Oxley re-signs for Dittman team for 2022 season
TEWKESBURY-BASED Chris Dittmann Racing’s driver Branden Oxley will remain with the team for the 2022 GB3 Championship season.
The Anglo-thai driver made his series debut at Snetterton in August and made an immediate impression by qualifying fifth.
Oxley banked six top-10 finishes in his half season, finished every race and nearly
claimed a podium finish at Silverstone.
Before his GB3 debut, the 17-year-old had competed in Spanish Touring Cars, making his racing debut in 2020. He then moved into single-seaters this year with a maiden campaign in Spanish F4 while also taking part in a one-off round of the Euroformula Open championship at Imola.
Oxley has started a comprehensive GB3 pre-season testing programme with the team ahead of the series’ introduction of the Tatuus MSV-022 car. The new machine will boast more power, greater aerodynamic performance and include the halo safety device.
Dittmann said: “Through the four race weekends we worked together this year, he made massive progress and I’ve got every confidence that will continue to happen in
the new season.
“The introduction of the new car will be a challenge, but having really impressed on his Euroformula appearance earlier this year, in a car that should have similar characteristics to the new GB3 one, I’m confident that Branden will be fighting his way towards the front next season.”
Oxley added: “We have already made a lot of progress together this year and I confident and can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the new car.”
Meanwhile, multiple British F4 racewinner Mckenzy Cresswell will join CDR as he steps up to the GB3 Championship.
The 15-year-old won six British F4 races in 2021, two more than any other driver, with five additional podiums on his way to third in the standings in his first campaign.
Cresswell’s first victory came at Oulton Park as he took the flag five seconds clear of the opposition.
A further win came at Knockhill, before doubles at Croft and at the season finale at Brands Hatch.
Cresswell was born in the UK but raised in Austin, Texas, and was competing in karting across the USA at regional and national level before moving back to the UK aged 12. His racing activity continued in Britain and Europe at Junior Rotax level before his successful graduation to F4 at the start of 2021.
Now focusing on the step up to GB3, the Surrey resident has enjoyed several days of testing since the conclusion of the season, and joins Oxley in the team, with CDR’S final seat to be filled imminently.