Aditya Kulkarni has expressed his enthusiasm about returning to the GB3 Championship after making his comeback with series newcomer AKCEL GP at Brands Hatch. The 19-year-old British-Indian driver rejoined the championship in September after spending much of 2025 testing and competing in the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC).
Kulkarni previously contested the 2024 GB3 season with Hillspeed, finishing 19th in the Drivers’ Championship. However, his return introduced several new challenges, including adapting to the substantially upgraded Tatuus MSV GB3-025 and helping AKCEL GP establish itself in the championship.
Despite encountering difficulties throughout the Brands Hatch weekend, Kulkarni welcomed the opportunity to return to competitive racing. Furthermore, he hopes to build on the experience during the season finale at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 7–8 November.
Kulkarni welcomes return to GB3 after season away
Kulkarni returned to the GB3 grid at Brands Hatch on 26–27 September, marking his first competitive appearance in the championship since completing the 2024 season with Hillspeed.
During his previous campaign, the British-Indian driver gained experience across several European circuits, building on his earlier achievements in GB4. In 2023, he finished fifth in the GB4 Championship after securing four podium finishes.
However, he subsequently moved into Formula Regional competition for 2025, joining AKCEL GP as the team continued expanding its international single-seater operations. The experience allowed Kulkarni to develop his understanding of more powerful machinery, although limited racing opportunities restricted his competitive mileage.
Consequently, his return to GB3 offered an opportunity to regain race experience while working with a team he already knew. Reflecting on his comeback, Kulkarni expressed his satisfaction with returning to the championship.
“After a bit of a break, it’s good to be back. In 2025, I was testing and driving in Formula Regional Europe, so to now come back to GB3 in a new car, it’s a good change of scenery.”
The move also represented an important step for AKCEL GP, which made its GB3 debut during the penultimate round of the 2026 season.
Having previously worked together in FREC, Kulkarni and the team entered the championship with an established relationship but limited experience operating the latest GB3 machinery.
AKCEL GP begins new chapter with Kulkarni at Brands Hatch
AKCEL GP’s arrival marked another stage in the Snetterton-based organisation’s expansion across junior single-seater racing.
The team entered GB3 following experience in Formula 4 Middle East and FREC, where it developed its technical operations and worked with several emerging drivers. Furthermore, the organisation acquired two Tatuus MSV GB3-025 cars during the summer, allowing it to begin preparations for its championship debut.
Kulkarni subsequently completed the team’s first official GB3 test at Brands Hatch on 10 September, providing an initial opportunity to assess the car and familiarise himself with the circuit. The team then confirmed its GB3 debut with Kulkarni, identifying the Brands Hatch round as an important step towards establishing a longer-term presence in the championship.
However, AKCEL GP faced a considerable challenge against established competitors with substantially more experience using the latest machinery. The limited testing programme also meant Kulkarni entered the race weekend without the same preparation as many of his rivals.
Nevertheless, the combination of an experienced driver and an existing working relationship provided the team with a foundation for its first competitive outing.
Upgraded GB3 car impresses Kulkarni with improved grip and performance
One of the most significant changes Kulkarni encountered upon returning to GB3 was the performance of the latest Tatuus MSV GB3-025. The championship introduced the new-generation car in 2025, replacing the machinery Kulkarni previously drove during his 2024 campaign.
The updated design features a revised chassis, greater aerodynamic downforce and wider Pirelli tyres, alongside a drag reduction system. Furthermore, the championship introduced additional upgrades for 2026, including a new 2.4-litre Mountune engine that delivers substantially greater torque.
These improvements have increased the car’s overall performance, allowing drivers to carry more speed through corners while improving acceleration and handling.
Kulkarni particularly welcomed the additional mechanical grip, highlighting the difference between the current car and the previous-generation machinery.
“This year’s GB3 car is much quicker and it’s good to almost be on a par with FIA F3 machinery. In 2024, the car would move around more but with this year’s car, it has a lot more mechanical grip.
“Going through Hawthorns bend at Brands, no matter whether I was on new or used tyres, in hot or cold weather, there was lots of grip every lap and I could carry so much speed.”
