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McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner George Russell is to contest the Formula 3 European Championship this season.
Russell, who turns 17 in February, will drive a Dallara-Volkswagen run by the Carlin team, with which he had several tests before Christmas.
The Norfolk driver, who won the BRDC Formula 4 Championship last season and took fourth in the Formula Renault ALPS series, had initially planned a full season in the FRenault Eurocup, in which he took a win as a wildcard runner at the end of the 2014 season.
But encouraging tests with Carlin pushed Russell towards F3.
He also tested for two days with Mucke Motorsport, with AUTOSPORT understanding that a works Mercedes deal was on the table should he join the German team, before plumping for Carlin.
"My aim is to win races and championships and Carlin have plenty of experience in doing exactly that," said Russell.
"To join the list of names that have driven for the team is a great honour and I am focused on making 2015 a strong year."
Team boss Trevor Carlin added: "Despite his young age, George is very mature in the car and that's one of the elements that most impressed us about him.
"His pace from the outset was very promising and there's no doubt that he is ready for F3."
Russell is the second driver confirmed in Carlin's F3 team for 2015, after American Gustavo Menezes.
