• Both entities end agreement amicably and in the very best spirit

Successful Derbyshire motor racing team Hillspeed is to forge its own path once again in the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship with immediate effect, following the end of its tie-up with the Cliff Dempsey Racing squad.

The partnership began midway through 2016 when the two teams pooled resources ahead of last year’s BRDC British F3 Autumn Trophy. Consistently battling in the top six during the recently concluded 2017 season, the outfit celebrated an excellent podium finish during the final weekend of the campaign at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit with driver Chase Owen.

With the partnership having now run its course, Hillspeed is pushing on with its plans for the remainder of 2017 through winter testing and looks ahead positively to next season where it aims to build on the progress made this year.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Cliff for all of his work with Hillspeed over the last 12 months or so and everyone at the team wishes him, and the rest of Cliff Dempsey Racing, all the very best for the future”, said Hillspeed team boss Richard Ollerenshaw.

“The partnership we forged worked well and I’m very happy with the constructive work completed during the year. As can often happen with these things, the tie-up has now run its course and we go our separate ways very amicably with a gentleman’s handshake.”

Hillspeed, of course, has been part of BRDC British Formula 3 and the predecessor BRDC Formula 4 Championship since the latter was inaugurated in 2013. Instantly becoming a multiple podium finishing entrant in F4 on the opening weekend of the new category, the Hathersage-based team soon won its first race in the championship and continued to win races in 2014.

Securing more podium silverware in 2015, in the main championship with the outgoing F4 car and in the end-of-year Autumn Trophy with the then newly introduced Tatuus-Cosworth, the category then rebranded as BRDC British Formula 3 ahead of the 2016 season.