As a regular top five finisher in the NEC series, as well as claiming some solid results against some of the toughest competition on the continent in the Eurocup, Meisner has shown he has the speed and dedication to challenge for race wins and titles. With this in mind, the youngster has decided to make the move up the racing ladder and gain more experience.

“I can’t wait to start this season,” he says. “I’ve had two really good years in Formula Renault, both in Sweden and in the Northern European Cup and Renault Eurocup. It has given me a massive amount of experience and I’ve matured a lot as a driver since karting because of it. I was really happy with the Koiranen Bros team, they taught me a huge amount and I’ll miss racing with them,” he adds.

“But, after looking at F3 I knew it was the right decision to move up, it’s where you start to really learn the more technical aspects of racing. I’m really keen to move forwards and get better and better each time I get in the car.”

Stockholm based Meisner will join the vastly experienced Performance Racing team for his first foray into F3, in a championship that has produced some of the best drivers of the last 20 years, including multiple F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher and Le Mans master Tom Kristensen. An extensive testing and training regime will now begin for him before the championship gets under way at Oschersleben in April.


“I’m really looking forward to working with the team and getting to grips with the F3 car,” says John. “The former champions list reads like a ‘who’s who’ list of top racing drivers, so it would be great to add my name to that list. I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to try and achieve that,” he adds.

ENDS

Ref: JBM1201
For more information, images, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Adam Proctor
Magpie PR
T: 01400 272835
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E: adam@magpiepr.co.uk
www.magpiepr.co.uk

About Performance Racing Performance Racing was founded in Sweden 1999 and has its base at the famous Silverstone Circuit. Our mission is to empower young talented drivers. To guide, support and educate our drivers so they can reach their ultimate goal. Performance Racing has since 2001 successfully competed in the British Formula 3 and since 2008 in the German Formula 3 series. Performance Racing has also been active in A1GP, The World Cup of Motorsport between 2006 and 2009.

Follow the teams progress on Twitter and Facebook

Follow the teams progress on Twitter and Facebook

Australian driver Mitchell Gilbert has signed to race in the German Formula Three Championship in 2012. The Richmond based racer will drive for Silverstone's Performance Racing team, following a successful test at Snetterton in Norfolk last week.



The move into the higher profile, more technically advanced German F3 series, puts the 17-year-old Trendworld backed youngster another step up the motorsport ladder, following in the footsteps of seven-time Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher, who won the series in 1990.

A series of podium results helped Mitchell claim fifth place in the final standings of the Certina UK Formula Renault Championship this season. He picked up his first race win and narrowly missed out on taking his first pole-position during 2011. However, his experience and speed improved as the year went on and after testing the F3 car, he feels he is more than ready to make the step up.

“The F3 car is awesome!” He says. “It's a massive step up from the Formula Renault this year. So much more grip and the speed you can take through the corners is just incredible. The mindset required for the jump from Renault to F3 is a lot different. I can't wait for the new season to start, it's only a short four months to go!” He added.


Courtesy of Richard Leach

The Performance Racing squad, which is based at the British Grand Prix venue of Silverstone, has a reputation for looking after young drivers and giving them the equipment to do the best job possible. After just a single test with the team, Mitchell knew it was where he wanted to be in 2012.

“It's pretty surprising we've got the opportunity to move up into F3 to be honest,” adds Mitchell. “The team has a really good atmosphere and the owner really gets involved with everything. There really is a family feeling and after that first test I knew that I wanted to race with them,” he says.

The German F3 Championship has produced some of the biggest names in motorsport over the last two decades. Drivers including 1990 champion Schumacher and his '91 successor, multiple Le Mans winner, Tom Kristensen, have dominated their respective areas of racing at the highest level. Other drivers, such as Jarno Trulli and Nick Heidfeld, also came through the series and Mitchell is keen to make his mark too.

“The German series is really competitive and there are some fantastic benefits. For instance, the fastest driver/team on the grid has to share their data with the rest of the field at each round. It means there's nowhere to hide. There's a lot of testing, much more than the British F3 Championship, which I'll benefit from.”

Courtesy of Richard Leach

Despite the long wait before his racing season kicks of next year, Mitchell won't be sitting still. Five days of testing at the Spanish circuit of Valencia is already booked for next week, starting his 2012 preparation early.

“The German Championship will use the 2008 model Dallara chassis next season, which is what the British teams have been using for a few years. They will have all of the latest updates and we have a new engine too. It will all be new to the team and me, so it's going to be a big learning curve for us both next week.” Says Mitchell.

“But, it will allow me to develop more as a driver and move me forward, which is exactly what I want to be doing every time I take to the track. I think with a good amount of testing behind me there's no reason why I can't go out there and challenge for the title next year,” he adds.

