Photo: Hitech GP
Nikita Johnson will move to Hitech GP for his second season racing in GB3, marking a departure from Velocity Racing Development.
The 16-year-old American has been racing for VRD since the start of his single-seater career in 2022, when he was only 13 and below the usual age drivers are allowed to race in Formula 4 at. Since then his career has been guided by Infinity Sports Management, which usually has its clients racing in Britan and Europe.
“[Hitech] have demonstrated the ability to develop young drivers, such as George Russell, and I am focused on working with the team to advance,” said Johnson.
In 2022 he debuted in the YACademy Winter Series and took the title with three wins, then came third in USF Juniors as a late-season run of form including three victories lifted him up the points table. He also did half of the USF2000 season, coming 18th in the standings.
Last year he did a full USF2000 campaign, winning once but doing enough to be championship runner-up thanks to seven other podium finishes. He stepped up to USF Pro 2000 for its final two rounds and only finished off the podium once, doing enough to come 17th in the standings as he won two of the five races he contested.
Rather than do a double programme in America for 2024, Johnson dovetailed his full-time USFP2000 efforts with a part-time run in GB3 with VRD by Arden.
On home soil he won eight races and took seven poles en route to being championship runner-up, and after missing the first two rounds of the GB3 season he did the remaining six and won two reserved-grid races.