Formula Renault 3.5
Arden Caterham Motorsport is delighted to announce that American Alexander Rossi will be joining the team to contend the 2012 World Series by Renault FR3.5 Championship and will complete the Arden Caterham line up with teammate Lewis Williamson.
Alexander, the talented young (20) driver, joins the team following a successful first year in the 2011 World Series by Renault FR 3.5, finishing third overall and as winner of the Rookie Championship with 2 wins and 7 podiums and as an initial member of the AirAsia Caterham Driver Development Program. Alexander’s role this year with Arden Caterham motorsport is the perfect alignment to his relationship and duties with the Caterham F1 Team, the Team’s Official Test Driver; coupled with a number of Formula 1 Free Practice sessions.
For the 2012 season, World Series by Renault FR 3.5 is fielding a new car. Testing begins next week on March 13 – 14that Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in southern France. The last time Alexander raced there in 2011 he came away with a win and we are looking forward to continuing with this trend.
Julian Rouse, Arden Sporting Director comments:
“Everyone here is absolutely delighted to be working with Alexander in 2012. He had a fantastic first year in FR 3.5 in 2011 and we will be working as hard as we can to continue his development and create the opportunity for him to challenge for the championship. We are a new team to this category in 2012 but we have a very talented group of people in place that have a huge amount of experience in many disciplines including FR 3.5 and with Alexander and Lewis’s ability to consider, the aim is to be right at the front straight away.”
Garry Horner, Arden Director comments:
“We are happy to have Alexander join the team in our inaugural year in World Series by Renault. We are confident that with Alexander’s experience, we will do very well this season and obtain the results we are expecting to achieve.”
Alex Yoong, Head of the AirAsia Caterham Driver Development Program, adds:
"In 2011, Alexander was always quick. His consistency to be quick in any championship he races in was certainly one of the many qualities that attracted him to us. Arden Caterham, while a new team to WSR, has a whole lot of talent to support Alexander and I am confident that we will be strong all year. I personally cannot wait for the season to start."
Alexander Rossi comments:
“I want to thank Garry and Christian Horner for their confidence in my abilities to lead their new Formula Renault 3.5 World Series campaign. The Arden/ Caterham World Series affiliation is a seamless alignment with my commitments and test duties to Tony Fernandes and Caterham F1 Team. I’ve already spent a lot of time with the team and technical staff at the factory in Banbury and couldn't be more impressed with the atmosphere and ambitions of everyone involved. I am very eager and well prepared both physically and mentally for testing in Paul Ricard this next week, as the last time I was there last year we came away with a victory.
“This year I am entering Formula Renault 3.5 with the experience of having finished third in my rookie season. The goals and objectives for 2012 are simple – I want to win the championship. With an entirely new car and new team for 2012, I believe my experience from last season will help us to be fighting quickly for top positions right from the start. I have always tried to make the most of each opportunity I’ve been given, as this has been the foundation of my career, based on merit. This, combined with the unconditional support of my management, investors and industry leaders like Tony Fernandes have made this happen today. I am very excited and thankful.”
Official Renault Sport Press Release.