Former F4 NACAM Championship racer switches to Ford’s winning formula with race-winning Fortec Motorsport outfit.

Mexican aiming to make an impact on debut campaign in Ford EcoBoost-powered series.

New season gets underway at Brands Hatch (Indy) over the weekend of 06-07 April.

Mariano Martinez has agreed a deal to join Fortec Motorsport for the 2019 F4 British Championship certified by FIA – powered by Ford EcoBoost season.

The Mexican makes the switch to Britain’s FIA-sanctioned Formula 4 series with the Daventry-based Fortec squad after establishing himself as an ever-present in the points in the 2017-18 F4 NACAM Championship in his home country following a successful karting career.

He made one more appearance in the category – on the Formula 1 ® Mexican Grand Prix support bill in October – before becoming the twelfth driver to sign up to British F4 in 2019.

Martinez has previously tested the EcoBoost-powered F4 car at the now-defunct Rockingham Motor Speedway last August, but now makes the move permanent as he looks to take the next steps up the FIA motorsport ladder.

British F4 will once again enjoy a unique status in 2019 as the sole single-seater support championship on the UK’s premier motorsport package – the British Touring Car Championship, with capacity trackside crowds and free-to-air television coverage on ITV4.

Martinez will be on-hand at Brands Hatch tomorrow [13th March] for the championship’s official Media Day, with entry free to spectators from 9am.

“I’m excited to be joining such a prestigious team as Fortec Motorsport for the 2019 F4 British Championship season,” said a delighted Martinez.

“I’m really looking forward to working with their driver development programme and getting as prepared for the start of the year as I can be.

“My studies have meant I haven’t been able to test as much as I’d hoped but I’m looking forward to a great season and hope to produce some strong results.”

Team Principal Oliver Dutton echoed Martinez’s delight and believes with a strong development programme the partnership will be fighting at the sharp end of the field before long.

“We are happy to welcome Mariano back to the Fortec Motorsport family,” enthused Dutton.

“After taking part in the official test at Rockingham last year, Mariano was keen to join the championship this season. It’ s going to be a steep learning curve but I’m confident that with hard work and determination we can work together to produce some great results.”

Another ten-event, thirty-race calendar gets underway back at Brands Hatch over the weekend of 6th-7th April, 2019.