Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Elite Motorsport, Fox Motorsport and Hillspeed have added to their 2026 GB4 line-ups.

Belgium-based Venezuelan racer Emmilio Valentino Del Grosso has been signed by Elite, and the 16-year-old steps up to GB4 from entry-level sportscar series Ginetta Junior where he also raced for the team. He came 18th in the standings there last year as a car racing rookie, with a best finish of seventh.

Ginetta Junior runner-up Fred Green is also moving across from Elite’s sportscar squad to its GB4 counterpart, and the USF Juniors-experienced Matan Achituv is another of the team’s drivers for 2026.

Jasser Iskander and Enzo Rujugiro, both 15, will be joining Fox for their single-seater racing debuts. Iskander is the reigning champion of IAME Series Saudi Arabia’s X30 Junior class, a feat he achieved in his second year of karting. He did tests in GB4 cars later in 2025, and is aiming for podiums from his rookie campaign in the championship.

Rujugiro put his focus into car tests through 2025, but did not sample a GB4 chassis until this week when he first worked on track with Fox at Snetterton. The South African had raced in junior karting from the end of 2022 through to 2024, with 13th in the 2022 LeCont Trophy (in the OK Junior class) being his best result on the international scence. He also came 21st in the 2024 WSK Champions Cup in the OK-N Junior class.

Hillspeed has brought in American duo Demitri Nolan and Connor Willis. The 21-year-old Nolan came 10th in the Ligier Junior Formula Championship on home soil two years ago as a single-seater rookie, then switched from first to second-generation Formula 4 chassis in 2025 by racing in United States F4. He came sixth with two podiums, but was last of the full-timers in a depleted field.

Willis knows the tracks visited by GB4 well, having spent the last two years racing in United Formula Ford. In 2024 he was 14th in the standings, and made the final of Formula Ford 1600’s illustrious Walter Hayes Trophy event at Silverstone.

He improved to seventh in United FFord’s points table last year, and at the FFord Festival made the podium in his heat and was ninth in the final. Recovery drives were required at the WHT, where Willis won the last chance race and charged from 29th to 10th in the final.

Hillspeed has done a propert winter testing programme with Willis to prepare him for the switch from FFord to slicks-and-wings cars.

The post Elite Motorsport, Fox Motorsport and Hillspeed add to GB4 line-ups appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

GB4 enters a new era this weekend at Donington Park, with its updated car attracting a record 25-strong grid

Since its creation in 2022, GB4 has used Tatuus’s first-generation Formula 4 car from 2014 to provide drivers with a more affordable route into single-seaters compared to other F4 championships, but grid numbers have been modest.

Entries have almost doubled in number this year, thanks to the introduction of the halo-shod Tatuus MSV GB4-025 car. It’s a modified version of parent series GB3’s outgoing chassis, and has spiked interest to where GB4 is now rivalling British F4.

The car has been detuned to F4 specification, meaning less horsepower and more simplified aero, and the side-mounted air intake has been removed. Its limited slip differential and two-litre normally-aspirated engine are different from the outgoing machine, and teams and drivers believe this gives them a more ‘raceable’ car.

“It’s cost-effective,” says Wayne Douglas, whose Douglas Motorsport outfit has entered GB4 for the first time after winning multiple races in GB3. “It’s nothing against the turbo engine, but you definitely have equalisation [without it] just because there’s less stuff to control. It’s a great little package, ideal for the kids, there’s a few more set-up changes than [other] F4 cars so they learn a little bit. The concept is the same, roughly the same weight, same horsepower, so it’s an equal car.”

There is again a seven-event calendar, with three races per weekend. There is a change to the format of race three at each event, as the top 12 from qualifying will be reversed to form the grid. Previously a fully-reversed grid was used. The season starts and concludes at Donington Park, with the other rounds at Oulton Park, Snetterton, Brands Hatch and Silverstone. The full Grand Prix layout will be used at the last two, and Silverstone will be visited twice.

This year’s champion will receive a £50,000 prize, qualifying on pole earns a driver £125 and a further £1,000 will go to the driver who accumulates the most poles. The highest-placed female driver in the points table will be awarded a €50,000 contribution (an increase from 2024’s fund of €30,000) towards a 2026 F1 Academy drive.

Photo: GB4

Of the 28 seats available, 25 have been filled for this weekend’s season opener at Donington Park where one second covered the top 20 in pre-event testing. Who are the favourites amongst the stacked grid at the East Midlands venue this weekend?

ADM

Founded by former Arden GB3 team manager Gary Ward, the Brackley-based outfit [pictured above] is expanding into GB4 after previously running classic Formula 3 and Formula Ford 1600 cars.

