Absolute Racing are pleased to announce Daniel Cao Zhuo and Tommy Smith as the first drivers to officially join the team’s F3 Asian Championship certified by FIA team. Both drivers tested with Absolute Racing at Sepang recently and will race for the team from the opening round in December.

Daniel Cao will remain within the Absolute Racing team for the new season. The Chinese driver starred in his first season with the team, taking 3rd overall in the 2019 F3 Asian Championship. He took two victories and eight podiums in total.

Cao said of the upcoming season, “I’m pleased to be rejoining Absolute Racing for the upcoming season. I feel like home within the team, and they are very professional in their approach. Last season I gained a lot of knowledge and experience working with the team. My goal this year is to win it, and become the first Chinese driver with more than forty FIA Super Licence points. I’m ready to take on the F3 Asian to claim the title.”

Commenting about Cao’s return, Team Manager Martin Young added, “It’s great to have Daniel back with us for another season following what was an impressive season with us. Last season he showed he has great speed, finishing third in the championship and now coming back for the second season with pole positions and race wins under his belt. I’m looking forward to challenge of going for the championship.”

Joining alongside Cao is the Australian driver Tommy Smith. Last season saw Smith compete in the F3 Asian, finishing 18th overall in the championship standings. The 17-year-old spent five years in karting before graduating into single-seaters, competing in the Australian Formula Ford series and F4 Championship in 2018.

Speaking about the upcoming season Smith said, “I’m excited to be joining Absolute Racing for the F3 Asian series and continuing my learning curve and results from last season. The team has welcomed me well, and that is just an amazing start for this new journey! There’s been some positive signs in early testing, the car felt great and I’m looking forward to a strong showing.”

Martin Young added, “We’re delighted to welcome Tommy to the F3 Asian team. After testing with him last week, I was impressed how quickly he adapted to the team and his initial pace seems to be an improvement to last year. Hopefully, this will translate into this upcoming season, with hard work from Tommy and the team we will aiming to get some solid results over the season.”

The calendar of the premier single-seater series will be having a revamp for the next season; The third season of the successful single-seater championship will be held over the winter months to enable drivers from all over the world to maximize FIA Super Licence regulations which allow them to accumulate points from two championships within a single year.

The season begins on the 14-15 December at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit before heading to the Middle East where it makes its debut with back-to-back events in Dubai and at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina F1 track. Returning to Southeast Asia in February, three races at Sepang are followed a week later by the season finale triple-header at Buriram International Circuit in Thailand.

Cao and Smith are the first drivers to be confirmed to race for Absolute Racing’s F3 Asian squad but teammates are due to be confirmed soon in a further announcement.

2020 F3 Asian Championship certified by FIA Season Calendar:

• December 14th-15th, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia – Round 1 (Races 1-3)
• January 10th-11th, Dubai Autodrome, UAE – Round 2 (Races 4-6)
• January 17th-18th, Yas Marina Circuit, UAE – Round 3 (Races 7-9)
• February 14th-15th, Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia – Round 4 (Races 10-12)
• February 22nd-23rd, Buriram International Circuit, Thailand – Round 5 (Races 13-15)