Jack Harvey gets to grips with life in France in bid to achieve Formula 1 dream

Jack Harvey admits to having a tough time since he moved to France, but insists any hardship will be worth it to reach his ultimate dream of racing in Formula 1.

The reigning Formula 3 champion, who has moved up to GP3 this season with the ART Grand Prix team, has left his Bassingham home to live close to the team's base in Villeneuve-La-Guyard, just south of Paris.

But the Lincolnshire racing driver, who is due to celebrate his 20th birthday next month, says living away from his family has been tougher than he expected.

"I have gone through a big change in my life and now live in France," said Harvey.

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"It can be tough, I am a homely person and I like having my family around me.

"I have never lived away from home before. The first week here was a massive reality check.

"But my family have been over and I am planning to go back home for a visit next month.

"I guess if I really started not to enjoy it I would have to look at it again, but at the moment I am okay."

The former Lincoln Minster student has already had a taste of life in a GP3 car following the first official test at Estoril last month.

Harvey admitted to having a nightmare start on the opening day, but by the end of the three-day test, he was "massively encouraged" by the team's progress.

"The first two days of testing were a bit of a disaster," said Harvey.

"Not just for me but for the team. But we made some real progress in the end. We had great pace with the car and we were running at P2 or P3 at one point.

"I learned a bit about the team and they learned a bit about me. They seemed to trust the feedback I was giving them about the car.

"Hopefully we have got most of the problems out of the way and we can improve again when we next test. I am massively encouraged."

Harvey will get another chance to test the new car next week when the GP3 bandwagon moves to Barcelona for the second of this season's official tests.

"The car is hugely different to the Formula 3 car. If the first test session told me anything it was that this is a massive step up.

"The Formula 3 car was producing around 225 horse power, whereas the GP3 car is pushing out just over 400 horse power.

"But I felt really comfortable in the car almost immediately.

"We have to be aiming to win the title.

"I can't see any other way to approach this season. That's why we are here, to win the championship."