59. Jason Pribyl USA, 19
2024:2nd in United FFord, 19th in FFord Festival, 19th in Walter Hayes Trophy

The American shone in his first year racing in the UK by coming second in United FFord championship with two victories and three other podiums. He was also 19th in both of FFord’s marquee events: the FFord Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy. He only appeared in half of GB4’s pre-season test days, so may face an early learning curve early adapting to slicks-and-wings.

Arden

Having competed at every tier of single-seaters bar the top one, Arden fields a two-car line-up at the entry level this year.

5. Ava Dobson USA, 16
2024: 17th in GB4, 31st in USF Juniors

After competing in three different championships in her homeland in 2023, Dobson’s 2024 campaign in USF Juniors was cut short after being injured in a high-speed collision at Barber Motorsports Park. She was back behind the wheel later in the year in GB4 for her UK racing debut, and she now returns to the series for her first full season.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

27. Leon Wilson England, 17
2024: 10th in GB4

Wilson has come through the ranks at Arden, having been part of its Young Racing Driver Academy prior to moving into car racing with the team in GB4 last year. He took a podium and two fastest laps, and will be looking to build on that this term.

Douglas Motorsport

The race-winning GB3 outfit is embarking on a slightly different challenge in GB4 and is committing to it with three cars.

7. Enzo Hallman Sweden, 17
2024: 2nd in FNordic, 3rd in NXT Gen Cup

A promising rookie single-seater campaign in Formula Nordic, where he was runner-up in the points with five victories despite missing the first two rounds, helped him win the prestigious Ronnie Peterson Memorial Foundation scholarship in his homeland. While he hasn’t got as much testing mileage under his belt as others, he could be one to watch.

28. Dayton Coulthard Scotland, 16
2024: Karting

One of three sons of ex-Formula 1 drivers in GB4, Coulthard makes his car racing debut as a graduate of the UK’s kart scene.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

32. Luke Hilton England, 17
2024: 5th in Radical Cup UK, 7th in Gulf Radical Cup

Although he is new to single-seaters, Hilton already has three years of car racing experience behind him. He won multiple races in the BRSCC’s Ford Fiesta Junior championship, as well as in Radical sportscars in both the UK and United Arab Emirates. His test-topping form at Silverstone last month suggests he will be a victory contender.

Elite Motorsport

The front-running team that steered Alisha Palmowski to championship runner-up spot in 2024 look set to be in good shape again this season with a strong three-car line-up.

35. Isaac Phelps England, 15
2024: 5th in Ginetta Junior, Ginetta Junior Winter Series champion

Showed promise upon graduating from karting last year with five wins across Ginetta Junior’s main and winter series, and he took the title in the latter. Having topped GB4’s first test day with its new car at Silverstone, it looks like he’ll be in the mix.

46. Aryaman Bansal India, 15
2024: 14th in FTrophy UAE, NC in Spanish F4

The Bangalorean is relatively new to car racing, having made his debut at the 2024 Spanish F4 finale and then contested the UAE’s two-round Formula Trophy for F4 cars. Prior to that he spent two years competing in British Karting Championship events, and has looked close to the pace straight away in a GB4 car.

Photo: GB4

51. Alexandros Kattoulas Japan/Greece, 19
2024: 32nd in GB3

Has plenty of pedigree from his karting career, where he competed against three of this year’s F1 rookies. He stepped away from racing at the end of 2018 before returning to make his debut in cars at Donington Park last year in GB3. Kattoulas is another likely victory contender in GB4, having topped eight pre-season test sessions.

Fortec Motorsports

Linus Granfors added another title to Fortec’s long list of single-seater honours by becoming 2024 GB4 champion, and this season there is a mixture of experience among its drivers.

8. Thomas Ingram Hill England, 15
2024: 11th in Ginetta Junior

Making his single-seater debut this weekend, having started out in karting and scored nine top-10 finishes during his rookie car racing campaign in Ginetta Junior last year.

23. Luca Magnussen Denmark, 15
2024: Karting

The third member of the Magnussen family to be embarking on a British single-seater campaign, the son of 1994 British F3 champion-turned sportscar ace Jan faces a learning curve this season as he graduates from karting.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

50. Jack Taylor Australia
2024: 9th in GB4   2023: 8th in GB4

The Tasmanian teenager started his car racing career in Indian F4 at the end of 2023, and scored his maiden single-seater podium in GB4 last season. He will be aiming to add to that podium tally by remaining with Fortec for his second campaign.

Fox Motorsport

The successful sportscar outfit continues in GB4 for its third year in single-seaters with an all-female line-up.

48. Holly Miall England, 17
2024: 22nd in Ginetta Junior   2023: 15th in Ginetta Junior

Making her single-seater debut after two years racing for the team in Ginetta Junior.

