Louis Sharp all set for GB3 debut over Easter weekend

Talented teenager Louis Sharp is primed to take the next step towards his dreams of being a future Formula 1 driver when the 2024 GB3 Championship kicks off at Oulton Park over the Easter weekend (30 March – 01 April).

Widely acclaimed as one of the sport’s hottest young prospects, the 16-year-old New Zealander graduates to the UK’s premier single-seater series on a high having won last year’s ROKiT F4 British Championship – a prized title previously secured by Lando Norris on his own way to Grand Prix stardom.

Fuelling his ambitions, Sharp again will be competing for Rodin Motorsport, the team with which he enjoyed so much success in F4. That said, the up-and-coming Kiwi faces new challenges, racing a car that is both more powerful and more technical than he has driven to date.

What’s more, he will be one of the youngest drivers on a grid that includes several notable GB3 returnees, all boasting considerably more experience at this level. In total the 2024 entry is packed with the next generation of rising global stars all lining up in identical 250bhp Tatuus MSV-022 single-seater racers. There are also new circuits to learn including visits to three of Europe’s most famous Grand Prix tracks: Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring and Zandvoort.

Undaunted by his rookie status – and further underlining his exciting potential – Sharp has made an immediate impact, being among the pace-setters in all the official pre-season test sessions. Indeed, the distinctive black and white Rodin liveried #7 racer was fastest of all at Donington Park and again at Silverstone in the wet.

He was to the fore in testing at Oulton Park, too, where the action starts this weekend. After further free practice sessions on Thursday and Friday, a 20-minute qualifying session is set for 11:10 on Saturday morning. The season’s opening race is scheduled for 15:00 on Saturday afternoon. A second 20-minute race follows on Monday morning at 9:30 pursued by a 25-minute finale later in the afternoon at 13:45 – this features a reverse grid thus putting the onus on overtaking skills.

Nearly six months have passed since Sharp lifted the F4 crown at Brands Hatch in early October and, after such a break, he is all the more excited to be starting the next chapter of his impressive career story.

“I’m really looking forward to the first round, even more so as it’s at Oulton Park which is a track where I’ve done well in the past,” enthused the rapid Rodin racer, who not only won his first F4 race at the Cheshire motorsport venue but is relishing his promotion.

“The GB3 car is definitely up step up from F4. It has a lot more downforce thanks to more sophisticated aerodynamics; it’s also significantly faster and requires a different driving style largely as it has a limited-slip differential,” he explained. “It’s a lot more fun to drive and presents a greater technical challenge, not least as the aero adjustments we can make to the front and rear wings have a much bigger impact on chassis balance.”

Sharp, though, is a quick learner and knows the importance a fast start makes to a title -winning campaign having laid down a marker in 2023 by winning two of the three opening races.

“Clearly, it’s going to be another very competitive season – the lap times in the tests have been very close but my pace has been good and there’s no reason not to be winning from the first race,” he affirmed.

Those wanting to follow Sharp’s progress can take advantage of the GB3 Championship’s comprehensive television and streaming package. Every race is available to watch free-of-charge live on YouTube, Facebook and via the official championship website. The live offering is complemented by a dedicated, post-produced highlights show on the Sky Sports F1 channel, the same platform that is currently home to UK coverage of other major junior single-seater categories including FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2.