Florsch to join VAR in European F3 after all from Zandvoort round
German racer Sophia Florsch has joined Van Amersfoort Racing for the remainder of the Formula 3 European Championship season and will make her series debut at Zandvoort
Florsch, 17, is a former race winner in British Touring Car Championship- supporting Ginetta Junior series and a podium finisher in German Formula 4.
She tested F3 machinery with VAR before the start of the 2018 season and was aiming join the grid from the second round at the Hungaroring.
This did not materialise, however, and in Hungary the team ruled out running a car for Florsch this year - only to subsequently add her to the line-up ahead of the fourth round of the season at Zandvoort.
She will now contest the rest of the F3 campaign, and will also make her Macau Grand Prix debut with VAR at the end of the year.
"After a period in which I had to give priority to passing my school exams, it feels great to know I will be back in the racing seat again to fully focus on my racing career," Florsch said.
"Stepping up from Formula 4 into the highly competitive FIA Formula 3 European Championship is an extreme challenge, but we all see it as a next step up the learning curve.
"I will give my utmost to reward all stakeholders and with the experience and support of VAR, I am convinced that I will learn a lot. I have more than ever an excited feeling about my future career."
Florsch, an ambassador for Susie Wolff's Dare to be Different initiative, will race a third Mercedes-powered Dallara F3 car alongside team regulars Artem Petrov and Keyvan Andres.
VAR had endured a difficult start to the season, but scored a breakthrough result of third through Andres at the Norisring.
"We warmly welcome Sophia to the team," said team owner Frits van Amersfoort. "Her drive to climb the ladder deserves lots of respect.
"During winter testing her performance behind the wheel convinced us of her qualities. We expect that with enough mileage and time to learn, she can be competitive in Formula 3.
"Of course it is not ideal to enter the series now the season is already underway, but we will use all our experience and dedication to help Sophia get familiar with Formula 3 as soon as possible."
New car for 2019 International Formula 3 to use GP3 engine
GP3 Silverstone: Hubert closes on points leader Ilott with pole
What racing in Australia means for the future of F1's junior series
The announcement that FIA Formula 2 and 3 would race alongside the Australian Grand Prix from 2023 came as a surprise, not only to fans but to the series’ teams too. But with Formula 1’s boom in popularity bringing more fans to the championships, team principals are relishing the opportunity
Why the Formula 3 benchmark's 2022 season hinges on qualifying
Prema Racing has long dominated FIA Formula 3, taking the teams’ title in two of the past three seasons. But its start to 2022 has been trickier than usual, and the answers lie in its qualifying performance
How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape
With just five points separating the top five after two rounds, FIA Formula 3 looks set for another thrilling season in 2022. But who stands the best chance of pulling away from that pack, and who are the contenders bubbling under?
The F3 newcomer making good on his unusual career path
Joining the FIA Formula 3 grid as a rookie with a team new to the series could prove daunting for most, but then there aren't many drivers who have the extensive experience Franco Colapinto brings from his time racing sportscars. The Argentinian explains how his LMP2 experience is already helping him in 2022
The British trio hunting for F3 title glory
The 2022 FIA Formula 3 season kicks off this weekend in Bahrain. British trio Zak O’Sullivan, Ollie Bearman and Jonny Edgar have all become proteges of Formula 1 teams, and are talents to watch this year
How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors
His career has been a slowburner but Gregoire Saucy trounced a collection of F1 juniors in Formula Regional by Alpine last year, and now he’s preparing to do it again in FIA F3. Here’s how the Swiss caught the world by surprise in 2021 and how he plans to do it all over again
Ranking the top 10 F2 and F3 drivers of 2021
With a veritable feast of feeder series talent in 2021, FIA Formula 2 and Formula 3 produced some of its most exciting racing yet. Although Prema Racing drivers once again dominated the respective series, drivers from other teams also stole the limelight to mark themselves out as stars of the future, or validate their highly-regarded standing
How Prema continued its dominance of F1's junior ladder in 2021
Taking three of the four titles and producing two outstanding champions in the process, Prema Racing remained the team to beat in Formula 1's feeder series in 2021. Team boss Rene Rosin reveals the traits that helped Dennis Hauger and Oscar Piastri to come out on top in Formula 3 and Formula 2