88. Caitlyn McDaniel USA, 17
2024: Karting

The Britain-based teenager has joined GB4 for her car racing debut at late notice after taking part in pre-season testing.

Graham Brunton Racing

The Knockhill-based squad will again run an all-Canadian driver line-up while expanding its assault to three cars.

Photo: GB4

44. Mayer Deonarine Canada, 16
2024: 15th in GB4, Radical Cup North America

Competed with GBR in the first three rounds of 2024 before switching his focus to the Radical Cup North America, where he scored multiple wins in the 1340 class, including a triple triumph at his home event on the streets of Toronto. Returning to GB4 for a full season in 2025, he is aiming to be frontrunner this time around.

45. Callum Baxter Canada, 18
2024: 7th in GB4, 11th FFord Festival

Remains with GBR for his sophomore season, having scored two podiums and also raced for the team at the FFord Festival as a Team Canada scholar in 2024. Prior to that he was Toyo Tires F1600 championship runner-up in Canada, winning on the F1 support bill in Montreal.

98. Alex Berg Canada, 18
2024: 14th in British F4

The son of 1986 Osella F1 driver Allen Berg has also represented GBR and the Team Canada Scholarship in FFord, reaching the final at both the FFord Festival and WHT in 2023. Last year he headed to slicks-and-wings via British F4 and scored one win, and that experience should stand him in good stead despite his lack of pre-season testing in GB4’s new car.

Hillspeed

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Having made a name for itself in GB3, Hillspeed is returning to GB4 after being a title contender in the inaugural season.

49. Daniel Guinchard England, 18

The former Mercedes-AMG F1 junior is making a welcome return to racing, having last competed in 2023 when he drove in British F4. Budget issues meant an early end to that campaign, and he was a race-winner in the championship the year before. His experience should make him a victory contender in GB4 despite limited pre-season running.

77. Leandro Juncos USA/Argentina, 19
2024: 19th in USF Juniors

He only began racing last year, and chose IndyCar feeder series USF Juniors for his first steps. He did four rounds and netted a best result of fourth at Barber. Since then he has driven in GB3 testing with Chris Dittmann Racing, before deciding to race in GB4. Has also worked as an assistant engineer for his father’s IndyCar team Juncos Hollinger Racing.

KMR Sport

Kevin Mills’s reigning three-time champion team will want further success, but with origins in FFord this new car leaves more to learn for the team than rivals with experience of higher categories.

3. Alex O’Grady Ireland, 16
2024: 12th in French F4

Took two podium finishes in French F4 as a rookie fresh from karting. Will be hoping to run at the sharp end of the field despite less pre-season testing than his team-mates.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

9. Megan Bruce England, 20
2024: 11th in GB4, 11th in Caterham 270R championship

Has switched from Fox for her sophomore campaign, having scored a best result of sixth as a rookie while also shining with multiple podium finishes in Caterham sportscars. Her testing form pre-season suggests she is set for improved results in 2025, and is also one of the leading contenders for the F1 Academy prize.

15. Lily-May Watkins England, 17
2024: Karting

One of the most inexperienced drivers on the grid having mainly competed in indoor karting until now. Her time spent in the YRDA and a full GB4 testing programme over winter in both last year’s car and the new machine have helped her make significant progress ahead of her car racing debut.

Pace Performance

The Ginetta Junior outfit is expanding into GB4 this year, and has had help behind the wheel from F2 race-winner and current Super Formula racer Zak O’Sullivan in testing as it prepares to tackle single-seater racing for the first time.

17. Stefan Bostandjiev Bulgaria, 20
2024: Italian GT Sprint Championship, 7th in Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe – Pro

The Iron Lynx sports car racer has chosen to switch disciplines, and like his team is making his open-wheel debut this weekend. He will compete part-time in GB4 this season alongside a full GB3 campaign with Fortec Motorsports.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

76. Josh McLean England, 20
2024: Ginetta GT Championship

After bringing a decorated karting career to a halt in 2019, McLean is making a full-time return to racing in GB4, where he will make his single-seater debut. He already has three car racing starts under his belt, having scored a best result of sixth during a cameo in the Ginetta GT Championship at Donington Park last year.

Rossoverde Scorpio Racing

Rossoverde Racing, which has competed part-time in GB4 since its inception, has joined forces with one-time GB4 entrant Scorpio Motorsport for a full-time assault.

64. Neirin Evans Wales, 16
2024: Karting

The Welsh teenager heads to cars after three years in karting, and is a member of the YRDA.

The post GB4 2025 season preview: a guide to the series’ biggest grid yet appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Elite Motorsport’s Alex Kattoulas continued his strong pre-season form in GB4 with the quickest time at Donington Park in pre-event testing for the opening round of 2025.

