Charouz Racing System

Charouz Racing System (CHRS, also was known as Lotus in World Series Formula V8 3.5) is a racing team from Czech Republic, created in 1985 by Antonín Charouz[cs].

History

In the 1980s, Charouz participated in the European Championship of Circuit Races' 1600 cc division in a Toyota Corolla. By 1992, they prepared cars for a special cup series for Ford Fiestas, Escort RS 2000s and Pumas.

Since 1998, Charouz has competed in the European Rally Championship, Slovak Championship and European Zone series.

When the A1 Grand Prix series debuted in 2005, Charouz managed the A1 Team Czech Republic. The team later took over management duties for A1 Team Brazil.

New for 2007 was the entrance into endurance racing with the Le Mans Series. Competing with a Lola-Judd prototype, the team finished the year fifth in their class championship, including a second-place finish at Valencia. For 2008 the team entered a cooperation with Aston Martin Racing and Prodrive, running a new Lola B08/60 coupe in the Le Mans Series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The B07/17 from 2007 was entered at Le Mans under the Charouz banner, but the car was run by Greg Pickett's Team Cytosport with help from Sam Hignett's Jota Sport, the same organization who prepared this car for Charouz in 2007.

In 2010 Charouz ran four cars in the Auto GP series.

In 2018, following the collapse of the World Series Formula V8 3.5, Charouz joined the FIA Formula 2 Championship, fielding Antonio Fuoco and Louis Delétraz, and collaborated with Ralf Schumacher's US Racing outfit in the ADAC Formula 4 championship. This saw the team claim two wins from Fuoco in Formula 2, including a double podium at the sprint race in Monaco, to finish sixth in the constructors' standings while claiming both the ADAC Formula 4 drivers' and constructors' titles with Lirim Zendeli.

In November 2018, it was announced that Charouz would serve as a junior team to the Sauber Formula One team from 2019 onwards. For 2019, the team expanded into the newly created FIA Formula 3 Championship, while continuing its collaboration with US Racing in ADAC Formula 4.

In December 2019, after a season competing as the Sauber Junior Team, Charouz revealed that it would revert to its former name for 2020. Louis Delétraz and Pedro Piquet were the first drivers to be announced for the squad. Both drove for the Charouz Racing System in its third consecutive season in the FIA Formula 2 Championship.

For the 2021 season of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, Charouz initially ran with a lineup consisting of German David Beckmann and Brazilian Guilherme Samaia, with former Formula 3 driver Enzo Fittipaldi replacing David starting at the round in Monza. Logan Sargeant would take Charouz's lone victory in FIA Formula 3 that year, helping the team to 5th in the constructor's championship.

Fittipaldi would continue for 2022, partnering Cem Bölükbaşı at the start of the season. Their Formula 3 team ran 8 different drivers throughout the season, and finished 10th in the championship, with Francesco Pizzi scoring the team's solitary point.

In 2023, German team PHM Racing took over the assets of the Charouz F2 and F3 teams, racing under the moniker PHM Racing by Charouz.

From the 2024 season onwards, the F2 and F3 teams were fully rebranded to PHM AIX Racing, and then to AIX Racing, after an acquisition from the AIX Investment Group.

Former series results

FIA Formula 2 Championship

In detail

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

FIA Formula 3 Championship

In detail

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Formula 3000

A1 Grand Prix

F3000 International Masters

24 Hours of Le Mans

Le Mans Series

Formula Renault 3.5 Series

World Series Formula V8 3.5

Auto GP

ADAC Formula 4

Formula 4 UAE Championship

Timeline

Notes

External links