Kiwi teenager Louis Sharp is all set for the biggest weekend to date in his quest to become a future Grand Prix driver.
Already tipped as a future Formula 1 star, the highly-rated British-born New Zealander is on pole position to add the coveted 2024 British GB3 title to the British F4 title he won in 2023.
Boosting Sharp’s hopes, he arrives at Brands Hatch for the season finale on 28/29 September with a healthy – but far from insurmountable – 33-point lead in championship standings.
Two victories earlier this month at Donington Park further extended his advantage with just next weekend’s three races still remaining on the 2024 calendar.
For Sharp to win back-to-back championships would be a standout achievement, too, as although current F1 stars George Russell and Lando Norris won GB3 and F4 titles, respectively, no aspiring young driver has ever won them both, let alone in consecutive seasons.
Since stepping up to GB3, the promising 17-year-old has risen to the challenge of facing more experienced rivals in their second or third GB3 seasons. What’s more, he has often competed on new, unfamiliar circuits.
To date, however, Sharp’s exceptional talents have overcome both history and the odds. Now, the Rodin Motorsport phenomenon is aiming to crown what has already been an outstanding campaign with a prized second title in two impressive racing seasons.
“It’s going to be tough,” he admits. “I do have a good points lead – 33 points is a good buffer to have – even so I really need to be on my A game, particularly in qualifying. There won’t be many opportunities to overtake in the races, so it will all be about getting the car tuned in during Wednesday’s super-crucial Free Practice sessions and then pulling out all the stops in qualifying.”
Luckily Louis loves the full 2.4-mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on which the 2024 GB3 title will be decided. He won last year’s F4 crown on the very same legendary track and was fastest in the only official GB3 test held at the venue back in April.
“I’m really looking forward to Brands, it’s probably my favourite track in the UK; it’s such a cool track and a brilliant place to finish the season,” enthused the Kiwi. “I have experience there last year from winning in the F4 title. Hopefully I can replicate that and get the job done.”
As an insight into what he hopes lies ahead, Sharp recently enjoyed an exclusive visit to the McLaren Technology Centre and savoured a behind-the-scenes up-close look at one of F1’s most revered facilities.
The experience was a prize courtesy of John Cavill presented to Louis as the GB3 series leader at the season’s mid-point.
The experience started with a look at the famous team’s incredible heritage on the famous Boulevard where numerous F1 race-winning cars are on display. After a thorough grounding of how fellow Kiwi Bruce McLaren established the team in the early 1960s, Sharp was brought fully up-to-date with a view of the McLaren Shadow Esports facility.
A tour of the Racing department followed, with an in-depth look at the real world, including a close-up look at the rebuilding process of Ayrton Senna’s final race-winning MP4/8 chassis from 1993. Sharp was also given a look at the Mission Control facility, where vital strategy decisions are made during an F1 race weekend.
Trips to the wind tunnel, the team’s extensive trophy collection and a bird’s eye view of the impressive McLaren Automotive facility followed, providing career inspiration for one of the sport’s brightest up and coming racing talents.
“It was really cool to visit McLaren; a great opportunity to see their facility and to get some insight into how it all operates,” said Sharp, who has also visited both Mercedes and Alpine F1 teams as rewards for winning last year’s F4 Championship.
“When you watch Formula One on the TV you don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes, and so it was really valuable to see what it takes to get to the top of the sport. I really enjoyed it – even more so as, being a New Zealander, there’s obviously a strong connection with Bruce McLaren.”
Furthering his F1 ambitions, Sharp has also been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious Silverstone Autosport BRDC Award. The annual accolade aims to find and assist the best junior British racing driver, Louis qualifying as he was born in the UK. The prize for this year’s winner includes £200,000 plus a money-can’t-buy F1 test with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. The winner will be announced at the Autosport Awards in January.
Should Sharp seal the season with the GB3 title, he will be one of the favourites to lift what is the biggest and most illustrious prize in junior motorsport and a real endorsement of young talent.
Lando Norris, George Russell and Jenson Button are all past winners.
Words & Images: Supplied