His 1m28.098s set on Thursday morning was unopposed for the remainder of the two-day test, leaving him 0.1 seconds clear of team-mate Isaac Phelps. Five different drivers topped sessions, and a second covered the top 20 on pace.

Kattoulas and Fortec Motorsports’ Thomas Ingra, Hill traded fastest laps for most of Thursday’s opening session. Ingram Hill led at the halfway stage with a 1m28.475s, and he improved by 0.18s with five minutes remaining, but it was Kattoulas who ended up quickest by 0.2s by posting what would prove to be his test-topping time in the final minute.

Elite’s Ary Bansal edged Douglas Motorsport’s Luke Hilton and Hillspeed’s Daniel Guinchard to third, while Bansal’s team-mate Isaac Phelps was 0.5s shy of the pace in sixth.

Fortec’s Jack Taylor was pipped to first place in session two by Bansal, who improved on his personal best with a 1m28.340s. Fox Motorsport’s Holly Miall caused a late red flag period by sliding into the gravel at Coppice, with only three cars venturing out once green flags returned with less than a minute left on the clock.

Bansal led Taylor once more when ADM’s Jason Pribyl halted session three at the halfway stage, with the action resuming inside the final 10 minutes. Phelps eclipsed Bansal by 0.037s late on with a new personal best, and then improved by a further 0.2s to finish on top with a 1m28.201s. Kattoulas climbed to second ahead of Bansal and Taylor.

Ingram Hill and Bansal exchanged quickest times in the opening 10 minutes of session four on Friday, but it was Guinchard who was fastest with a 1m28.416s before the session was red-flagged. Not enough time remained after for anybody to improve. Bansal and Wilson were less than 0.07s behind Guinchard and one second split the top 15.

Hillspeed’s Leandro Juncos led session five when KMR Sport’s Lily Watkins brought out red flags just past the halfway mark. Following the restart, Taylor snatched top spot by 0.1s with a 1m28.723s then the session was red flagged again in the last minute.

Hilton recorded a personal best to in the final session and was on top with eight minutes remaining. Phelps grabbed the advantage five minutes later only to be demoted by Bansal and Guinchard, who both set their best laps of testing.

Bansal was on top at the chequered flag thanks to a 1m28.305s, with 0.094s separating the top four.

Two more drivers have announced deals on the eve of the season, taking round one’s grid up to a record 25 cars. Sportscar convert Stefan Bostandjiev has joined Pace Performance for a partial GB4 campaign alongside his full-time GB3 drive with Fortec, and karting graduate Caitlyn McDaniel will make her car racing debut with Fox Motorsport and is the fifth woman on GB4’s 2025 entry list.

Test results

The post Kattoulas tops GB4’s pre-event Donington test as grid grows to 25 cars appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Hillspeed has made former Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior Daniel Guinchard its first GB4 signing for 2025.

Guinchard has not raced cars since budget issues ended his 2023 British Formula 4 campaign early, despite taking part in GB3’s pre-season testing with Hillspeed earlier this year.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a highly-decorated karting career with Argenti prior to moving into single-seaters, which led to him joining Mercedes. He was twice British junior karting champion as well as claiming the Ultimate Karting Championship, the British Kartmasters Grand Prix on Rotax Junior karts and the British championship for X30 Junior karts.

He continued with Argenti for the transition to British F4 in 2022, taking one victory, five other podiums and ninth in the standings and also contested that year’s Spanish F4 finale. After losing his Mercedes backing, he switched to Chris Dittmann Racing in British F4 last year and was sitting 10th in the standings with three podiums when his season was cut short with four rounds remaining.

“I’m very happy to be racing with Hillspeed next season in GB4 and delighted we’ve agreed a deal this side of Christmas,” said Guinchard. “I’m really looking forward to working with the guys at the team, we got on very well when I tested with Hillspeed previously, and I can’t wait now to drive the 2025 specification GB4 car.

“When I drove the car as it was in GB3 it was outstanding, a real pleasure to drive and a car with great performance, so I’m looking forward to a good season – it’s great to be back in cars for next year.”

Hillspeed is planning to run three cars for its GB4 return next year, having taken two victories in the championship’s inaugural season in 2022.

“Dan tested with us in the GB3 car during the pre-season for last season and it went very well indeed, but because it was quite late in the day he wasn’t able to put the budget together for GB3,” said Hillspeed’s team principal Richard Ollerenshaw. “We were impressed with his performances and we quickly developed a great relationship, and now Dan wants to reset and kickstart his racing career in cars.

