Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography
GB4 has attracted privateer racer Dylan Hotchin to the grid for 2023, marking the first time the series will have a full-time privately-run entry.
The British series for Tatuus’s first-generation Formula 4 car was launched this year and attracted several established junior single-seater teams from up and down the ladder as well as teams from the British sportscar scene.
For one round it also set to have a privateer entry, as Alex Walker left Elite Motorsport to run his own car Snetterton but then withdrew from the event.
Now joining the series for 2023 is Hotchin, who comes from tin-top racing. He made his car racing debut two years ago in the BRSCC Fiesta Junior championship as a privateer and came eighth in the standings. For 2021 he stepped up to the senior Fiesta series, coming 18th in the championship and fifth in the class for the ST150-spec Fiestas.
This year he drove in the top ST240 class but only part-time, and meant he ended up a lowly 23rd in the standings after only starting eight races out of 18.
“I’m really excited to be moving up to GB4, for my first season in single-seaters,” said Hotchin. “To do this as a private entry will bring challenges, but GB4 is the only [series] that will allow me to break into single-seaters in the way we want to do it.
“Thankfully I know most of the tracks due to my Fiesta racing, and while we’re going up against some of the biggest teams in the country, I can’t wait to get started in the new year.”
The ‘we’ includes Hotchin’s father Richard, who will help run the car.
“We’re very excited to be moving Dylan into the world of single-seaters,” Hotchin Sr said.
“We’re in no doubt that we’re throwing ourselves in at the deep end, but we’re keen to prove that privateers can give the established teams a run for their money.
“While this is a pivotal moment in Dylan’s career, we’re keen to also give a unique chance to young engineers looking to also break into the sport. Our concept will give them experience of setting the car up to compete with the best, and will teach them new work and life skills that cannot be taught in any workshop. Hopefully this will develop them to become some of the best engineers of the future.
“We’re hoping that with Dylan’s driving and talented up and coming engineers, we can achieve success as the year goes on, which will hopefully open the way for more privateers to mount a credible challenge in the future.”
In addition to bringing in trainee staff to help run the car, the father-and-son entry will also bring in expertise from senior engineers at British Steel to help guide the less experienced personnel working on the car.