time 500cc motorcycle world champion, Mick, will test this week in Thailand with a view to joining the series for the final three races in Malaysia in February.

Eighteen-year-old Hungarian female driver Vivien Keszthelyi began her motorsport career at the age of 13, and benefited greatly as a member of the Audi Sport racing academy, contesting the 2017 Audi Sport TT Cup. She will contest the Asian Winter Series with BlackArts Racing.

Exciting Japanese talent Tomoki Takahashi, fifth in the 2018 F3 Asian Championship with Super License, stays with the team for his campaign in new series. Coached by former French Formula 3 champion Ryo Fukuda, Takahashi took an impressive five podium finishes last season.

Multiple championship-winning team Absolute Racing enters 18-year-old Chinese driver and 2016 French F4 champion Ye Yifei and Sri Lankan Eshan Pieris.?

B-Max Racing Team principal DRAGON joins the series with fellow Japanese driver Tairoku Yamaguchi, both competing in the Masters class. A former Japanese F3 national class champion, DRAGON took four Masters podiums in the nine races he contested in the F3 Asian Championship last season.?

The nine-race, three-round Asian Winter Series gets underway at the 4.5km Buriram International Circuit on Friday, January 11, with free practice and qualifying sessions ahead of the first of the three races at 14:40 local time. Races 2 and 3 begin at 10:10 and 17:00 local time on Saturday respectively. All races will be live streamed via the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA websitewww.f3asia.com and Facebook page @F3AsianChampionship. 

Asian Winter Series
Provisional Entry List ? Rounds 1-3