Formula Ford GB race winner, Nick McBride has announced his graduation to the British Formula 3 Series with T-Sport.
The Australian will get his shot at the International Class after T-Sport formed a new partnership with Japanese company ThreeBond, with McBride’s entry rebranded as ‘ThreeBond with T-Sport.’
McBride’s Dallara F312 will be powered by the proven ThreeBond-Nissan SR20VE powerplant, bringing the number of engine manufacturers in the International Class to three.
Developed by ThreeBond and Tomei Engines, the SR20VE originally serviced the Japanese F3 Championship with some success*.
Last year, McBride lost out on the Formula Ford GB runner-up spot when he was pipped by Jeroen Slaghekke in the final race, dropping the 21-year-old to 3rd in the standings.
McBride joins fellow Australian Spike Goddard in the squad. Goddard will be participating in the Rookie Class with Mugen-Honda engines.
* {note 1}
Although ThreeBond racer Hironobu Yasuda was beaten to last year’s Japanese F3 championship by a single point to Yuhi Sekiguchi, the team did claim the Teams’ Championship. It finally ended a ten-year long run of success for the Toyota-powered TOM’S squad.
Eager eyes will be noting the performance of the unit throughout the season, as the Japanese company test their wares in European waters for the first time.
