Hong Kong-based racer Dan Wells is to make his F3 test debut with Carlin Motorsport this week ahead of an anticipated move to Japanese F3.
Wells, who has been based in the Far East since the beginning of 2012 was runner-up in last year’s Formula Pilota China Series (now Formula Masters), but had to miss much of this season’s competition due to a shortfall in budget.
The 22-year-old returned to active competition for the final Formula Masters round at Shanghai and the non-championship finale at Macau last month, where he took a podium.
It marked a good return to racing for Wells, who had spent eleven months out of the cockpit. It was this time out that pushed the Southampton-born driver to form ‘Dan Wells & Investors Ltd’ this year, as he continues to press for a future in motor racing by encouraging potential backers to invest in his career with a view of a return at a later stage. “It’s been a very busy year overseeing the formation of Dan Wells & Investors Ltd and we are in a very good place with lots of interest in the concept,” says Wells. “My aim now is to ensure that we have the right preparation time in a car before heading to Japan to mount a championship challenge in 2014.”
With a possible move to Japanese F3 on the horizon, a test with a top British and European F3 team like Carlin could do much to point Wells in the correct direction.
“To be given the opportunity to test with Carlin on my debut F3 outing is pretty special. Carlin are one of the biggest teams outside of Formula One with a tremendous history, so I’m really looking forward to getting out on track and seeing what I can deliver.”
Admittedly Japanese Formula 3 has not been at its strongest for some time, but Wells will no doubt wish to emulate Yuichi Nakayama, who won eleven of the thirteen Japanese F3 races he competed in this year.
Wells’ commences his test at the Ricardo Tormo circuit Valencia tomorrow. Aside from Wells, BRDC Formula 4 champion Jake Hughes will also be testing with Carlin at Valencia, as part of his end-of-season prize package.
