Former British Formula 4 racer Joel Pearson has died following a three-year fight with cancer, his management has confirmed.
Pearson was diagnosed with pelvic osteoblastic osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, in January 2021 shortly after signing with Argenti Motorsport to race in British F4. The diagnosis meant he was unable to make his single-seater racing debut that year.
A fundraiser helped cover the cost of Pearson’s chemotherapy, and after almost nine months of that treatment – during which time his condition improved enough for him to get back in a racing simulator at iZone Performance – a second fundraiser was launched so he could receive carbon ion therapy in Germany to help eradicate his tumour.
One year on from the diagnosis, Pearson finally got to test with Argenti again. Following that he underwent the carbon ion therapy, and in April 2022 it was announced he would join the British F4 grid with Chris Dittmann Racing.
Prior to F4, the British teenager had been racing in entry-level sportscar series Ginetta Junior. He debuted in 2018 and competed part-time, then raced full-time the next two seasons. He came 10th in the 2019 standings with a best finish of fourth, and in 2020 took two podiums and two fastest laps en route to eighth in the points.
Pearson scored 25 points in his first nine British F4 races in 2022, but his season was curtailed in round five at Croft. He scored five more points in race two of the weekend, then crashed out of race three – the season’s halfway point – and broke his thumb. As he did not return to the cockpit after that, Pearson ended the year 16th in the standings.
EDGE Sporting Management, which guided Pearson’s car racing career, announced on Friday that the 19-year-old had died:
“It is with deepest regret to let the motorsport community know that our EDGE driver Joel Pearson lost his battle with cancer yesterday afternoon (22/02/24). Joel had fought like a true champion for the past three years but sadly passed away yesterday with his mum, dad, sister and girlfriend by his side. Joel will remain in our hearts forever and our thoughts go out to his family and anyone who knew this amazing young man. Rest in peace, Joel.”