Australian teenager Harry Hayek will race in the Ford EcoBoost powered MSA Formula this season with Kent based Jamun Racing.

The 17 year-old from Sydney will move to the UK after finishing fourth in the Australian Formula 4 championship last season, which uses the same Ford-powered Mygale car as MSA Formula.

Hayek started karting in 2012 and won two Australian Senior State titles in 2014 before graduating to cars last year. He will now partner Ginetta Junior champion Jamie Caroline at Jamun Racing in Ford MSA Formula.

Said Hayek: “The biggest challenge will be going over to the UK and living by myself. I’m very lucky and fortunate to have this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it.

“The ultimate goal is to win the championship. It’s definitely an advantage to have raced the car before in Australia so I learnt a lot about set-up and can take that into Ford MSA Formula this year.”

Jamun Racing team manager James Mundy commented: “We are very excited to have signed Harry, he did very well in the Australian series last year. We’ve got a strong line-up with Jamie and Harry who complement each other well.

“We are really looking forward to the season ahead. We cannot wait to get started. There’s a really good atmosphere and buzz in the team with two very talented drivers joining us.”

The opening rounds of MSA Formula – certified by FIA, powered by Ford EcoBoost are set for Brands Hatch on 2/3 April. The series is Britain’s official version of the FIA’s Formula 4 concept and was introduced last season as a supporting series on the live-televised British Touring Car Championship package.