Russian Formula Renault Eurocup star tipped for F3 after Prema test
Formula Renault Eurocup star Robert Shwartzman has been tipped for a move into the Formula 3 European Championship in 2018 after a strong test with Prema Powerteam
Shwartzman and fellow Renault Eurocup race winner Gabriel Aubry both took part in the Prema test at Magny-Cours, in which the team also ran Formula 4 standouts Juri Vips and Marcus Armstrong.
While it is understood to have been Aubry's first run in an F3 car, Shwartzman did a limited amount of testing back in 2015 with Mucke Motorsport.
Prema boss Rene Rosin told Autosport that both 18-year-old Russian Shwartzman and 19-year-old Frenchman Aubry performed well.
"For sure it's an easier step for them from Formula Renault than it was for the F4 guys," said Rosin, "but performance-wise they were really impressive.
"We didn't have much reference at Magny-Cours because it was just us on the circuit, other than a comparison from a test we did there last year.
"There was some margin of improvement for them, especially on the fast corners, but for us as a starting base it was very positive."
An F3 programme for Shwartzman would be a new departure for his backer SMP Racing, which has promoted numerous Russian single-seater drivers but has never placed one in the European championship.
Shwartzman lies third in the Renault Eurocup points with two rounds remaining, while Aubry is in fifth position.
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