GB3 Championship

{{Short description|Open-wheel motorsport formula based in the United Kingdom}}

{{Infobox motorsport championship

| logo = GB3 logo.png

| pixels =

| caption =

| category = Single seaters

| country/region = United Kingdom

| inaugural = 2013

| constructors = Tatuus

| engines = Ford Duratec

| tyres = Pirelli

| champion driver = {{flagicon|NZL}} Louis Sharp

| website = {{URL|http://www.gb-3.net}}

| current_season = 2025 GB3 Championship

}}

The GB3 Championship is a single seater motorsport series based in the United Kingdom. The championship is the UK's premier single-seater category, and is aimed at young racing drivers moving up from FIA Formula 4 championships, the GB4 Championship or Karting. Having previously been known since 2013 as the BRDC Formula 4 Championship, the championship was renamed the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with the backing of the FIA in March 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.britishf3.com/news/british-f3-is-back!.aspx |title=British F3 is back! |access-date=11 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326020829/http://www.britishf3.com/news/british-f3-is-back%21.aspx |archive-date=26 March 2016 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }} The championship was rebranded to GB3 Championship in August 2021.{{Cite web|date=2 August 2021|title=British F3 rebranded as GB3 Championship|url=https://www.gb-3.net/british-f3-news/british-f3-rebranded-as-gb3-championship/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802190720/https://www.gb-3.net/british-f3-news/british-f3-rebranded-as-gb3-championship/|archive-date=2 August 2021|website=GB3 Championship}}

Like most junior formula series, it is a spec series, meaning all competitors use identical cars, engines, and tyres. While not officially branded as a Formula Regional series, the car specification for the 2025 season conforms to that of Formula Regional. Previous cars have been similar in performance to FR.{{Cite web |last=Series |first=Feeder |date=2024-07-25 |title=Why more and more drivers are trying out Britain's top single-seater series |url=https://feederseries.net/2024/07/25/why-more-and-more-drivers-are-trying-out-britains-top-single-seater-series/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Feeder Series |language=en}}

History

The predecessor of the GB3 Championship was the Formula 4 racing series operated by the 750 Motor Club. The series was awarded to MotorSport Vision from the 2013 season. Under the BRDC F4 moniker, British driver Jake Hughes was the first champion of the series in 2013, driving for Lanan Racing. The championship top three of Hughes, vice-champion Seb Morris and Charlie Robertson were all finalists in that year's McLaren Autosport BRDC Award.

In 2014, George Russell was crowned champion following a dramatic victory in the season finale at Snetterton. Russell beat his Lanan Racing teammate Arjun Maini by just three points and went on to win the 2014 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award later in the year.

Will Palmer was crowned the 2015, champion after a dominant campaign in which he took 12 victories from the 24 races. His HHC Motorsport teammate Harri Newey finished as runner-up, with Palmer subsequently named as the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in December.

On 23 March 2016, the FIA and MSA revealed to the FIA World Motor Sport Council that an agreement had been reached the day prior to rebrand the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in order to reflect the increased pace of the new car designed for the 2016 season, and to fill the void left after the British Formula 3 Championship folded in 2014.[http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/123427 BRDC Formula 4's British Formula 3 rebrand goes ahead for 2016] – Autosport, 23 March 2016

In the first season of BRDC British F3, Matheus Leist secured the championship in the final weekend of the season, while British driver Lando Norris won three races and was named the winner of the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in December.

Enaam Ahmed claimed the title after a dominant campaign in 2017 which saw him win a total of 13 races.

Linus Lundqvist won the championship in 2018, which also saw him claim a prize drive at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona. Subsequent champions were Clement Novalak and Kaylen Frederick, both driving for Carlin.