“With the introduction of the outgoing GB3 car into GB4, we all felt the GB4 Championship will be the perfect place for him to move forward and begin developing his career in cars again– so we’ve quickly put pen to paper for 2025. We’re delighted to close this deal with Dan and very much looking forward to working with him next year.”

Fox Motorsport has also announced its first GB4 driver for 2025, with Holly Miall remaining with the team after two years in Ginetta Junior, finishing 15th in the standings 2022 and 21st this year.

The post Former Mercedes junior Guinchard to make racing return in GB4 appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Fox Motorsport’s Branden Templeton took victory in a shortened GB4 reversed-grid race at Donington Park which finished under red flags.

The final contest of the weekend was reduced to 15 minutes in duration due a torrential rain shower earlier in the day which caused a delay to the schedule.

Conditions were dry for the start, with all drivers fitting slick tyres, and Graham Brunton Racing’s Mayer Deonarine lined up from reversed-grid pole.

The Canadian led into turn one ahead of Templeton who climbed from fifth on the grid to second. Jack Taylor held third for Fortec Motorsports ahead of GBR’s Callum Baxter who made up four places, while Elite Motorsport’s Alisha Palmowski moved up from ninth on the grid to fifth by the start of lap two.

Templeton took the lead on the second lap, built a two-second lead by the end of lap three, and continued to pull clear while a three-way battle raged for second. He eventually won by 7.7 seconds after the race was ended prematurely due to KMR Sport’s Chloe Grant becoming beached in the Macleans gravel trap.

Having both made their way past Taylor in the early stages, Baxter and Palmowski soon caught Deonarine. Palmowski made a couple attempts on the outside at Melbourne hairpin and Redgate to take third away from Baxter, who then capitalised on a slow exit from his pursuer at Macleans to build a small gap.

Baxter snatched second from his team-mate Deonarine two corners later at Fogarty. Palmowski then went wheel-to-wheel with Deonarine through Melbourne and Goddards before taking third on the run to Redgate, with the red flags bringing an end to the trio’s squabble.

Taylor finished a further couple of seconds adrift in fourth, while Brandon McCaughan prevailed in a frenetic battle for sixth, having battled his way from 14th on the grid and survived an airborne moment on the grass at Old Hairpin.

KMR’s Harry Burgoyne Jr, Fox’s Liam McNeilly and Fortec duo Linus Granfors and Dan Hickey were all less than one second behind McCaughan, with points leader Granfors struggling to make his way through the field from the back of the grid and losing time on the grass at Redgate at one stage.

Elite’s Finn Harrison recovered from a grid stall to finish 11th ahead of privateer Marcus Luzio.

Race result (7 laps)

The post Templeton takes maiden GB4 win in red-flagged race three at Donington appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Liam McNeilly was going fastest in USF Juniors’ Mid-Ohio test on Thursday as it was announced he will return to racing on the other side of the Atlantic next weekend.

The 18-year-old came third in Britain’s Formula 4-spec GB4 series last year with Fox Motorsport, taking two wins and eight other podiums.

He then did some tests in the USA before deciding to relocate his career there by joining Jay Howard Driver Development in USF Juniors. After round two of the season he sits third in the standings with a win, two other podiums and two poles.

Before round three, McNeilly will reunite with Fox Motorsport in GB4 to race at Donington Park.

“My next USF Juniors race isn’t until the middle of June, so the chance to get back behind the wheel in racing conditions was just too good to miss,” said the 18-year-old, a protege of former IndyCar star James Hinchcliffe.

“Donington’s a great track and I’ve had some of my best wins in both GB4 and Ginetta [Junior] there. Helping the Fox drivers this year has been a new experience for me and one I’ve enjoyed, but nothing beats racing so I’ll be aiming for the podium at the very least and trying to have as much fun as I can.”

USF Juniors scheduled in a two-day test in the big gap between race events, but the action at Mid-Ohio this Wednesday was disrupted by heavy rain. There were 12 drivers on track for the opening session, but only five actually set laptimes. McNeilly’s 1m44.9313s put him 2.0382 seconds ahead of team-mate Timothy Carel, with Zanella Racing’s Leonardo Escorpioni almost six seconds behind in third.

The field grew to 13 cars for session two, and McNeilly improved to 1m40.4451s. His advantage was reduced to 1.0764s by Velocity Racing Development’s Sebastian Wheldon, whose team-mate Max Taylor was 0.1547s slower than him in third. Session three was cancelled due to the weather.

Laptimes were 12s faster in session four on Thursday morning, and it was a lot more competitive as 18 drivers made use of a dry track. McNeilly set a 1m27.5871s to be quickest, and Wheldon was his closest rival once more, 0.1763s behind.