His comments reflected the significant performance improvements that the championship has introduced over the previous two seasons. In particular, the additional grip proved valuable through Hawthorns, one of the fastest and most demanding corners on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
However, the increased performance also required Kulkarni to adapt his driving style after spending an extended period away from competitive GB3 racing.
Limited preparation presents challenges during Brands Hatch weekend
Although Kulkarni welcomed the opportunity to return, his first GB3 weekend with AKCEL GP presented several difficulties. The British-Indian driver entered the event with limited experience in the upgraded car, while the team continued developing its understanding of the championship’s technical requirements.
During the official Brands Hatch test, Kulkarni finished 19th in the combined classification as AKCEL GP gathered additional information about the car’s performance.
The team subsequently faced another challenging weekend as the established competitors continued setting increasingly competitive lap times. Kulkarni qualified 20th for both conventional-grid races, leaving him with considerable work to do against a closely matched field.
He finished 20th in the opening race, before recovering to 18th in Race 2 despite receiving a ten-second penalty for a false start.
Meanwhile, the reversed-grid finale provided another opportunity to gain competitive mileage. Kulkarni completed the race in 19th position, bringing his first weekend back in the championship to a conclusion.
Despite the difficult results, the 19-year-old recognised the value of competing at Brands Hatch, where the narrow margins and demanding circuit layout punished even small mistakes.
“The limits are so small, so it requires a lot of confidence to be able to push to the limit straightaway and not make mistakes.
“All things considered, it was an alright weekend. We were definitely lacking pace but that was expected having not tested the car much and having only my data to run with.”
His assessment highlighted the difficulties facing a new team with limited comparative information. While established organisations could draw upon data from several cars and previous race weekends, AKCEL GP relied heavily on Kulkarni’s feedback as it continued learning about the Tatuus MSV GB3-025.
Consequently, the weekend served as an important opportunity to gather information and identify areas for improvement.
Kulkarni targets stronger performance at Barcelona season finale
Following his return at Brands Hatch, Kulkarni hopes to continue competing with AKCEL GP during the final round of the 2026 GB3 season at Barcelona. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the championship from 7–8 November, marking the conclusion of an eight-round campaign.
Unlike Brands Hatch, Barcelona offers a wider circuit layout with several high-speed sections and larger margins for error.
Kulkarni believes these characteristics could help him and AKCEL GP improve their competitiveness, particularly after the team gained valuable information during its first race weekend. Furthermore, the additional experience should allow the organisation to refine its setup and approach the event with a stronger understanding of the car.
Looking ahead, Kulkarni expressed optimism about the team’s potential progress.
“We should be a lot better from a performance perspective because the margin for error [at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya] is bigger. “With all the data we gathered in the Brands weekend, we can hopefully hit the ground running there.”
However, AKCEL GP has yet to establish itself among the championship’s leading teams, making continued development an important priority. The Barcelona weekend would therefore provide another opportunity to improve the team’s performance while allowing Kulkarni to gain further experience in the updated machinery.
Return to racing forms part of Kulkarni’s preparations for 2027
Although Kulkarni hopes to continue his GB3 campaign in Barcelona, his longer-term racing plans remain uncertain. The 19-year-old has yet to confirm which championship he will contest in 2027, with financial considerations continuing to influence his opportunities in single-seater racing. Nevertheless, he views his return to GB3 as an important step towards preparing for his next campaign.
After spending much of 2025 away from regular competitive racing, Kulkarni recognises the importance of gaining additional track time and rebuilding his confidence.
Furthermore, working with AKCEL GP provides an opportunity to develop the relationship he established during their previous FREC programme.
Kulkarni acknowledged the importance of gaining experience while explaining how financial limitations have affected his career.
“[These rounds] are definitely a preparation for next season. I’m not sure what I’ll be racing, but it’s good to get laps in because that is what I have been lacking throughout my single-seater career due to costs.”
His comments underline the challenges that young drivers face when attempting to secure sufficient racing opportunities and progress through the junior categories.
For Kulkarni, the immediate objective remains gaining valuable experience and improving his performance with AKCEL GP.
With the Barcelona finale approaching, the British-Indian driver will hope to build on the lessons from Brands Hatch and conclude his return to GB3 with a more competitive result.
Regardless of his plans for 2027, the opportunity to compete again has provided an important step towards rebuilding momentum in his single-seater career.