In August 2021 the series was renamed as GB3 Championship, after the FIA decided to restrict the use of "F3" to the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and the 2021 car did not meet FIA standards for Formula Regional accreditation.{{Cite news |last=Mackley |first=Stefan |date=3 August 2021 |title=British F3 forced into name change after FIA decision |url=https://www.autosport.com/national/news/british-f3-forced-into-name-change-after-fia-decision/6641272/ |access-date=11 December 2024 |work=Autosport}} British racing driver Zak O'Sullivan was the first to win the title under the new name.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-16|title=GB3 - Race 1: O'Sullivan wins the title in style with lights to flag victory|url=https://www.gb-3.net/gb3-news/race-1-o-sullivan-wins-the-championship-in-style-with-lights-to-flag-victory/|access-date=2021-10-20|website=GB3 Championship|language=en|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021032921/https://www.gb-3.net/gb3-news/race-1-o-sullivan-wins-the-championship-in-style-with-lights-to-flag-victory/|url-status=dead}} The following month, MSV announced a new support series would be launched with the GB4 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.msvracing.com/cars/news/2021/september/gb4/|title=NEWS: NEW GB4 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR 2022|date=September 7, 2021|accessdate=November 4, 2021}}

Shortly after the rebrand, the series announced a new car would be used for 2022, the Tatuus MSV-022, with performance and safety upgrades including the addition of the halo.{{cite web | url=https://formulascout.com/gb3-to-introduce-new-halo-shod-car-for-2022/82461 | title=GB3 to introduce new halo-shod car for 2022 | date=15 August 2021 }} The new car has proven to be around two to three seconds a lap quicker than its predecessor.{{cite web | title=Things you may have missed from the Oulton Park| website=GB3 Homepage | date=20 April 2022 | url=https://www.gb-3.net/news/2022/things-you-may-have-missed-from-the-oulton-park-gb3-opener | access-date=23 April 2024}}

For 2025, the series will introduce the Tatuus MSV GB3-025, which will feature "F1-inspired aero", DRS and a new Mountune 2.0L generating 280bhp, among other changes.{{Cite web |url=https://feederseries.net/2024/06/12/gb3-to-introduce-f1-inspired-tatuus-car-for-2025-season/|title=GB3 to introduce 'F1-inspired' Tatuus car for 2025 season|website=Feeder Series|last=Brabner|first=George|language=en|date=12 June 2024|access-date=19 June 2024}}

Chassis specifications

=GB3 Championship Car=

colspan=2\|Tatuus MSV-022
class="wikitable"
Constructor	Tatuus
Engine	2.0L Duratec
Valvetrain
Lubrication	Dry sump
Torque
Horsepower	250 bhp spec
Engine management	Cosworth
Ignition system
Transmission	Sadev SL75 LW 6-speed sequential
Suspension	Double wishbone Pushrod
Chassis	Carbon-fibre
Tires	Pirelli (2015)
Brakes	AP Racing 4-piston calipers
Wheelbase	2760 mm
Front track	1514 mm
Rear track	1485 mm
Weight	598 kg including driver

The Tatuus MSV-022 car is a significantly more powerful car than Formula 4 machinery, with a more sophisticated aerodynamic package and increased downforce which elevates its pace to equivalent to Formula Regional European Championship cars.

The car utilises a carbon-fibre Tatuus chassis equipped with the Halo and is powered by a two-litre normally aspirated 250bhp spec Mountune engine. The MSV-022 meets all the latest FIA Formula 3 safety regulations including side impact panels, front and rear carbon impact structures, wheel tethers and extractable seat.

An improved aerodynamic set-up includes a highly adjustable front-wing and two piece rear-wing, and an F1-style front splitter and rear diffuser, and underfloor aerodynamics.

It features a six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle shift provided by Sadev and fitted with a limited-slip differential, unique to GB3.

Pirelli provides both dry and wet tyres to the GB3 Championship.

The braking system is supplied by AP Racing and features 4-piston front calipers and floating, grooved and ventilated discs with 2-piston rear caliper and fixed vented rear disc.

Twin wishbone suspension with two-way adjustable dampers and adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars will provide drivers with plenty of scope for set-up changes.

