Motorsport News

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLDS CAN NOW ENTER NEW GB4 CHAMPIONSH­IP

Age eligibilit­y of MSV’s new entry-level single-seater contest now matches British F4 after discussion­s with Motorsport UK

- By Graham Keilloh

Drivers from the age of 15 will now be able to race in MotorSport Vision’s new GB4 entry-level single-seater championsh­ip following discussion­s with governing body Motorsport UK.

MSV last month launched GB4 as an affordable category that will use the Tatuus F4-T014 chassis seen in several F4 series across recent years.

Motorsport UK – which takes over as British Formula 4 organiser after this season – had stated that, unlike in British F4, 15-year-olds would not be eligible to compete in GB4. However following a recent Motorsport UK championsh­ip control panel meeting 15-year-olds can now race in the new category.

MSV chief executive Jonathan Palmer told Motorsport News: “The FIA have given the Gen 1 cars [that we’re using] until the end of 2023 to run. Further, we’ve been in discussion­s with Motorsport UK, they’ve appreciate­d we are very mindful of the requiremen­ts for 15-year-old drivers, we’ve discussed together the criteria, the protocols that are running in TOCA packages that we

would obviously respect and run to.

“After a period of uncertaint­y, we also had to wait [before confirming things] until the championsh­ip control panel meeting took place, when all the new championsh­ips would be considered. The panel used to meet in July but got changed to October.”

GB4 has also unveiled its inaugural 2022 calendar, which starts with its own GB4-headlined early-April Snetterton event. It otherwise attends the six UK-based British GT rounds and GB3’s late-July Silverston­e meeting.

“The calendar is really strong and interest has been very strong and I’m sure it will now escalate,” Palmer added.

 ?? ?? GB4’s starting age now matches that of British F4
GB4’s starting age now matches that of British F4
 ?? Photos: Jakob Ebrey ?? MSV boss Palmer is mindful of requiremen­ts for 15-year-old racers
Photos: Jakob Ebrey MSV boss Palmer is mindful of requiremen­ts for 15-year-old racers
 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom