Reigning GB3 champion Louis Sharp has been signed up to compete in this year’s Race of Champions, and will become the youngest ever participant when the event gets underway in Sydney on 7/8 March.
The 17-year-old will join rally star Hayden Paddon, one of his boyhood racing idols in the Team New Zealand squad at the renowned event, pitching him against world champions and race winners from F1, rallying, NASCAR and many other categories at the Accor Stadium, including Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas and Sébastien Loeb.
Sharps’ call up for the multi-discipline event comes after two stunning seasons in the UK. After being crowned British F4 champion in 2023, he doubled up by claiming the GB3 title the following season, both with Rodin Motorsport.
He remains with the team this year as he moves up to the FIA Formula 3 Championship.
“Teaming up with Hayden Paddon to represent New Zealand in our first-ever Nations Cup at ROC— this is something special,” said Sharp.
"It's crazy to think I was born the same year Sebastian Vettel won his first ROC Nations Cup title, and now I get to race against the very icons I grew up admiring.
"With Race Of champions making its debut down under, I hope we see plenty of Kiwi flags flying high in Sydney.”
Teammate Paddon is looking forward to reuniting with Sharp, with the pair having competed together when they won the NZ Ashley Forest Rallysprint in 2019.
“It’s a hugely proud moment for both Louis and myself to represent NZ for the first time at Race Of Champions,” said Paddon.
"We will both be giving it our all to try and beat the other nations’ teams in what is a fiercely competitive field.
"It’s also great to team up with Louis again, who actually co-drove for me once when he was just 12 years old.
"It’s amazing to see his progression and success. He looks destined to be in F1 if he continues doing what he is doing.”