Peruvian karter Matias Zagazeta will move up to single-seaters next year with Carlin in British Formula 4.

The three-time national champion in Mini 60 karts has been competing internationally for the last few years, racing primarily in the Americas.

Zagazeta was competitive in Europe when racing X30 Junior karts in 2017, and stepped up to OK and X30 Senior karts last year. He finished 45th in the CIK-FIA European championship in 2018, and was 14th in this year’s IAME Winter Cup.

?I?m so pleased to be joining Carlin for the upcoming season ? it will be my first season outside of karting and I can?t think of a better way to start my career,? said Zagazeta.

?I?ve been testing with the team, which has been really fun, and I?ve been learning a lot so I?m sure that we can hit the ground running and have a great season together.

?The British F4 championship is a proven testing ground for drivers and has produced so many great talents and I aim to add my name to that list.?

Carlin ran car racing rookie Zane Maloney to this year’s British F4 title, and also fielded fellow karting graduate Joe Turney on a part-time basis. The team expects similar success with Zagazeta.

?Matias is the perfect example of a young driver stepping out of karts into his first season of car racing, with everything to learn,? Trevor Carlin said.

?It?s most rewarding for us to work with drivers at this point in their career when they are making this very big step up.

?Matias is already responding very well in testing and is learning so much with every day on track. With his ability and attitude I?m sure he?ll be a strong competitor when the 2020 season kicks off. I?m excited to see his potential as the programme unfolds.?