Rodin Motorsport’s Louis Sharp has been crowned as the 2024 GB3 Champion at Brands Hatch, following a win and a 10th place in the final two races of the season.
Sharp moved closer to the title by winning the penultimate race of the season this morning, leading every lap from pole position to take his fifth win of the year.
That triumph ensured he simply needed to finish inside the top-11 in the finale this afternoon to claim the title, and the British-born New Zealander did just that with a composed drive to 10th place.
Heading into the final race, John Bennett was the only driver who could snatch the title away from Sharp, but he needed to finish inside the top-two with the leader failing to score. But from 11th on the reverse grid, the British driver was only able to take ninth, though he did pass his title rival early on.
Sharp is the first driver to claim the British F4 and GB3 titles back-to-back, and wins an FIA Formula 3 test as a reward.
Race two
After losing ground in the first race of the weekend, Sharp fought back in style in this morning’s contest to put one hand on the title.
He made a strong start from pole position to lead the pack down to Paddock Hill, and held firm despite an early safety car after a three car tangle at Druids.
He aced the restart, and though Bennett closed him down, Sharp held on to take a vital win. Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Tymek Kucharczyk meanwhile took third, but that wasn’t enough to keep his title aspirations alive heading into the final race of the season.
Race three
Sharp’s victory meant he had a relatively straightforward task ahead of him in the season finale to wrap up the title, but that didn’t mean he had a clear run.
His aspirations were very nearly in tatters on the first lap after almost being collected by a spinning Hugo Schwarze, which he just steered clear of. With Bennett jumping him on the first lap too, there was all the potential for a spicy end to the campaign.
While VRD Racing’s Nikita Johnson held off outgoing champion Callum Voisin at the front to take his second win of the year, Voisin in second and teammate Arthur Rogeon in third meant that Rodin Motorsport secured the Team’s Championship title.
But all eyes were further down the field, with Bennett unable to rise further up the ultra-competitive field than ninth, and with Sharp doing all he needed to anyway, the crown went to the five-time race winner.
Sharp’s eventual title-winning margin was 22 points over Bennett, with Kucharczyk 13 further back. Rodin Motorsport beat Hitech Pulse-Eight to the team’s title by 25-points.
Sharp joins Zak O’Sullivan, Luke Browning and Voisin as a GB3 title holder, drivers who have all since gone on to race in FIA Formula 3, and in O’Sullivan and Browning’s case, Formula 2.
New champion Sharp said: “I’m super happy. I have to give a big thank you to everyone at the Rodin Motorsport team; they’ve done a mega job this year. Obviously it was my rookie season in GB3 and they got me up to speed very quickly and have obviously turned out to be a great team. I knew that; it’s my third year with the team and I really can’t ask for much better and my success is really down to them, so a huge thank you to them.
“I grew up in New Zealand and have a lot of family members here in the UK. A big thank you to all of them for coming out to support me this weekend. Big, big thank you to them.
“I’m so grateful to be in this position. I don’t think very many people go F4 and then the next year win the GB3 Championship, so I’m very lucky and very happy. I’ve got to give a big thank you to the whole team, my dad, who’s been over here with me the whole step of the way, and my success is also down to him and my family and friends, not only in New Zealand but the UK as well. A big, big thank you to everyone involved.
“I can’t give too many secrets away just yet, but we’ll be moving on from GB3 and taking that next step up, but we’ll just have to see what it is.”
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch race two top-six result:
1. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, 14 laps
2. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.476s
3. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +1.502s
4. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, +4.968s
5. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +8.090s
6. Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport, +8.832s
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch race three top-six result:
1. Nikita Johnson, VDR Racing by Arden, 17 laps
2. Callum Voisin, Rodin Carlin, +0.178s
3. Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport, +3.553s
4. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +7.841s
5. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +8.211s
6. Patrick Heuzenroeder, JHR Developments, +10.051s
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, final driver's standings after race 24 of 24
1. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, 478pts
2. John Bennett, JHR Developments, 456pts
3. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 443pts
4. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 376pts
5. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 372pts
6. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, 286pts
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, final team's standings after race 24 of 24
1. Rodin Motorsport, 933pts
2. Hitech Pulse-Eight, 908pts
3. Elite Motorsport, 729pts
4. JHR Developments, 680pts
5. VRD Racing by Arden, 528pts
6. Fortec Motorsports, 296pts
Image credit: Jakob Ebrey Photography