After his final test, Mitch will be heading to Malaysia to see family over the Christmas break. He arrives back in the UK just in time for the Autosport International Show in January.



About Performance Racing Performance Racing was founded in Sweden 1999 and has its base at the famous Silverstone Circuit. Our mission is to empower young talented drivers. To guide, support and educate our drivers so they can reach their ultimate goal. Performance Racing has since 2001 successfully competed in the British Formula 3 and since 2008 in the German Formula 3 series. Performance Racing has also been active in A1GP, The World Cup of Motorsport between 2006 and 2009.

Follow the teams progress on Twitter and Facebook

Performance Racing, who assisted Gustav and his management with the transition from karting to car racing, have been very impressed by the young Swede during 2011.

Bobby Issazadhe, Team Principal; "We have kept a close eye on Gustav all season and been impressed by his motivation, focus and performance. Gustav is a very smart kid and it's easy to forget that he is just 15 years old. As a bonus for a great first season in car racing we offered him a Formula 3 test. We did not expect him to be so fast straight away. Gustav covered around 600 km over the two days and during the second day he produced very impressive and consistent lap times, good enough for a top 8 qualifying."

Gustav Malja; "What a great experience, Formula 3 is just awesome. I can't wait until I can be back in a Formula 3 car again. This test was a real eye opener and I now have a much better understanding of what is required from me to become a top driver."

Gustav Malja and his Swedish Supporters Celebrating a successful test.

The young Swede finished off the two day test by stepping back into his ADAC Formel Masters car and lapped faster than he ever done before around Lausitzring. Gustav Malja; "After driving the Formula 3 car, I felt so confident with my Formel Master car and it felt really easy to push it to the limit."

Bobby Issazadhe; "If Gustav continues to develop at the current rate he for sure has a great future in motorsport. We will continue to monitor and support Gustav and we will give him more time in the Formula 3 car during the winter break. I am convinced Gustav will be a fighting for the top spot in the 2012 ADAC Formel Masters championship"

About Performance Racing Performance Racing was founded in Sweden 1999 and has its base at the famous Silverstone Circuit. Our mission is to empower young talented drivers. To guide, support and educate our drivers so they can reach their ultimate goal. Performance Racing has since 2001 successfully competed in the British Formula 3 and since 2008 in the German Formula 3 series. Performance Racing has also been active in A1GP, The World Cup of Motorsport between 2006 and 2009.

Follow the teams progress on Twitter and Facebook

Dennis Lind and his Mentor Jason Watt

Bobby Issazadhe, Team Principal. - "We had almost put the 2011 Formula 3 season behind us after the unfortunate accident at the Lausitzring. Tom Blomqvist was holding 3rd in the standings and was looking on route to finish off the season strong with race wins and podiums. Obviously we are very happy to come back to the series and to give Dennis the opportunity to do his first Formula 3 race start. The team will work very hard to extract maximum performance from Dennis and the car"

The 2011 season has been a bit patchy for Dennis, who started the season in the popular ADAC Formel Masters but things didn't work out as expected so Dennis and his management decided to switch to the the Danish Peugeot Spider Cup to keep Dennis racing. Dennis immediately showed his talent by scoring two victories.

Obviously Formula 3 is a big step up for Dennis so the team will start with 2 days of testing at a test track in Wales in order to give Dennis maximum amount of experience with the car and the team before the debut race in Hockenheim.

Dennis Lind - " I can't describe how excited I am for this opportunity. This season has been far from my expectations so I couldn't believe that I would end up racing a Formula 3 car. It's a fantastic opportunity and I will give 100% to make the most out of it. Obviously a steep learning curve for me but I feel confident and I am used to adapt quickly"

Hockenheim time table:
Friday, September 30: 11:00 - 11:45 Free Practice
Saturday, October 01: 09:30 - 10:00 Qualifying 1
Saturday, October 01 : 13:30 - 14:00 Race 1
Sunday, October 02: 09:35 - 10:05 Qualifying 2
Sunday, October 02: 13:30 - 14:00 Race 2
Live timing: http://masters.wige-livetiming.de/index.php

About Performance Racing
Performance Racing was founded in Sweden 1999 and has its base at the famous Silverstone Circuit.
Our mission is to empower young talented drivers. To guide, support and educate our drivers so they can reach their ultimate goal. Performance Racing has since 2001 successfully competed in the British Formula 3 and since 2008 in the German Formula 3 series. Performance Racing has also been active in A1GP, The World Cup of Motorsport between 2006 and 2009.

Follow the teams progress on Twitter and Facebook