DEForce Racing’s drivers filled the next five positions, with Jeshua Alianell 0.3469s off top spot in third. There were nine drivers who were within a second of McNeilly. Carel did not set a laptime, and his team-mate Hudson Potter and Zanella’s Diego Guiot were absent.

Wheldon lowered the pace by 1.5451s in session five, leading McNeilly by 0.429s. VRD’s Christian Cameron, DEForce’s Bruno Ribeiro and Exclusive Autosport’s Jack Jeffers were the only other drivers among the 17 on track (although Taylor did not complete a lap once he headed out) within a second of him.

McNeilly returned to first place in session six, topping the test with a 1m25.058s. Wheldon and Ribeiro were 0.268s and 0.2888s behind, with Taylor and International Motorsport’s Augusto Soto-Schirripa trailing by 0.7386s and 0.8014s in fourth and fifth.

Test results

The post Liam McNeilly quickest in USF Juniors test as GB4 return is announced appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

JHR Developments’ John Bennett was quickest in GB3’s two-day pre-season test at Oulton Park.

Bennett topped Wednesday’s final two sessions, with his pacesetting lap of 1m28.569s coming as the test drew to a close.

McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu, making a surprise appearance with Rodin Motorsport as he will be racing in Formula Regional European Championship with Prema this year, was the only other driver to record a sub-1m29s lap.

Ugochukwu led Hitech GP’s Will Macintyre during a damp opening session on Tuesday with a 1m35.836s. Bennett lowered the pace to 1m30.890s in a dry session two before Rodin’s reigning British Formula 4 champion Louis Sharp registered a series of quicker laps to end up ahead of Elite Motorsport’s Jarrod Waberski and Ugochukwu with a 1m29.616s.

Having topped a slower session three, Sharp led again in session four before Elite’s McKenzy Cresswell posted a 1m29.180s to end the day quickest, while Sharp matched his session two best to pip Waberski to second by 0.008 seconds.

Sharp improved to within 0.011s of Cresswell’s benchmark to top Wednesday’s opening session ahead of Waberski and Ugochukwu. Bennett lowered the pace then was edged by Hitech GP’s Tymek Kucharczyk in session two, but it was Ugockukwu who ended up on top with a 1m28.967s set with 12 minutes remaining.

Cresswell led most of session three before Bennett set a blistering 1m28.732s with four minutes left to be 0.579s clear of Sharp, who was only 0.005s ahead of JHR’s Patrick Heuzenroeder.

Bennett registered an early 1m28.995s in the final session and grew his gap at the top as the chequered flag fell on testing. Ugochukwu was 0.398s behind, with Kucharczyk within 0.5s of Bennett in third and Sharp improving by 0.004s in fourth.

James Hedley was the last driver within a second of Bennett’s time in 12th, having replaced Shawn Rashid at VRD by Arden on day two. Former Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 junior and British F4 racer Daniel Guinchard tested for Douglas Motorsport, while Chris Dittmann Racing ran a third car for Indian F4 racer Rishab Jain.

Alisha Palmowski led an Elite one-two in GB4’s running, setting a 1m35.812s in session seven to be fastest by 0.220s over fellow Ginetta Junior graduate Finn Harrison.

KMR Sport’s Harry Burgoyne Jr topped three of Tuesday’s four sessions, dominating the first two to end the morning over 1.5s quicker than Arden’s Leon Wilson. Harrison lowered the pace in the afternoon to 1m36.825s but Palmowski topped session three with a late 1m36.728s flier. Palmowski went quicker still in session four, but her 1m36.603s benchmark was beaten in the final 10 minutes by Burgoyne by 0.039s.

Burgoyne led again in Wednesday’s first session ahead of Harrison and Palmowski with a lap just 0.030s shy of his day one pace. Palmowski set a new best of 1m36.513s in the next session but Harrison was quickest with a 1m36.032s.

Palmowski lowered the pace on two consecutive laps in the final minutes of the penultimate session to top the test, and was again quickest in the final session. Burgoyne was third overall ahead of Graham Brunton Racing’s Callum Baxter, who only ran on day two. Dan Hickey was fifth, having announced a full-season campaign with Fortec Motorsports following his debut at the 2023 season finale.

Absent from the test was Fox Motorsport, which announced it has signed 17-year-old Branden Templeton for the season ahead. He came 24th in the 2020 IAME Winter Cup and 31st in the 2021 British championship for X30 Junior karts, and on X30 Senior karts came 18th in the 2022 Kartmasters British Grand Prix.

Karting graduate Gracie Mitchell, whose only car racing experience to date is in UK club racing series Fun Cup, tested for KMR on day one.

Test results

The post Bennett fastest in GB3’s Oulton Park test, Palmowski quickest in GB4 appeared first on Formula Scout.

