Rising single-seater star Linus Lundqvist will remain with Double R Racing for his graduation into the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship this year, after being confirmed as the team’s second signing for the 2018 season.

The 18-year-old, from Tyreso in Sweden, enjoyed a sensational debut in British Formula 4 last year with Woking-based Double R where he scorched to five race victories and 11 podium finishes, as well as achieving five pole position starts and more fastest laps than any driver, nine in total.

Ending his maiden campaign outside his native Scandinavia fifth in the championship standings, Lundqvist also made his competitive debut in British F3 machinery with Double R last year when he made a one-off appearance during the overseas rounds at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium.

Now graduating full-time to British Formula 3 this season, the talented and rapid single-seater racer is relishing the move and says he is delighted to be remaining with two-time British F3 Champions Double R after developing a strong relationship with the squad in 2017.

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to race full-time in British Formula 3 this season,” said Lundqvist. “The moment the F4 season finished this is what we started working towards, and I'm so grateful we've managed to put this together with Double R Racing. I really enjoyed working with the team last year in F4 and can't wait to get going again in F3.

“It will be an even bigger challenge, of course, but I'm heading into this aiming to win. I learned a lot from that one-off [in British F3] at Spa last year, and it remained one of the highlights of my season. The car is so much fun to drive, and by the end of that weekend, I was down to just a few tenths [of a second] off the fastest guys.”

He added: “Having done that race at Spa also means I will be familiar with all the tracks on the calendar. I obviously know the British ones from F4, there will still be things to learn but, overall, I'm feeling pretty confident going into pre-season testing.”

Lundqvist will join already confirmed American racer, and fellow British F3 debutant, Dev Gore as part of Double R’s planned three-car assault on British F3 this year. The team is a two-time title winner in the category, having claimed the 2006 crown with British ace Mike Conway and the 2016 championship with Brazil’s Matheus Leist.

Speaking on Lundqvist’s signing, Double R team principal Anthony ‘Boyo’ Hieatt said: “We’re super excited Linus is remaining with the team for the step-up into British F3 and we’re confident he’s going to be every bit as competitive in F3 as he was in British F4 last year.

“Linus is a quality driver, a real genuine prospect, and our aim is to be regularly challenging for podiums and race wins as the championship unfolds. We’ve got a fantastic relationship and everyone at the team is very hungry to achieve a lot of success in British F3 this season.”