Carlin is pleased to announce Ido Cohen as the first driver in its 2020 EuroFormula Open line-up. The Israeli youngster will join the race winning team after experiencing the series in the final two rounds of the 2019 Championship with the British squad.

18-year-old Cohen joins the Farnham based team having raced in Barcelona and Monza in the closing rounds of 2019. Cohen did well to qualify sixth on his debut, despite his lack of testing and took a strong seventh place on his EuroFormula Open debut at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Previous to EuroFormula Open, Cohen learnt his race craft in the large competitive fields of Italian and ADAC Formula 4 championships gaining podiums in both. Cohen’s experience in F4 in 2019 and 2018 means he heads to EuroFormula Open with good experience on the majority of European circuits.

Cohen signed off his 2019 season with a strong outing in the FIA’s Motorsport Games, representing Israel in the Formula 4 Cup where he won the Qualification Race to take pole for the main event. A technical issue eventually saw Cohen lose out against tough competition, having led the first half of the race.

Strengthening his race craft further, the ADD Management driver is competing in the 2019 Toyota Racing Series and will compete in his first race of the season next weekend at Highlands Motorsport Park on New Zealand’s South Island. The condensed five round package will provide plentiful experience before Cohen returns to Europe to continue his preparations for EuroFormula Open, which will include getting to grips with the new Dallara 320 car.

Introduced for the 2019 season, the Dallara 320 features a brand new strengthened monocoque fitted with a halo cockpit protection device built from titanium, a carbon extractable seat and 25mm of safety foam and redesigned bodywork that reflects the aesthetics of a modern Formula 1 car.

Speaking about his 2020 EuroFormula Open programme, Cohen said, “I’m really excited to be joining Carlin for the 2020 season. My experience with them in the final two EuroFormula Open races last year was really positive and I learnt so much. I’ve got a great relationship with my engineer and together we’re building a really strong foundation for the season ahead.”

Having completed a comprehensive winter test programme already with Carlin, Cohen has impressed the team with his mature attitude in and out of the car and ability to respond to feedback. “Ido has been making great progress in testing,” said Team Principal Trevor Carlin. “He has already developed a very strong relationship with his engineer and works methodically through our test programmes. We’re really looking forward to seeing him develop further as the season gets underway.”

The first race of the nine round season will kick off from 25 – 26 April in Paul Ricard. Events at Pau, Spa-Francorchamps, Hockenheim, Hungaroring, Red Bull Ring, Monza, Pergusa and Barcelona complete the series.