Hugh Barter to miss FIA Formula 3 finale at Monza, Swiss Josh Dufek in at Campos

Australian driver Hugh Barter will miss the final round of the 2023 FIA Formula 3 championship as team Campos Racing brings in Swiss driver Josh Dufek.

Hugh Barter will miss the FIA Formula 3 finale at Monza. (Joe Portlock / Formula Motorsport Limited / Getty Images)

Barter joined the team as a rookie for the 2023 season alongside teammates Christian Mansell and Pepe Martí, with the Spaniard taking victory in the first race of the season and establishing himself as a points contender.

Mansell, also Australian, came into the points in the third round and has established himself as a regular points finisher in the latter half of the season.

Meanwhile, Barter came to Formula 3 after brilliant seasons in both the French and Spanish Formula 4 series, but struggled with mistakes and misfortune in the congested Formula 3 grid at the start of the season. He has found his form in recent weeks, with three finishes in the points and a team-best result in the Spanish sprint race.

Barter misses the final round under rumours of budget issues, with no certainty of a return for the FIA Formula 3 World Cup in Macau in November or next year’s FIA Formula 3 season.

His replacement, Swiss driver Josh Dufek, has completed simulator work with the Spanish team to prepare for the final round of the 2023 season, and will get his first taste of the Dallara F3 machinery on Friday in free practice.

The 19-year-old has raced most recently in the 2022 Formula Regional European Championship after stints in the Spanish, German, and Italian Formula 4 series.

“I would like to warmly welcome Josh at Campos Racing because we have closely followed his racing career,” said team principal Adrián Campos.

“This said, it is such a shame that Hugh wasn’t able to complete the full-season because he was making very remarkable progress. We would like to wish him the very best for the future in motorsports.”

“We will support Josh with all our strength and our goal will be to give him a competitive car to make a successful debut in the ultra-competitive FIA F3 championship.”

Dufek says he is thrilled to work with the new team and embrace the challenge of the new machinery.

“As I’ve only competed in FRECA up until now, it’ll be a bit of a jump into cold water but after a long summer break, I really couldn’t be more excited to hit the track and it’ll be nice to experience some more speed and power from the F3 machine.”

Watch every race of the FIA Formula 3 season on Kayo Sports.