Norris, 16, is the reigning champion in the Toyota Racing Series, European Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 NEC. With Carlin, he'd won the British F4 title last year and took four race victories in a part-time British F3 campaign in 2016.

Hughes, 22, is the 2013 BRDC F4 champion and has since become a race winner in Formula Renault 2.0 and GP3.

Ticktum, 17, was one of Norris' rivals for the British F4 crown last year, but received a one-year ban - with a second year suspended - for a deliberate collision with another title contender Ricky Collard.

All three are likely contesting the round to be made eligible for the Macau Grand Prix, with Norris and Hughes already confirmed in Carlin's line-up for the prestigious race.

Due to their participation in F3 test days, Norris and Ticktum will have to start all three races of the weekend from the pitlane, while Hughes has no such restrictions imposed on him.

"We’re very pleased to finish off the 2016 FIA Formula 3 European Championship with such a great line-up of young British talent," said team boss Trevor Carlin.

"We realise that it is a daunting prospect for our three drivers to be entering their first race at this point in the season, but we have high expectations for both the drivers and the team.

"For us, it’s all about qualifying, so we can prove once again the pace of the Carlin F3 package."

Carlin had started the 2016 European F3 season with four cars, and even took a race win through Alessio Lorandi at Pau - but its line-up whittled down as the campaign went on, and the team was absent entirely from the most recent rounds at the Nurburgring and Imola.