Carlin is pleased to confirm that the team will enter the F4UAE Trophy round supporting the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this week. The race weekend, which forms part of the support series for the Formula One finale, will be a standalone event in which Carlin will enter two talented drivers: Louis Sharp and Costa Toparis. Entered and run by Carlin personnel, the team will work alongside Xcel Motorsport who have a wealth of experience in the region. Both Carlin entries will appear in full Rodin Cars livery, with both Sharp and Costa supported by the New Zealand car manufacturer.
As Team Champions in the F4 British Championship, Carlin will take on a new challenge in the Middle East as they enter the F4 UAE Trophy race at Abu Dhabi – a track the team knows well through the Formula Two Championship.
Sharp has already enjoyed a stellar maiden season with Carlin racing in the F4 British Championship where despite missing the opening round of the season due to not yet being 15, the Kiwi racer took two race victories and 12 podiums on his way to fourth in the overall standings. The15-year-old will put all of his Formula 4 experience to good use as he takes on the challenges of a new track this week.
Joining him will be Australian racer Costa who has spent a large portion of 2022 testing F4 machinery back at home. Costa also has experience racing Formula 4 cars and was most recently invited to take part in the FIA Motorsport Games at the Paul Ricard circuit: his first chance to race in Europe. Following testing with the team over the past month, Costa will make his debut in the F4 UAE Championship with Carlin.
Carlin will participate in the event in partnership with Xcel Motorsport which will see the teams working closely together over the race weekend. As the only team based full time in the UAE, Xcel bring a wealth of knowledge to the event which both sides look to capitalise on.
Sharp and Costa will be supported by Rodin Cars who already have a big presence in the world of motorsport. Having already supported Sharp throughout his maiden Formula Four season in Britain, founder David Dicker has added Costa to his line-up of talented drivers as he looks to place him in the best possible position to tackle a 2023 race programme. The two F4 juniors will be based a little way down the support event pit lane from Rodin Cars backed driver Liam Lawson, who will be competing in the FIA F2 season finale, also with Carlin.
Sharp said of being back behind the wheel and racing again ,“My ultimate ambition is to be in Formula 1, so I am very excited to be not only racing on my first ever Grand Prix track but also to be a part of a Grand Prix weekend. We have shown good success together with Carlin already this season, so I am also looking forward to continuing that against the top F4drivers from around the world”
Joining Carlin for the Trophy Costa said, ''Abu Dhabi is going to be an exceptional event, and racing alongside F1, the epitome of motor racing is the highest honour and privilege a young driver could aim for. To race for the first time with Carlin, such a professional and highly successful team and to have the support and belief from Rodin cars to make this happen is incredible for me and my career. Going into the event, I am confident we can achieve a strong result and truly show our pace. Can’t wait to get racing''
Looking ahead to the race weekend, Trevor Carlin added, “We’re really excited to have our first involvement in UAE F4; it will be great to have both the F2 and F4 teams at the same event. We have a great partner in Xcel who have a lot of knowledge of the championship and these cars around the Yas Marina Circuit. It’s brilliant experience for both Louis and Costa who are benefitting from the thorough approach of Rodin Cars as they prepare for their 2023 race programmes. I’m really excited to see them respond to the challenges of this new circuit and intense race weekend format.”
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