A New Zealand car manufacturer has bought into a Formula 2 outfit.
Rodin Cars, based near Mt Lyford in the South Island, is now the majority shareholder of UK-based Carlin Motorsport.
Trevor and Stephanie Carlin will continue to lead the racing team, which will race under the new name of Rodin Carlin.
Rodin Cars founder David Dicker said Carlin Motorsport and Rodin Cars shared the same passion for fast race cars.
"Trevor Carlin and I have an obsession with performance and competition that will cement the place of the new Rodin Carlin team at the front in the coming seasons," he said.
UK-based team Carlin has been a force in junior motorsport since its inception in 1999.
In race programmes in championships such as F4, F3, F2, Indy Lights, INDYCAR, ELMS and Asian Le Man Series, the team has claimed over 470 race victories and 30 championship titles, and has helped promote over 30 drivers to F1.
Last year, Rodin Cars sponsored Carlin F2 and F4 race winners and young New Zealanders Liam Lawson and Louis Sharp.
"We’ve been really impressed during the past season with Carlin and the success [they] have enjoyed. We have seen first-hand what the team can achieve, and we’re excited about building on this incredible platform," Dicker said.
He hoped Rodin Carlin would provide more opportunities for young New Zealand drivers to work their way up to the top level.
"Liam and Louis have shown what can be achieved driving with Carlin. If they’ve got the talent, I am sure there will be more young Kiwi drivers who will follow in their footsteps and drive at the top level for Rodin Carlin."
Focusing on the FIA ladder of F4 British Championship, FIA F3 and FIA F2 along with the British GB3 Championship, Rodin Carlin will expand in 2023 to incorporate F1 Academy and Spanish F4.
The team will compete in several championships across the junior motorsport ladder.
