Fortec Motorsports has confirmed that rising Australian star James Wharton will join the team for both Silverstone GB3 Championship events this season. The 17-year-old from Melbourne is a race-winner in the Italian F4, ADAC Formula 4 and Euro 4 Championships, and is the 2023 UAE F4 champion. He began karting at the age of eight, winning the Australian Championship three years later before moving to Europe to continue his progression.

In 2020 he won the inaugural Ferrari Driver Academy World Final shootout and graduated to single-seaters in 2022, immediately taking victories in UAE F4 and ADAC F4. In addition to his UAE F4 title success the following year, Wharton won twice in Euro 4 as he finished as championship runner-up, and twice more in Italian F4 on his way to fourth in the final standings.

Earlier this season, he participated in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship, taking multiple podiums and finishing sixth overall, and is contesting the Formula Regional European Championship this year as his main programme. However, he’ll make his first UK racing appearances in GB3 this season with Fortec, and will race at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on 27/28 April, and again at the same venue on 27/28 July.
 

James Wharton said: “First of all, I want to thank Fortec Motorsport for the opportunity they are giving me. It will be such a great experience to drive a new car on a new track and, surely, will be quite challenging with no testing. But I feel I can do a good weekend, and stepping into something new is always a great learning process. I can’t wait for the challenge and can’t wait to start working with the team.”
 

Fortec Motorsports Team Principal Oliver Dutton said: “We’re really happy to welcome James to the team for both of the Silverstone GB3 Championship weekends. His development has been rapid in the past few years, and this will be another valuable experience for him as he races on a new track and gets to grips with a new car.”

For more championship information visit www.gb-3.net.