Barter confirmed as third Aussie F3 driver
Australia’s Hugh Barter has been confirmed as a starter for the FIA Formula 3 season, signing for Spanish team Campos Racing for 2023.
That will make it two Australians racing for the Campos F3 program, after Christian Mansell was earlier confirmed, meaning that along with Tommy Smith (Van Amersfoort Racing), there will be an unprecedented three Aussies on Melbourne’s F3 grid come April 2.
The 16 year-old Barter, Born in Nagoya, Japan, grew up in Hughesdale Victoria, and has spent the last few seasons dominating the Spanish and French F4, and has cemented himself as one of the country’s brightest youth prospects.
At Spa Francorchamps in 2022, Barter scored 2 wins and 3 podiums in six races in the French and Spanish (pictured) F4
“I am thrilled to announce that I will be competing in the FIA F3 championship this season with Campos Racing,” Barter said.
“This is a dream come true for me and I am eager to take on the challenge and showcase my skills on the track. I am looking forward to the season ahead and will work tirelessly to achieve my goals.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my sponsor, Platinum, for their unwavering support and belief in me. Their backing has been instrumental in my journey to this point, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Barter scored 9 wins and 4 podiums with a lowest finish of P7 in a 24 car grid across 21 races in the French F4
Between himself and his then Campos F4 teammate Nikola Tsolov, the two of them won all but two of 21 races, with Barter finishing second in the championship with 6 wins and 7 podiums.
If not for points being cancelled in the same season for doubling up on some circuits, Barter would have won the French F4 after claiming nine of the 21 races, with four of those scratched for points both Spa and the circuit Ricardo Tormo.
It is also understood that several Formula 1 teams have been watching Barter closely, and his union with Campos – a strong team across several formulas, operating in F4, F3, F2, plus a drivers academy – puts him in good stead for the coming year to continue his climb through the Formula ranks.
Coming upon through the Karting system in Australia, Barter told Auto Action in an interview in 2020, that Formula 1 was his goal, and it appears some of his predictions for himself are perhaps not far off the mark.
“Formula 4 is our next move over in Europe, that’s the more direct route to Formula 1,” Barter said in an AUTO ACTION feature in 2020.
Barter and his Bulgarian teammate Nikola Tsolov, completly dominated the Spanish F4 for Campos in 2022
“From there, more exposure to the European teams can lead onto maybe Ferrari or Mercedes so that’s our next major move.”
AA’s recent features and interviews with the young driver relay the quiet confidence that he has in himself, as his dedicated approach has paid off with an F3 seat.
About potentially racing at Albert Park on the streets of Melbourne, Barter told AA print magazine back in early December of 2022, that he would be privileged to do so.
“It will mean the world to me, and it’ll be the first time back at home in over two years by that stage. And to come back on those terms , racing for my country, is something I’ll be grateful for. I didn’t think the opportunity would come so soon to be honest.
“To be amongst those names (Piastri and Doohan) would be an absolute privilege, and I hope to make everyone proud and perform at my very best.”
The Formula 3 season opens on March 3-5 at Sakhir in Bahrain, as its ten round calendar travels exclusively with the Formula 1 circuit.
2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship Calendar
March 3-5 Sakhir, Bahrain
March 31 April 2 Melbourne, Australia
May 19-21 Imola, Italy
May 25-28 Monte Carlo, Monaco
June 2-4 Barcelona, Spain
June 30-July 2 Spielberg, Austria
July 7-9 Silverstone, Great Britain
July 21-23 Budapest, Hungary
July 28-30 Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
September 1-3 Monza, Italy
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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