With this weekend’s season opener at Oulton Park fast approaching, and a big grid of F1 hopefuls gearing up for the new campaign, here’s a look at some of the key changes they’ll be facing during the 2024 GB3 Championship season.
New race three format
Having run as a complete reversal of the qualifying order since 2018, the race three format will change this year. Instead, the top-12 drivers from qualifying will be reversed on the starting grid for the final race of each event, with the rest of the grid forming up behind them as per their qualifying classification, the only exception being if penalties are applied during the weekend that are carried into the final race.
Points will still be on offer for places gained in 2024, but with a revised ‘cap’ of 12 points per driver. The duration for race three remains at 25 minutes.
“It’s a better system” says JHR Developments’ John Bennett. “It’s now more similar to the F2 and F3 format, and I think before, the reverse grids were a bit too powerful! They were really fun, and good for the drivers, but it meant that if you DNF’d, you could give away a lot of points.
“The full reverse grid caused a lot of safety cars and a lot of incidents outside of most drivers’ control, so I think a top-12 reverse will calm it down a bit. But it still allows for excitement, some drivers will still be charging through and it’s definitely a good change.”
Pit to car and race control radio systems
For the first time in GB3, pit to car radio systems are permitted, allowing teams to make better contact with their drivers while on circuit. In addition, race control operatives will have a direct link to the teams also, again allowing for more efficient communications during on track sessions.
“It’s really cool” says Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell. “I’ve used it before in other things but it’s really useful. Even in terms of safety, it’s a big step forward.
“Also, we can give our thoughts about on track conditions, for example if there’s a race that we think is really, really wet, we can tell the team, who can then relay that to the clerks, it’s definitely a benefit. Then on the driving side, on an in lap I can give my feedback on the car, or my engineer can tell me where traffic is on track or where I can find a gap. It’s all a big help”
Superlicence points
The top-five drivers in the championship standings at the end of the season will receive FIA Superlicence points. Any driver looking to compete in Formula One must have accrued 40 Superlicence points over a three year period, and this year’s GB3 champion will receive 10 points. The full allocation is as follows:
1st – 10 points, 2nd – 7 points, 3rd – 5 points, 4th – 3 points, 5th – 1 point
Overseas testing restrictions
In an effort to keep costs under control, teams and drivers will not be able to test GB3 cars at Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort and the Hungaroring, unless in an officially organised championship session.
Teams have not been able to test at the venues since the end of November, but ahead of each event, two days of official testing will take place on the Thursday and Friday.
Testing at UK circuits remains unrestricted.