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Eurocup champion Aitken considering F3.5, GP3 for 2016

Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion Jack Aitken could be on the move to Formula 3.5 V8 or GP3 in 2016, having confirmed he will test in both categories before the end of the year.

2015 champion Jack Aitken

2015 champion Jack Aitken

DPPI

Winner Jack Aitken
Podium: winner Jack Aitken, second place Kevin Jörg, third place Ignazio D'Agosto
Jack Aitken, Fortec Motorsports
Jack Aitken, Fortec Motorsports
Jack Aitken, Fortec Motorsports
Jack Aitken, Carlin
Jack Aitken, Carlin
Jack Aitken
Jack Aitken

The 20-year-old, who clinched both the Eurocup title and the FR2.0 Alps crown in October, has already taken part in the two days of F3.5 post-season testing and confirmed he will be at Motorland for the next text as well.

In addition, Aitken will also be in Abu Dhabi for the GP3 post-season running after that championship concludes in late November.

Having spent the first three years of his career with Fortec Motorsports, Aitken was back with the team for the first day of 3.5 testing at Jerez, ending both the morning and afternoon sessions within the top four before switching to Arden for the second day.

"I know both of the teams very well, it seemed natural to give both of them a try, and I was very happy after the test," Aitken told Motorsport.com.

"We had a few challenges and different approaches, but all good experience."

Despite all the preparation, Aitken is yet to commit to the re-branded Formula 3.5 V8 championship and his gradutation could be complicated by doubts surrounding the 500.000€ prize money that he is set to receive for his Eurocup success.

"Certainly [Formula 3.5 V8] is an option, although the situation is slightly different to the past years as Renault is pulling out," said Aitken, who could be the first Eurocup champion not to graduate to the 3.5-litre category since 2008 champion Valtteri Bottas.

"The prize money will be given in some form or another but we and Renault haven't fully decided how it's going to work."

Tumultuous season

Aitken kicked off his 2015 campaign as one of the favourites for the Eurocup title but a slow start to the season left him with a massive deficit of 65 points in the standings.

He also sustained a back injury in the Alps round at Monza in June and looked all but out of contention.

"We looked at the title as a long shot and there were definitely people saying it couldn't be done, which was understandable," he said.

"I didn't think about it too much and just went out there to get on the top step as often as possible."

After the summer break, he finished all but one race inside the top six after the summer break and scored four Eurocup wins - enough to give him a third 2015 title in addition to the Alps crown and the off-season Pro Mazda Winterfest title in the United States.

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