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Arthur Rogeon will switch teams to Rodin Motorsport for his second season in GB3.

The Frenchman drove for Chris Dittmann Racing in GB3 last year, and the single-seater rookie came 21st in the standings with three podiums in reversed-grid races. His move to Rodin comes as a surprise as he signed a two-year deal with CDR.

Rogeon stepped up to GB3 after two years in senior karting, coming 23rd in the Champions of the Future series, 26th in CIK-FIA European championship and 30th in the WSK Euro Series for OK karts in 2022.

“At Rodin Motorsport, they believe in my potential to fight for victory,” the 17-year-old said of his GB3 team switch.

“There’s always a little pressure when tackling such a challenge, but no stress. I’m going to have a winning car so it’s up to me to do my best to make it happen. I know what has to be done; you have to be impeccable in all areas: the speed on the track, the work between sessions, the physical fitness and simulator preparation.

“In short, I will stack all the odds in my favour to compete at the front because that too is what will help me progress.”

Rodin’s GB3 team manager Ricky Taylor added: “Arthur has already shown brilliant potential in the GB3 car and we are looking forward to seeing how he develops with us this year. We believe he is in a brilliant position, knowing a lot of the tracks and the car from 2023 will help him take that next step and eye up race wins.”

In the supporting GB4 series, Fox Motorsport has added Megan Bruce to its line-up. The 19-year-old switches to single-seaters after one season in the Caterham Academy, where she came 10th in the standings for the ‘Green’ group of drivers. The series’ entrants are split into two seperate groups for on-track action due to high competitor interest.

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Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

GB4’s sophomore season was a one-sided affair, with Tom Mills taking an emphatic first single-seater title for his father’s KMR Sport team

That hadn’t looked likely at the start of the year. When Mills shook down the team’s newly-acquired third chassis at the pre-season media day at Donington Park, he didn’t have a full budget to race it. Having topped that test, the 17-year-old entered the opening round at Oulton Park.

As the only second-year driver in the field, he used his experience to take a double pole in qualifying. He lost out on victory in race one following a thrilling dice with team-mate Jeremy Fairbairn, but made amends with a comfortable race two triumph. Despite taking an early championship lead, Mills left the Cheshire venue unsure if he would be on the grid again.

“We really didn’t think we’d be here,” says Mills. “We still didn’t have the budget to go for the next round. It was just thanks to the results [at Oulton] that we managed to piece it together.”

He raised further funds to make round two at Silverstone, which initially proved slightly frustrating, having only been able to convert one of two pole positions into victory due to the opening contest being called off because of heavy rain. He eventually won that rescheduled race next time out at Donington Park before taking two further triumphs to complete a weekend victory hat-trick. 

Mills on his way one of ten wins across the year

With a comfortable points lead, Mills kept receiving help from sponsors and individuals to be able to continue. He was put slightly in the shade by the impressive Cooper Webster at Snetterton, but normal order was restored at round five at Silverstone. Having dominated the first two races, a rain-abandoned third encounter prevented Mills from challenging for a victory clean-sweep. 

“We had such a good start to the year but at Snetterton the momentum went the other way and Cooper was faster than me all weekend,” reflects Mills. “We were worried that if he could carry on doing that all year then he would catch me because there were just as many rounds left, halfway through.

“We knew Silverstone suited us so we knew we should be able to win again there. I knew if I could do what I could early on by getting pole, then it was going to make it much easier by the end of the meeting.”

With the championship finishing line in sight, he took another double victory at Brands Hatch, and a conservative drive to seventh in the reversed-grid race was enough for him to wrap up the crown with a round to spare.

“It means a lot,” Mills reveals. “It’s been a lot of work this year to make sure we had the budget to keep going meeting on meeting.  Coming back for a second year does work, you learn so much in the championship.

Mills clinched the crown with a round to spare at Brands Hatch

“I would suggest to everyone, if they are not quite happy with what they achieved this year, it’s definitely a good idea to stay and go again because of the switch you make and the confidence you gain. 

“I’m much more mature this year. I have taken it in my stride a lot better. I’m glad I’ve been able to make this step, I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to, even after the test day.”

Despite skipping the final round, Mills accumulated 10 victories in total, one more than 2022 GB4 champion Nikolas Taylor managed.

His title success came with a £50,000 prize, to be put towards a GB3 or British Formula 4 drive, and his nine poles across the season netted him a further £1,000 for winning the George Russell Pole Position Cup. But with significant further budget needed to continue on the single-seater ladder, Mills is unsure what his 2024 racing programme will look like. 

