Brendon Hartley will stay with Carlin Motorsport in 2009 but will move to the Formula 3 Euro Series, where he already raced a few races in 2008 for both RC Motorsport and Carlin. The young New Zealander also raced for Carlin in the Macau F3 Grand Prix where he made an amazing final race from the back of the field to end up in third.

The second Red Bull driver to join Carlin is young Australian Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo made a few F3 appearances for SG Formula during 2008 but his main challenge was in the Formula Renault 2.0 championships. He managed a total of 14 race wins in the 2 litre Formula Renault’s and became Western European champion and vice-European champion.

Brendon Hartley has not only carried out extensive winter testing for Carlin’s F3 cars he has also combined that duty with tests for the Red Bull Formula 1 team.

Team principal Trevor Carlin added, “Brendon is a very valued and well liked member of the team. He showed stunning pace in British F3 last year and towards the end of the season a new maturity and confidence emerged in his racing which I’m sure we’ll see again in F3 Euro Series in 2009.”

“In British F3 we’ll be joined by Daniel Ricciardo and I’m delighted that Red Bull have entrusted us with one of their most promising young drivers. Daniel has been fantastic so far in testing; he’s been quick, consistent and has gelled really well into the team. 2009 will be his first full year in F3, but I think we can expect some great performances from him.”

Sebastien Buemi will drive all three days while Hartley will drive the first day and then switch with Red Bull Racing’s new driver Sebastian Vettel. Buemi is rumoured to be in the running for a 2009 race seat with Scuderia Toro Rosso, so extra seat time to prove himself in a Formula 1 car might not be too bad for him.