Points system

Points are awarded to all finishing drivers in each race, except the reverse grid race two, using the following system in 2013:

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center" ! Place ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20
Points \|bgcolor="#ffffbf"\| 30 \|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"\| 25 \|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"\| 20 \| 18 \| 16 \| 15 \| 14 \| 13 \| 12 \| 11 \| 10 \| 9 \| 8 \| 7 \| 6 \| 5 \| 4 \| 3 \| 2 \| 1

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"

! Place

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

Points

|bgcolor="#ffffbf"| 30

|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"| 25

|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"| 20

| 18

| 16

| 15

| 14

| 13

| 12

| 11

| 10

| 9

| 8

| 7

| 6

| 5

| 4

| 3

| 2

| 1

Points are awarded to all finishing drivers in each race, using the following system since 2014:

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center" !rowspan="2"\| Races !colspan="20"\| Position, points per race
1st ! 2nd ! 3rd ! 4th ! 5th ! 6th ! 7th ! 8th ! 9th ! 10th ! 11th ! 12th ! 13th ! 14th ! 15th ! 16th ! 17th ! 18th ! 19th ! 20th
Races 1 & 3 \|bgcolor="#ffffbf"\| 35 \|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"\| 29 \|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"\| 24 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 21 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 19 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 17 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 15 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 13 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 12 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 11 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 10 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 9 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 8 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 7 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 6 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 5 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 4 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 3 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 2 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2\| 1
Reverse grid race (2) \|bgcolor="#ffffbf"\| 25 \|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"\| 22 \|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"\| 20 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 18 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 16 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 15 \|bgcolor="#dfffdf"\| 14

class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"

!rowspan="2"| Races

!colspan="20"| Position, points per race

1st

! 2nd

! 3rd

! 4th

! 5th

! 6th

! 7th

! 8th

! 9th

! 10th

! 11th

! 12th

! 13th

! 14th

! 15th

! 16th

! 17th

! 18th

! 19th

! 20th

Races 1 & 3

|bgcolor="#ffffbf"| 35

|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"| 29

|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"| 24

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 21

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 19

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 17

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 15

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 13

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 12

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 11

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 10

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 9

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 8

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 7

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 6

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 5

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 4

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 3

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 2

|bgcolor="#dfffdf" rowspan=2| 1

Reverse grid race (2)

|bgcolor="#ffffbf"| 25

|bgcolor="#dfdfdf"| 22

|bgcolor="#ffdf9f"| 20

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 18

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 16

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 15

|bgcolor="#dfffdf"| 14

In the reverse grid races, an extra point is awarded per position gained compared to each drivers' starting position.

Champions

=Operating under 750 Motor Club=

All champions were British-registered.

class="wikitable" !Season !Champion !Class A2 !Class B !Class C !Class D !Class E
2006 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Chris Lewis \| \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Chris Vinall \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Peter Monk \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Paul Rider \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Malcolm Scott
2007 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Steve Savage \| \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Chris Kite \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Clive Yorath \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Stuart Wright \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Jennifer Scott
2008 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Jeremy Walker \| \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Clive Yorath \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Oliver Sirrell \| \|
2009 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Jonathan Weston-Taylor {{Cite web \|url=http://www.stanwoodengineering.co.uk/jonathan-weston-taylor-clinches-2009-title-i7.html \|title=Jonathan Weston Taylor Clinches 2009 Title \|access-date=13 June 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212005554/http://www.stanwoodengineering.co.uk/jonathan-weston-taylor-clinches-2009-title-i7.html \|archive-date=12 December 2010 \|url-status = dead\|df=dmy-all }} \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Will Thompson (As Revelation Series) \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Charles Adrian \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Paul Presgraves \| \|
2010 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Malcolm Scott \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} David Woodsworth-Dale \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Clive Yorath \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Paul Presgraves \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} John Whitbourn \|
2011 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Oliver Sirrell \| \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Charles Adrian \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Ashley Dibden \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Scott Moakes \|

class="wikitable"

!Season

!Champion

!Class A2

!Class B

!Class C

!Class D

!Class E

2006

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Lewis

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Vinall

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Monk

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Paul Rider

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Malcolm Scott

2007

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Steve Savage

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Kite

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Clive Yorath

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Stuart Wright

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jennifer Scott

2008

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jeremy Walker

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Clive Yorath

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Oliver Sirrell

2009

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jonathan Weston-Taylor {{Cite web |url=http://www.stanwoodengineering.co.uk/jonathan-weston-taylor-clinches-2009-title-i7.html |title=Jonathan Weston Taylor Clinches 2009 Title |access-date=13 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212005554/http://www.stanwoodengineering.co.uk/jonathan-weston-taylor-clinches-2009-title-i7.html |archive-date=12 December 2010 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Will Thompson

