The BRDC Formula 4 Championship has cemented its place as a route to GP3 by offering a prize test with ART for the winner of the 2015 championship. The Abu Dhabi test with the successful GP3 and GP2 outfit is part of a package of rewards for the 2015 champion which includes £35,000 in cash.
Should the winner perform well in the Yas Marina tryout and be signed to a GP3 team, Pirelli, the newly signed F4 tyre supplier will add an additional €50,000, (37,400 GBP) to the prize pot. That brings the total champions prize to a staggering £90,000.
The British Racing Drivers Club will also make the champion a BRDC SuperStar if they are British.
In addition, it is likely that a British champion will be selected as a short listed candidate for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. In the series’ two year history, both champions have been selected, along with a selection of other highly placed British competitors for the competition. Part of the selection process for the winner of this prestigious award is a test in a DTM, GT3 and F2 car at Silverstone.
The 2014 Champion George Russell won the award and the £100,000 prize and McLaren Formula 1 test which forms the MABA prize package.
Series promoter Jonathan Palmer said, “We created BRDC F4 to provide young drivers targeting F1 without access to big budgets the most affordable series in which to learn with the greatest equality, so they can showcase their ability. Funding is clearly crucial for the most successful to progress and I’m pleased that we have again been able to increase our prize package to provide the best reward of any series at this level for the champion.
“I am thrilled that our new tyre partner Pirelli shares our commitment to reward the best and is providing a huge prize for the champion if they graduate to GP3, a likely next step. When current F4 Champion George Russell had his GP3 test at Abu Dhabi in November, he adapted quickly to the car’s much greater performance and was the sensation of the official test. I’m sure our next F4 Champion can do the same and indeed perform well in a GP3 season.”
Paul Hembery, Motorsport director at Pirelli added, “We’re delighted to further strengthen our new role as tyre supplier to BRDC F4. Pirelli has a company-wide philosophy of providing young drivers with opportunities to progress in motorsport, all the way to the very highest levels of competition. Giving a €50,000 Pirelli award to the BRDC F4 Championship winner if they contest a season in GP3 is perfectly in line with our strategic objectives.”