- Tewkesbury-based team announce Simmons’ return to British F3 squad for a one-off appearance at Brands Hatch (GP) this weekend (29-30 August).
- Multiple race winner and Euroformula Open front-runner will provide an excellent benchmark for the ever-improving Josh Skelton.
- Nico Varrone departs CDR after opening two events of the 2020 season.
Chris Dittmann Racing is pleased to announce multiple BRDC British Formula 3 Championship race winner Ayrton Simmons will return to the team for this weekend’s event at Brands Hatch (GP).
Simmons, who currently races full-time in Euroformula Open, finished third for the Tewkesbury-based team in the UK’s premier single seater series in 2019, claiming three race victories, a further seven podium finishes and two pole positions along the way.
That led to Simmons’ nomination as a finalist for the industry-recognized Aston Martin BRDC Young Driver Award, and helped springboard him towards furthering his racing career out on the continent.
He will partner Josh Skelton for this weekend’s quartet of races around the iconic 2.4-mile GP loop at Brands Hatch; Nico Varrone has left the team after the opening two rounds of the season.
Simmons played a significant role in the team’s success in Kent last season, finishing second in a 1-2 finish for CDR as Nazim Azman claimed a first career win, and will provide an excellent benchmark for Skelton, who will be aiming to build on a first podium in British F3 last time out at Donington Park.
The two are no strangers to one another, having been paired together during the 2018 British Formula 4 campaign.
Chris Dittmann, Team Principal said:
“It’s disappointing Nico will not continue with the team for the remainder of the season.
“He made steady progress during the first few events but unfortunately was always on the back foot after limited pre-season testing.
“However we’re thrilled to welcome Ayrton back to the team after a phenomenal season last year with us. Josh has shown great pace in testing recently, and I’m sure both drivers will be pushing each other hard.
“We’re confident the team’s first British F3 win of the year is just around the corner….”
Ayrton Simmons said:
“It’s great to be back in British F3 for this weekend, and great to be back with the Chris Dittmann Racing boys, which I can’t thank enough for this opportunity.
“I’m just really looking forward to it. I had lots of fun last year in British F3 and we were very competitive. It’ll be good to see how much the car’s changed with the new aero upgrade and how much the grid has evolved from last year.
“There’s no pressure, really, I haven’t driven one of these cars in eight or nine months now, and I’ve never driven it with the latest upgrades. We’re there to help Chris, and obviously to support Josh as well. I’m really looking forward to it, it should bring back some good memories.”
