Photo: Hillspeed
Hillspeed has announced its first GB3 driver for 2024 on the eve of the season, with Aditya Kulkarni making the step up from GB4.
The 16-year-old began his career in karting, winning the ‘O’ Plate title in the TKM British Open championship in 2021 as well as winning that year’s TKM Festival. He also was runner-up in the TKM Festival Championship, won the Shenington Super Prix and came in the top 10 in the British championship in both 2021 and ’22.
He made his car racing debut in GB4 last year with Fortec Motorsports, coming fifth in the standings with four podiums.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to progress further in single-seaters, so to do that in a series of this calibre whilst being one of the youngest drivers on the grid gives me a lot of confidence for the year ahead,” said Kulkarni.
“I’m especially looking forward to the season being with Hillspeed, I felt confident in the car and the people around me straight away. I’m sure we’re going to have a good year together.”
Kulkarni joins his GB4 team-mate Colin Queen in graduating to GB3. He has had one day of preparation in the series’ car so far, having driven for Hillspeed on the second day of the Donington Park pre-season test.
“It’s fantastic news for us to have signed such a promising and talented young racer as Adi for his maiden season in GB3,” said Hillspeed’s team principal Richard Ollerenshaw. “He had a great first season in cars in GB4 last year and I’m confident the key focus we have on driver development at Hillspeed will help him in what will be a big new challenge.
“This is obviously a very late deal, so Adi will be using the first few rounds to find his feet in GB3 and to learn the car as quickly as he can. Without undertaking any pre-season testing the challenge will be even greater, but we have confidence in his ability and we’re looking forward to providing him with an environment which nurtures that and helps develop his speed and racecraft.”