Sweden’s Linus Lundqvist will take up a fresh challenge during the 2020 motor racing season, moving across the Atlantic to launch a title attack in the Formula Regional Americas Championship Powered by Honda.
21-year-old Lundqvist has agreed a deal to join the successful Global Racing Group operation, in what marks the first year of the rebranded championship previously known as F3 Americas.
Global Racing Group will enter the 2020 Formula Regional Americas campaign as reigning series champions, while Lundqvist joins with a wealth of success from the European single-seater landscape – notably winning the 2018 BRDC British Formula 3 title – to form an intriguing new constellation.
“I’m really excited to be teaming up with Global Racing Group and to take on this new challenge in Formula Regional Americas,” says Linus Lundqvist. “I will have plenty to learn with a new car, new continent and new tracks, but I’m confident I’ve got the overall background to get quickly up to speed. Although I know it won’t be easy, my clear target is to battle it out up front and ultimately win the championship.”
Lundqvist’s transatlantic move follows a successful stint in Europe, where he rose up the ranks after first winning the 2016 Formula STCC single-seater title in his native Sweden.
Moving to Britain in 2017, the Stockholm resident strengthened his reputation with a race-winning year in Formula 4, before going on the clinch British F3 honours a year later – becoming the first Swede since Stefan Johansson in 1980 to win the coveted title.
Lundqvist then spent 2019 racing in the pan-European Euroformula Open championship, finishing fifth overall.
As part of his transition into Formula Regional Americas this year, Lundqvist will be among a field of drivers eyeing more than just championship success. A recently-announced scholarship, courtesy of series partner and engine supplier Honda, also puts a 2021 drive in Indy Lights – the final step on the road to IndyCar – up for grabs for the champion.
“It’s been a long winter, and we have taken our time to carefully explore all of my career options,” Linus Lundqvist continues. “I’m thrilled with where that’s taken us. American racing is really coming along, not least in Sweden thanks to our two IndyCar drivers, and the progression path system is what every driver loves: it’s in your own hands if you win it. I’m very excited to be racing in Formula Regional Americas and can’t wait to get to work with the team.”
Global Racing Group finished first and second in the championship last year with Dakota Dickerson and Benjamin Pedersen, and are set to field at least two cars once again in 2020 with Ireland’s James Roe (who finished fifth in 2019) confirmed alongside Lundqvist.
“We’re extremely excited about signing Linus for the 2020 Formula Regional Americas Championship”, says Christian Pedersen, CEO & President of Global Racing Group. “Having followed Linus for several years and seen him succeed in BRDC British F3 in 2018, I’ve always been keen to see him race for Global Racing Group. Our 2020 goals are clear: we want to win both the Teams’ and Drivers’ Championships, and we believe we have the best possible drivers for that. There is no doubt that we’ll see Linus visit the podium frequently this year, and we cannot wait to get the season going!”
The 2020 Formula Regional Americas season is scheduled to include seven championship rounds, with three 35-minute races staged at each meeting. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, however, the opening round at Road Atlanta originally pencilled in for April 9-11 has been postponed, with the season instead currently due to get underway at Circuit of the Americas in June.
The calendar then takes in events at Virginia International Raceway, Barber Motorsports Park, Canada’s Trois-Rivières and Sebring International Raceway, before a spectacular return to Circuit of the Americas in October as the field lines up on the support bill for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.
Formula Regional Americas employs one-make regulations in order to level the playing field, utilising spec Ligier JS F3 chassis, Hankook tyres and 303-bhp turbocharged Honda engines.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Formula Regional Americas
Global Racing Group
