Chris Dittmann Racing has confirmed that Ayrton Simmons will return to the team for the 2021 BRDC British F3 season. Simmons is CDR’s most successful driver in the category, taking five wins and an additional seven podiums, as well as five pole positions with the Tewkesbury-based team. A full season in 2019 resulted in third place in the championship standings, with Simmons claiming more wins than the eventual champion, and he was a finalist in that year’s Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Award.
The 20-year-old British driver first raced with CDR in 2018, making his debut at the Spa Francorchamps round, and has competed in 36 races in total with the team. His most recent appearance was a stunning cameo appearance at Brands Hatch last summer, where he claimed two wins and led the team to a second 1-2 finish in as many seasons at the legendary Kent circuit.
2021 will be Simmons’ second full season with the team, and he joins fellow Brits Max Marzorati and Alex Fores in the three car line-up. The Essex-based driver now has his eyes set firmly on a title challenge after coming so close in 2019.
Simmons said: “I’m really looking forward to reuniting with Chris Dittmann and the team this year. 2019 was a brilliant season, probably the most enjoyable of my career so far, so the chance to return and complete some unfinished business was too good to turn down. Obviously we know each other very well and we confirmed what we’re capable of last year at Brands Hatch. The aim is to repeat that kind of performance and challenge for wins every weekend. If we can do that, we can aim for the title, there’s no reason why not.”
Team Principal Chris Dittmann commented: “We’re absolutely delighted that Ayrton is returning to CDR for the 2021 British F3 season. We’ve loved working with him over the past few seasons, he’s a classy driver and has a very bright future if the cards fall into place for him. We hope and expect to help him on his way; as a combination we’ve proved time and again what we can do together, and to say we are excited about the season ahead is an understatement.
“Just as important is that Ayrton’s experience at this level will be hugely valuable for Max and Alex’s development too, they’re both very impressive characters and can only benefit from Ayrton’s experience as they continue their adaptation to British F3. We’re not counting chickens, but heading to Brands Hatch with a full line up of three drivers is something we’re really looking forward to. We should be in a very strong position to challenge for the drivers’ and teams’ championships starting from the first round of the season next weekend.”
The 2021 BRDC British F3 season will start at Kent’s Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on 22-23 May.
For more championship information visit www.britishf3.com