ATS Formel 3 Cup – Sam MacLeod signs with Van Amersfoort Racing

Renault BARC race winner, 19-year old Sam MacLeod has announced plans to contest the ATS Formula 3 Cup in Germany. MacLeod progressed up the karting ladder from his local track at Rye House to the European KF2 Championship in 2011-12, before making the move into cars in Protyre Formula Renault in 2013. He took double pole and a maiden podium on his Renault debut and followed up with a win at the next meeting, in what was just his fourth Renault race. Besides Malaysian Weiron Tan, MacLeod will be the second driver for Van Amersfoort Racing in the ATS Formula 3 Cup.
 
“This is only my second year in cars and some would say it is a bold move to go straight to Formula 3, but I am confident that I will make my mark in the ATS Formula 3 Cup. I really like the F3 car and its high downforce and grip. There are some great circuits on the calendar and I want to fight at the front. It will not be easy, but I am ready to face the challenge. Last year was a great learning year for me, and I learnt a lot about how to deal with situations and how to manage myself during a race weekend. I am sure that that experience will help me this year. Testing has gone well and I am very excited.”
 
MacLeod had previously tested in Formula 3 with front running Carlin and Fortec Motorsport in the UK before deciding to sign for the German championship ATS Formula 3 Cup. It will be his second full season of single-seater racing.

Team Principal Frits van Amersfoort said, “I am very happy to have Sam in my team, a young man from the British Isles who has shown me that he has the talent and passion to succeed. I have been in this business for a long time and the first time I met Sam during a test I immediately got the “smell” that this guy is one of the good ones.”

The ATS Formula 3 Cup will kick off its new season on Friday. Live timing and a live stream will be available worldwide. In addition, TV stations Sport 1 and Kabel 1 will broadcast highlights of the racing weekends a few days later.

Overview of the ATS Formula 3 Cup racing schedule:
25/04 – 27/04/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Oschersleben (DEU)
23/05 – 25/05/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Lausitzring (DEU)
06/06 – 08/06/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Red Bull Ring (AUT)
13/06 – 15/06/2014: Stuttgarter Rössle Hockenheim (DEU)
29/08 – 31/08/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Nürburgring (DEU)
12/09 – 14/09/2014: DTM, Lausitzring (DEU)
19/09 – 21/09/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Sachsenring (DEU)
03/10 – 05/10/2014: ADAC GT Masters, Hockenheimring (DEU)