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Ticktum chases superlicence points in Asian F3 Winter Series

Red Bull junior Dan Ticktum will contest the Asian F3 Winter series which kicks off next weekend in a bid to collect the remaining points necessary to secure his F1 superlicence.

The 19-year-old young driver, who won last year's Macau Grand Prix for the second time running, tried through his 2018 results to put himself in contention for a seat with Toro Rosso.

Toro Rosso's Albon forced to beg DAMS for race seat in 2018

Ultimately however, Ticktum failed to reach the minimum threshold tally that would have made him eligible for the precious F1 pass.

"I’m really looking forward to taking part," said Ticktum, who will race in the series with the Hitech outfit.

"The main reason is to get my hands on some superlicence points, but I will benefit from extra track time over the winter at two prestigious circuits, so overall I’m looking forward to getting started."

The F3 Asia Winter Series will take place over three race weekends - at Buriram in Thailand, at Sepang in Malaysia on January 18-20, and again at Sepang on February 22-24.

Each race will deliver 10 superlicence points to its winner, with Ticktum therefore needing just one win to reach the required total.

The young Brit's quest for points will likely keep Toro Rosso's line-up of Daniil Kvyat and Alex Albon on alert, knowing that they could be vulnerable to a replacement if they under-perform with Ticktum waiting in the wings.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.