Dean Smith will join British race team Carlin for the 2010 GP3 season. The 2009 Formula Renault 2.0 UK champion will race with Carlin thanks to financial backing from the Racing Steps Foundation and Tomax driver management company. The British racer is the first driver to be announced in Carlin's GP3 line-up.

Smith enjoyed a stunning season in 2009; winning the Formula Renault 2.0 UK crown following seven race wins, 15 podiums and seven pole positions. His performance in Formula Renault led to his nomination as a finalist in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award which he went on to win following assessments in Formula 3 and BTCC cars, physical tests and a lengthy interview process.

Joining Carlin at the second official GP3 test at Paul Ricard last week, Smith was seventh quickest on his first ever flying lap in the car and finished the final day of testing eighth quickest overall.

Speaking about the season ahead, Smith said: "I'm so excited about GP3 and very thankful to the RSF, Tomax and Carlin for making this opportunity possible for me. To be involved in a new championship such as GP3 is extremely exciting and I'm sure with Carlin I will have the package to enable me to challenge the front runners. My test at Paul Ricard last week went very well and I'm confident that this is the right place to be at this point in my career. I'll be working hard to repay the faith that everyone has shown in me this season."

Carlin's racing director Trevor Carlin added, "We've been watching Dean's progress for some time and have been in touch with him since the end of the 2009 season. Dean confirmed our belief in him with a very strong test at Paul Ricard last week, despite it being his first experience of the GP3 car. I've no doubt that we have a race winner within the team now, and I'm very excited about Dean's potential for the season ahead. We are extremely grateful to Graham Sharp, the Racing Steps Foundation and Tomax in helping us put Dean in our GP3 car this season"

RSF racing ambassador John Surtees is also a supporter of Smith adding, "It would have been a travesty if a driver with Dean's talent had been without a drive this season and I'm delighted that the Racing Steps Foundation and Tomax have been able to come together to make this possible. Dean's position as an under-funded but talented British driver is the reason for the Racing Steps Foundation's existence. The fact that the RSF have been able to step in and make this possible for Dean is a testament to the work that the Foundation continues to do in British motorsport and in Carlin, Dean has a team with which he can win."

Andy Constable of Tomax added, "I'm delighted to have Dean join the driver line-up managed by Tomax. We've been watching him for some time and believe we can work together to develop another great British racing driver."

The final GP3 pre-season test will take place from 13 – 14 April ahead of the season opener on 8 May in Barcelona.