(As Revelation Series)

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Adrian

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Paul Presgraves

2010

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Malcolm Scott

| {{flagicon|GBR}} David Woodsworth-Dale

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Clive Yorath

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Paul Presgraves

| {{flagicon|GBR}} John Whitbourn

2011

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Oliver Sirrell

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Adrian

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ashley Dibden

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Scott Moakes

=BRDC Formula 4 Championship=

class="wikitable" !Season !Champion !Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup !Winter Series Champion !Autumn Trophy Champion !The Who Zooms Award
2013 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Jake Hughes \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Jake Hughes \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Matthew Graham \|align=center rowspan=2\| not awarded \| {{flagicon\|POL}} Gosia Rdest
2014 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} George Russell \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} George Russell \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Will Palmer \|align=center rowspan=2\| not awarded
2015 (2015 AT) \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Will Palmer \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Will Palmer \|align=center\| not awarded \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Ben Barnicoat

class="wikitable"

!Season

!Champion

!Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup

!Winter Series Champion

!Autumn Trophy Champion

!The Who Zooms Award

2013

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Jake Hughes

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Matthew Graham

|align=center rowspan=2| not awarded

| {{flagicon|POL}} Gosia Rdest

2014

| {{flagicon|GBR}} George Russell

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Will Palmer

|align=center rowspan=2| not awarded

2015 (2015 AT)

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Will Palmer

|align=center| not awarded

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ben Barnicoat

=BRDC British Formula 3 Championship=

class="wikitable" ! Season ! Champion ! Secondary champion
2016 \| {{flagicon\|BRA}} Matheus Leist \| {{Tooltip\|J\|Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup}}: {{flagicon\|GBR}} Ricky Collard {{Tooltip\|A\|Winner of the Autumn trophy}}:{{flagicon\|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed
2017 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed \| {{Tooltip\|J\|Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup}}: {{flagicon\|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed {{Tooltip\|D\|David Poole-Warren Award}}:{{flagicon\|GBR}} Carlin
2018 \| {{flagicon\|SWE}} Linus Lundqvist \|align=center rowspan=3\| not awarded
2019 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Clément Novalak{{efn\|Clément Novalak is a Franco-Swiss driver who competed under a British licence.}}
2020 \| {{flagicon\|USA}} Kaylen Frederick

class="wikitable"

! Season

! Champion

! Secondary champion

2016

| {{flagicon|BRA}} Matheus Leist

| {{Tooltip|J|Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup}}: {{flagicon|GBR}} Ricky Collard
{{Tooltip|A|Winner of the Autumn trophy}}:{{flagicon|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed

2017

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed

| {{Tooltip|J|Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup}}: {{flagicon|GBR}} Enaam Ahmed
{{Tooltip|D|David Poole-Warren Award}}:{{flagicon|GBR}} Carlin

2018

| {{flagicon|SWE}} Linus Lundqvist

|align=center rowspan=3| not awarded

2019

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Clément Novalak{{efn|Clément Novalak is a Franco-Swiss driver who competed under a British licence.}}

2020

| {{flagicon|USA}} Kaylen Frederick

= GB3 Championship =

class="wikitable" ! Season ! Champion ! Secondary champion
2021 \| {{flagicon\|GBR}} Zak O'Sullivan \| rowspan="4" align="center" \| not awarded
2022 \|{{flagicon\|GBR}} Luke Browning
2023 \|{{flagicon\|GBR}} Callum Voisin
2024 \|{{flagicon\|NZL}} Louis Sharphttps://www.gb-3.net/news/2024/sept/29/thoughts-of-a-champion-louis-sharp

class="wikitable"

! Season

! Champion

! Secondary champion

2021

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Zak O'Sullivan

| rowspan="4" align="center" | not awarded

2022

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Luke Browning

2023

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Callum Voisin

2024