British single-seater racer Jordan Cane will make the step up into the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship next year after today, Wednesday, 7th September, being confirmed as the first driver signing for the new Hillspeed with Cliff Dempsey Racing partnership.
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement regarding the tie-up between the two well respected teams, the 15-year-old from Felpham in West Sussex has signed a deal with the Hathersage-based operation to make his competitive bow in British F3 after his 16th birthday next May.
With the entry age limit for the championship set at 16, Cane will spend the interim period testing his 230bhp Tatuus-Cosworth in preparation for his move up the motorsport ladder – which will also mark a return to UK shores for the talented youngster who is managed by Kinross Sport.
Racing in America for the past 14 months or so, most recently in the ‘Road to Indy’ Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda where he enjoyed podium success, Cane tested for the team at Anglesey in Wales a couple of weeks ago before putting pen to paper.
“We are absolutely delighted to have agreed a deal for Jordan to join Hillspeed with Cliff Dempsey Racing and make his race debut in British F3 with us in 2017”, said Hillspeed’s Richard Ollerenshaw, “Jordan is an exceptionally talented young driver and, even though he doesn’t turn 16 until next May, he is already a very accomplished single-seater racer with an extremely professional approach.
“Jordan and Cliff have a good relationship which stretches back a couple of years and, after testing with us, he made his choice and signed which we’re absolutely thrilled about. We’ll put together a very strong winter testing programme and we then aim to hit the ground running when the new season begins.”
Setting out on his motorsport career in karting in 2013 in the British Cadet Championship and British Rotax Championship, Cane spent another year in Rotax before heading Stateside to join the Skip Barber Racing School at just 13-years-of-age. Lapping second fastest on his first time out and then topping the times on day two, his performances paved the way for the start of an exciting journey.
His race debut on US soil came in 2015 in the F1600 Championship and despite missing the first six races due to age restrictions, he absolutely starred over the course of the next 15 rounds with seven victories, equaling the all-time win record for the series, and a total of 10 podiums
Graduating into USF2000 this year, Cane became a podium finisher before bringing an early end to his season in order to prepare as well as possible for his move up into British F3 as part of Hillspeed with Cliff Dempsey Racing.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Hillspeed with Cliff Dempsey Racing for the 2017 season”, said Cane, “The last two seasons spent in the USA have been very important for my development and, given the strength of British F3 now, there is not a better championship in world motorsport right now for me to continue up the motorsport ladder and for my development.
“From the first day of testing this felt like the right set up and environment for me and I can’t wait to produce the results that the team’s effort deserves. The focus for me now is to maximise testing over the winter and come straight out of the blocks competing at the front.”
