Elite Motorsport has confirmed that Oliver Stewart will join McKenzy Cresswell and Ayato Iwasaki in the team’s three-driver GB3 line-up for the 2023 season.

The 16-year-old from Beauly, near Inverness, graduates from the British F4 Championship and joins sophomore contender Cresswell and Japanese ace Iwasaki in the Norfolk squad’s capacity roster in the UK’s leading single-seater category.

Stewart was placed 10th overall in last year’s British F4 Championship, and was third in the rookie standings in his first full year out of karting, taking a race win at Thruxton, a fastest lap and two pole positions. In the rookie category, he recorded 20 podiums, including four wins from the 30 races.

Prior to graduating from cars, Oliver placed second in the IAME Warriors X30 Junior Final, won the British LGM Junior X30 Championship and British Kartmasters, and was the only UK driver selected for the Richard Mille Young Driver Academy shoot-out. Stewart has participated in multiple pre-season test days with Elite and was third fastest on the first day of last week’s Oulton Park test, and within lap record pace.

Oliver Stewart said: “My aim is obviously to do the best job I can and get as many poles, wins, and podiums as possible. It’s the top single-seater class in the UK attracting a worldwide grid of top level drivers and provides a great platform and opportunity for me to progress my career to the next level.

“Having tested with Elite last November, I was overwhelmed by their professionalism and determination to get the best out of the car and myself. I knew from the get-go that I was surrounded by a team of passionate professionals with a mass of experience in motorsport. I was immediately made to feel welcome by everyone.

“I have found the grip level a massive difference moving up a category to GB3. It requires you to be extremely smooth on steering in order to get the best out of it. Not only that but the car feels quicker and is overall an enjoyable car to drive.”

Elite Motorsport Team Owner and Manager Eddie Ives said: “I’m really pleased to be announcing Oliver as our final GB3 driver for 2023. “We have been working with Oliver since November and it’s been good to help him with his transition into GB3. “He really excelled at the Oulton Park test last week and we look forward to maximising his great potential.”