The GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, is back at the home of the British Grand Prix this weekend, with an expanded field of 22 aspiring Formula One contenders aiming to usurp Rodin Motorsport’s Louis Sharp as the early standings leader.
With a future F1 career very much the target, this weekend’s event commences a run of five straight rounds at Grand Prix venues, with GB3 heading to Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring, Zandvoort and back to Silverstone over the next three months, before ending the campaign at former F1 hosts Donington Park and Brands Hatch in September.
Sixteen-year-old Sharp is the driver they’re all targeting this weekend, after an exceptional start to his year at Oulton Park. Two pole positions, a win on debut, a podium and a fight from 12th to fifth in the final encounter means all eyes are on the reigning British F4 champion.
His nearest contender is teammate Ugo Ugochukwu; the American is a McLaren F1 junior and showed why with two podiums of his own at the season opener.
JHR’s Brit John Bennett finally claimed his first GB3 win in race two, having come so close to achieving the feat last year at this weekend’s venue. His victory included an audacious overtaking move on Sharp at top speed in sodden conditions.
Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Will Macintyre was the other driver to claim a win at Oulton Park, the British F4 runner-up thus confirming that another title battle with Sharp is in the offing.
But Elite’s McKenzy Cresswell will have something to say about that. After fighting his way into title contention at the end of 2022, he enjoyed a much better start to his season this time around, and is a Silverstone specialist. He won at the circuit last year, and was fastest on both days of the pre-season test a month ago.
Rising Chinese star Gerrard Xie is sixth in the early order after two top-five finishes for Hitech Pulse-Eight. Having won the 2023 season finale at Donington Park, he will be in the mix for more this weekend, as should Elite’s Jarrod Waberski. The South African opened his podium account for the year at Oulton Park, and is gunning for his first win.
That honour very nearly went the way of Rodin’s Arthur Rogeon, only for the Frenchman to suffer late heartbreak in the final race at Oulton Park. A lightning start from fourth powered him into the lead, where he would stay until just a mile and a half from the finish. A Silverstone podium finisher last year, he’ll aim to fight back this time around.
Hitech’s Tymek Kucharczyk showed his speed at the season opener, and could well have fought for victory after carving through the field in race two. He was one of the fastest around Silverstone last year, so keep your eye on the Polish contender as he targets that breakthrough triumph.
Chris Dittmann Racing’s Seb Murray completes the early top-10 after an impressive start to his GB3 career culminated in a strong seventh place, having been in and around the top half of the field throughout.
JHR’s Patrick Heuzenroeder has F1 backing of own from fellow Aussie David Brabham, and he’s equal on points with VRD Racing by Arden’s Noah Ping. The American was a winner at Silverstone last year and will be aiming to fight back from a tough season starter.
Elite Motorsport’s Hugo Schwarze graduates from Ginetta Juniors in 2024, so Oulton Park was his first taste of slicks and wings racing, and he took a decent eighth place in his second race. He’s just ahead of Fortec’s GB4 graduate Colin Queen, who also impressed after making the step up to GB3, and was twice inside the top-10.
The American’s teammate Edward Pearson is five points further back after a brace of 12th place finishes, with Filipino-Australian Flynn Jackes next up for Chris Dittmann Racing. Oulton Park marked his racing return after an absence of more than two years.
For James Hedley, this weekend could be his final GB3 appearance. The VRD Racing by Arden driver is a multiple race winner, and is occupying the car that will be taken over at Spa onwards by American star Nikita Johnson. Hedley therefore will aim to end his stay in style as he looks to move up the racing ladder.
Shawn Rashid is another VRD by Arden runner, and he demonstrated significant improvement at Oulton Park as he began his second year in the series.
Hillspeed is represented by British-based Indian Adi Kulkarni, who powered from 18th to 11th in race two, putting him ahead of JHR’s British F4 and GB4 graduate Josh Irfan.
Meanwhile, Chris Dittmann Racing completes its line-up for the event with FIA Formula 3 race winner Martinius Stenshorne. The Norwegian won the Sprint Race in Melbourne just a few weeks ago, while Fortec’s line-up expands to three cars too, with the addition of UAE F4 champion and former Ferrari junior, Australian James Wharton.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Silverstone entry list:
- 2 James Hedley, VRD Racing by Arden
- 3 Noah Ping, VRD Racing by Arden
- 7 Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport
- 10 Patrick Heuzenroeder, JHR Developments
- 11 John Bennett, JHR Developments
- 12 Josh Irfan, JHR Developments
- 15 Aditya Kulkarni, Hillspeed
- 16 McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport
- 18 Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport
- 20 Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport
- 21 Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight
- 22 Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight
- 23 Gerrard Xie, Hitech Pulse-Eight
- 31 Ugo Ugochukwu, Rodin Motorsport
- 32 Shawn Rashid, VRD Racing by Arden
- 33 Hugo Schwarze, Elite Motorsport
- 34 Martinius Stenshorne, Chris Dittmann Racing
- 41 Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport
- 42 James Wharton, Fortec Motorsport
- 55 Flynn Jackes, Chris Dittmann Racing
- 62 Colin Queen, Fortec Motorsport
- 91 Seb Murray, Chris Dittmann Racing
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