Danish racer Mikkel Grundtvig has been confirmed at JHR Developments for the 2020 F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost season.

The 17-year old is a proven competitor at FIA Formula 4 level; last season he contested the French F4 campaign, including an impressive pole, fastest lap and race victory treble at Ledenon.

He also returned to the Danish F4 Championship for the second year in succession, including wins at Padborg Park and Jyllandsringen; in both seasons of competition in Denmark, Grundtvig finished seventh overall.

He will now make his debut in the Ford EcoBoost-powered series for JHR Developments, having tested with Steven Hunter’s title-contending outfit during the winter months.

Grundtvig is joined at the Derbyshire-based team by Abbi Pulling and reigning Ginetta Junior champion James Hedley.

The trio will meet the media with the rest of the ‘Class of 2020’ next Monday [9th March] at the series’ official Media Day, before returning to the Leicestershire circuit for the season opener three weeks’ later on 28-29 March.

“Of course, I’m very excited for the year,” said Grundtvig.

“I hope everything will go well. I’m hoping to finish in the top three in the championship, but at the very least I’m looking for a race win.

“I’ve tested the car at Oulton Park and at Donington, but it’s the first time racing for me on the UK circuits so everything will be new. I’m looking forward to all of them, but Brands Hatch will be fun.

“I will travel from Denmark to the UK so I can spend time with the engineers and in the simulator so I am as prepared as possible.

“I think the tyres will be the only thing I need to learn and understand but the car and engine are very similar to what I’ve raced in the Danish and French F4 championships, so I don’t think that will be too much of a problem. I can’t wait to get started!”

JHR Team Principal Steven Hunter expressed his happiness at securing Grundtvig ahead of the new campaign and expects a successful partnership in the season ahead.

“We’re really excited to get started with Mikkel,” said Hunter.

“He ran well with us in testing and he impressed the team immensely. His times were competitive so we are expecting to score podium finishes and we are confident that he can perform well. His prior knowledge of the car should be beneficial in the early part of the season.

“He fitted in with the team instantly and, combined with our other two confirmed drivers Abbi and James, I think we have a very strong driver line up. I’m really looking forward to the year ahead and the future looks bright with this trio of talented rising stars.”

In switching to British F4, Grundtvig will benefit from the championship’s unique position as the sole single-seater support series on the UK’s premier motorsport package – the British Touring Car Championship.

That means capacity trackside crowds – over 380,000 during the course of last season – as well as live, free-to-air television coverage on ITV4.