World Touring Car Championship outfit bamboo engineering will join the Formula 1 supporting GP3 Series for the 2013 campaign, rebranding the Atech GP team.
The team, who run a brace of Chevrolet Cruze in the WTCC, will make their debut in the series in May, when the series hosts its opening rounds at the Circuit de Catalunya in Spain.
Both the WTCC and GP3 share similarities with their race format; two races per weekend, with the second race featuring the top eight drivers’ reversed, the grid for the opening race dependant on qualifying.
The series is known as a feeder series for GP2 as well as Formula 1 itself and the identical cars means that the drivers’ race craft is developed.
For the Chief Executive of bamboo engineering, Richard Coleman, he is looking forward to the challenge of joining the GP3 grid.
“We’re thrilled to be competing in one of the world’s finest single seater formulas,” explains Coleman.
“Bamboo Engineering will be looking to make its mark and carve a strong reputation. We can’t wait to get stuck in and make a real impact on our first season in the GP3 Series, with our racing pedigree we’re well prepared to show just what Bamboo Engineering can do.”
Joining the team for their maiden season in the series is Jonny Ostrowski, who has experience of working in F1 with McLaren as well as experience of winning in World Series by Renault and Formula 3.
Ostrowski said about his appointment: “I’m enjoying my new role at Bamboo and working with the boys in the GP3 team. I’m really looking forward to testing next week in Estoril and all the challenges that lie ahead in such a good series as GP3.”
Speaking about the appointment of Ostrowski, Coleman added: “We’re really excited to welcome Jonny on board as well; his experience is single seater racing is second to none and he will add yet another dimension to the ever-growing Bamboo Engineering Technical Team. “