“Although £50,000 is a lot of money for any normal person, it’s still not enough to be in GB3,” he says. “I still need a lot more. I’ll do what I can and hopefully it comes off. From a career aspect, GT driving is [looking more realistic] than an F1 drive, so I may have to make a switch. If I’m racing anything I will be thankful.”

Webster had the edge over Mills at Snetterton

Webster shone in his first season of racing in the UK with GB4 debutant Evans GP. Dovetailing his campaign with a third season racing in the S5000 Championship in his homeland, as well as his Red Bull Esport commitments, the Australian turned heads with his pace immediately.

He took a podium finish in each of the first two rounds before finishing second in all four races at Donington Park. He followed that up with his strongest performance of the season at Snetterton, taking a double pole and two victories, climbing from the rear of the field in the reversed-grid race for the second of those wins. 

“It was good to have a whole round where I was the quickest,” he says of his Snetterton performance. “It was a really enjoyable weekend, and to win the reversed-grid race was quite nice.”

He took advantage of Mills’ absence at the Donington season finale to take three more wins, becoming the only driver to record a clean-sweep during the year, and ended the season with 15 podiums and runner-up spot in the standings. Webster then went on to win the Indian F4 title, and next year will race in Eurocup-3. 

“Second in the championship is good,” he concludes. “I’m really proud of how the whole season’s gone, I haven’t made any major mistakes all year, especially the first time on these tracks I’m really happy.”

McNeilly charged through the field for a maiden win at Oulton

Liam McNeilly finished third in championship after stepping up from Ginetta Junior with single-seater newcomer Fox Motorsport. He took a reversed-grid win in the rain at Oulton and added a second race three triumph at Donington Park in May, and finished on the podium on eight other occasions. 

Colin Queen made the step up from the wingless Formula Ford category, with the help of a £20,000 prize for winning the BRSCC National FF1600 shoot-out. Racing for Fortec Motorsports, the 17-year-old American matched McNeilly’s podium haul of 10 en-route to fourth in the points but was unable to take a race victory. He will remain with Fortec in 2024 for the step up to GB3. 

Queen’s team-mate Aditya Kulkarni was the best of the other six drivers that competed for the full season, taking three podiums. The Indian driver finished level on points with 15-year-old Harry Burgoyne Jr, who took a pair of fourth places during a solid rookie year in car racing with Graham Brunton Racing. 

Harri Reynolds (Elite Motorsport) and Kai Daryanani (Evans GP) both took a reversed-grid race win during part-time campaigns. Formula 1 Esports star Lucas Blakeley impressed in his first two slicks-and-wings events with KMR, taking an emotional podium finish at the Donington finale.

VRD were another new team to join the grid in 2024, with Dylan Hotchin and Lexie Belk also racing as privateers. Average grid sizes increased from 11 in GB4’s inaugural season in 2022 to 14 this year, with a new high of 16 cars at the final round. Idola Motorsport and Indian Warriors have confirmed its intentions to join the grid in 2024, where the series will continue to use the first-generation Tatuus F4 chassis for a third term. 

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Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Fox Motorsport’s Liam McNeilly resisted a late charge from Cooper Webster to take his second GB4 victory in the final race of the weekend at Donington Park. 

McNeilly climbed from eighth on the grid to finish 0.432 seconds ahead of Evans GP’s Webster who rose from 11th to take his fourth second place of the weekend.

Graham Brunton Racing’s Harry Burgoyne led the first few laps from reversed-grid pole before Kevin Mills Racing driver Jeremy Fairbairn moved ahead and pulled clear.

Burgoyne fended off a train of cars behind, but his resistance was finally broken at Old Hairpin when he lost out to McNeilly, Aditya Kulkarni and Webster.

McNeilly eradicated a 1.5s deficit to Fairbairn before snatching the lead by making a better exit from Old Hairpin.

Having passed Fortec Motorsports’ Kulkarni, Webster soon took second away from Fairbairn at Redgate and then started to close in on McNeilly.

By the last lap the front two were nose to tail, but McNeilly remained ahead until the finish.

Kulkarni finished third ahead of KMR’s Tom Mills, who climbed from 13th on the grid to pass Burgoyne for fourth in the closing stages.

Fairbairn slipped back to sixth ahead of Fox’s Sid Smith, who ran second in the early stages before fading.

Evans GP’s Kai Daryanani was eighth ahead of KMR’s Jack Clifford, while a late spin dropped Elite Motorsport’s Josh Irfan three places to 10th.

Irfan’s team-mate Harri Reynolds was a distant 11th after an opening lap spin. Fortec duo Colin Queen and Ruhaan Alva also hit trouble, Queen losing a lap after stalling at the start and Alva forced to pit early on with a damaged front wing.

Race result (13 laps)

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