- PAUL EDWARDS JOINS DOCKING FOR 2001 BRITISH F3
CAMPAIGN
-
- 22-year-old American Paul Edwards will contest this year's
British F3
Championship driving for Alan Docking Racing, it was announced
today.
Edwards will run alongside experienced British teammate Andy
Priaulx in
the Silverstone-based team's Dallara F301-Mugen Honda. The move
follows
Edwards' outstanding test runs with the team last October and
caps a
winter of intensive sponsorship hunting by the young Californian.
- Edwards' move up the next rung of the ladder leading to Formula
One will
be supported by Doug Mockett and Company, a US distributor of
premium
architectural hardware and fixtures. "It's been a long-held
ambition of
mine to help a deserving young American into British F3, and
with Paul I
feel I've found the right driver," said company owner Doug
Mockett.
"There's nothing like British F3 for proving that a driver
has what it
takes to win in F1, and that's what I think Paul will demonstrate
this
season."
-
- Joining Mockett will be a group of private investors from
the US, while
Edwards is hoping to land additional sponsorship as the season
approaches to secure the funding he requires. "F3 is when
you really
step into the spotlight, and you need a full budget to do your
best with
a professional team," Edwards said. "I feel I am in
the best position
this year with Alan Docking Racing. I believe in everyone on
the team
and with us working together I know we will achieve the results
we are
all working so hard at."
-
- Edwards's signing gives Docking one of its most competitive
driver
line-ups in over 20 years as a British F3 entrant. "Andy's
expected to
win races this year, but from what we've seen of Paul, we can
see
winning races with both drivers," team owner Alan Docking
commented.
"I've been at this game a long time, and Paul is one of
the strongest F3
rookies I've ever seen. He's got the natural ability and a good
head on
his shoulders to go with it. The whole team is excited at having
him on
board."
-
- The team's chief engineer, Paul Antony, is also a compatriot
of
Edwards. "It's a bit special being able to help develop
a young
American with real talent." Antony said. "It seems
the US is taking more
of an interest in F1, so I think Paul's arrival on the scene
is well
timed. But the important thing isn't his nationality - it's that
he's
ready to run with the best from anywhere in the world."
-
- Edwards made the commitment to European racing at the outset
of his
career, and has been a winner in Formula Ford, Formula Opel,
and Formula
Palmer Audi on his way to F3. The three-time recipient of the
Valvoline
Team USA Scholarship is looking forward to flying the flag again
in
2001. "It's no secret I want to be the next American in
F1, and F3 is
the way to get there. It's a crucial step in my education as
a driver,
and I couldn't have picked a better school than ADR. The team
is totally
professional but friendly at the same time. I'm grateful for
their
confidence in me, and also want to thank Doug Mockett and my
other
sponsors for the opportunity to show what I can do."
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