The American-Spanish driver makes the step up from the Euroformula Open Championship iꦗnto F3.

Benavides scored ꦍpoints in eight of the final nine races of the seaso✤n having joined the series midway through 2021.

His switch to EuroFormula was after a disappoꦚinting spell ꦉin Formula Regional European Championship, with no points in 10 races.

The 20-year-old will team up with fellow ro🎃okie and Williams F1 𓄧academy driver Zak O’Sullivan.

The Florida-born driver tested for t𝓰he team in days one and three of the post-se♓ason Valencia test.

“I’ve been a die-hard fan of racing my whole life, and🙈 I now have in my hands the greatest opportunity I’ve ever had,” Benavides said. “I feel like, at the same time, my greatest achievements are closer than ever. I am going to give my maximum effort this season and make it one t𓃲o be proud of.”

Team owner Trevor Carlin added: “Brad is still a very young driver at the start of his career. Making the step ☂up to FIA F3 in on𒊎ly his second season in Europe will be a big learning curve but Brad has a fantastic attitude both in and out of the car.

“We’re delighted he has chosen to ✃stay with th🐼e team for this next step in his career and we can’t wait to get started with testing later next month in Bahrain.”

The new F3 season gets underway alongside F꧃ormula 1𝓰 and Formula 2 in Bahrain next month on March 18-20.