First British team set to enter IndyCar

The British are coming, as Carlin aims to take on the US at its own game

Surrey-based racing team Carlin has announced it will compete in IndyCar next year. The outfit is most widely known for its success in Formula 3 - where it has won nine championships - and GP2, with drivers including Nico Rosberg, Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel having passed through its ranks.

It'll be another Carlin graduate taking the wheel in 2018 though, with former F1 driver Max Chilton now signing for the team. The Brit had spells with Carlin, of which his father Grahame is co-owner and CEO, in both F3 and GP2, also making 14 starts for them in development series Indy Lights in 2015. This won't be his first taste of the big time though, having spent the last two years racing for Chip Ganassi in IndyCar proper, finishing fourth in the Indy 500 last season after leading for 50 laps.

He'll be partnered in his new role by his old team-mate, American driver Charlie Kimball, with whom he spent time at Ganassi. There's plenty of familiarity and experience floating around the new team, then, giving them every confidence that they know what to expect heading into their maiden season. Speaking about the new set up, team principal Trevor Carlin said, "By no means do we underestimate the challenge and competition that lies ahead, but I have great faith in the young and passionate team that our team manager Colin [Hale] and I have put together."

The team will be competing using the Dallara DW12 chassis paired with a Chevrolet engine and wrapped in the new, very smart, Universal Aero Kit. We look forward to seeing how they get on!