Theo Palmer will make his GB3 Championship debut with Hitech at the 2026 season finale at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 7–8 November. The British driver steps up to the championship following an impressive British F4 campaign, where he secured three victories and finished runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship.
Palmer concluded the season with 295.5 points, producing a dominant performance during the Brands Hatch finale to secure second in the standings. His results also helped Hitech claim the Teams’ Championship, completing a successful year for the outfit across the junior single-seater category.
The move will allow Palmer to experience GB3 machinery for the first time while continuing his relationship with Hitech, providing an opportunity to build on the progress made throughout 2026.
Palmer steps up following successful British F4 campaign
Palmer’s GB3 debut follows a competitive second season in British F4, during which he established himself among the championship’s leading drivers. Having made his single-seater debut with Xcel Motorsport during 2025, the British-UAE racer switched to Hitech for his first full campaign in 2026.
His previous experience provided a foundation for further development, with Palmer demonstrating consistent pace throughout the opening rounds. Although he initially faced strong competition from Rodin Motorsport’s Dries Van Langendonck and JHR Developments’ Lewis Wherrell, the Hitech driver remained within reach of the championship leaders.
His breakthrough came during the Thruxton weekend, where he secured his maiden British F4 victory in a shortened opening race. The result strengthened his championship position, while teammate Adam Al Azhari added another victory for Hitech during the reverse-grid contest.
Palmer continued collecting valuable points throughout the remainder of the season, including two podium finishes during the penultimate round at Silverstone. Those results brought him to within 8.5 points of Wherrell, leaving the runner-up position open heading into the final weekend.
Brands Hatch double secures runner-up honours
Palmer delivered his strongest performance of the season during the British F4 finale at Brands Hatch, where he secured his first pole position before dominating both conventional-grid races.
The Hitech driver converted pole into victory in Saturday’s opening contest, crossing the finish line 3.944 seconds ahead of Van Langendonck. Although second place was enough for the Belgian to secure the Drivers’ Championship, Palmer’s result strengthened his challenge for runner-up honours while also confirming Hitech’s Teams’ title.
Following a tenth-place finish in the reverse-grid race, Palmer returned to pole for the final contest and delivered another commanding performance. He controlled the race from the opening lap, eventually finishing more than four seconds ahead of Virtuosi Racing’s George Proudford-Nalder.
His second victory of the weekend, combined with two fastest laps, carried him ahead of Wherrell in the final standings. Palmer completed the championship with 295.5 points, finishing 48.5 behind Van Langendonck and 28.5 ahead of Wherrell.
The performances brought his season tally to three victories and provided an impressive conclusion to his second British F4 campaign.
Hitech celebrates British F4 Teams’ Championship
Palmer’s performances also contributed to Hitech’s success in the Teams’ Championship, with the outfit ending Rodin Motorsport’s two-year reign at the top of the standings.
Throughout 2026, Palmer competed alongside Scott Kin Lindblom, Adam Al Azhari and Chiara Bättig, with all four drivers contributing valuable points during the ten-round campaign.
Although Rodin claimed the Drivers’ Championship through Van Langendonck, Hitech consistently scored across multiple cars, allowing the team to establish a substantial advantage over its rivals.
The outfit mathematically secured the Teams’ title during the opening race at Brands Hatch, with Palmer’s victory providing the decisive result. Its successful 2026 British F4 campaign concluded with 601.5 points, placing Hitech 125.5 ahead of Rodin Motorsport.
Palmer’s contribution proved particularly important during the latter stages, with his victories and podium finishes helping the team maintain its advantage.
His promotion to GB3 therefore follows a successful partnership with Hitech, giving both driver and team the opportunity to continue working together at a higher level of single-seater competition.
Palmer welcomes opportunity to make GB3 debut
Palmer expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming challenge, highlighting the importance of continuing with the team following their successful British F4 campaign.
“I’m really excited to be making my GB3 debut with Hitech for the final round of the season.
“We’ve had a fantastic year together in British F4, finishing second in the Drivers’ Championship and winning the Teams’ Championship, so it’s great to have this opportunity with the team.
“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel at Barcelona and making the most of the weekend.”
His familiarity with Hitech’s working environment should provide valuable continuity as he adapts to the increased performance demands of GB3 machinery.
Having already established relationships with the team’s personnel during his British F4 campaign, Palmer will enter the weekend with an understanding of its engineering approach and race operations.
However, the Barcelona finale will present a significant challenge. Unlike the established GB3 competitors, Palmer will need to adapt to the car while simultaneously preparing for qualifying and three races.
The opportunity will nevertheless provide valuable experience as he continues progressing through the junior single-seater categories.
Blow praises Palmer’s progress with Hitech
Hitech GB3 Team Manager Phil Blow welcomed Palmer’s addition to the line-up, praising his performances throughout the British F4 season and his contribution to the team’s championship success.
“Theo has had a very strong season in British F4 and finishing runner-up in the championship alongside helping Hitech secure the Teams’ title is a fantastic achievement. It’s great to have him joining us for the GB3 season finale, and we’re looking forward to seeing him experience the car and take on a different challenge.
“It will be an exciting opportunity for Theo to gain experience in GB3, and we’re pleased to be able to give him that opportunity.”
The move continues Hitech’s involvement in developing young drivers through different stages of the single-seater ladder, with the organisation competing across British F4, GB3, FIA Formula 3 and FIA Formula 2.
For Palmer, remaining within the same organisation should help ease the transition, particularly as he becomes familiar with the greater technical and physical demands associated with GB3.
The Barcelona weekend will therefore provide an opportunity to evaluate his performance in the new machinery while continuing the development that produced his British F4 runner-up finish.
GB3 machinery presents new challenge for Palmer
Palmer will make his debut in the Tatuus MSV GB3-025, which represents a considerable increase in performance compared with the British F4 car he has driven throughout 2026.
Introduced ahead of the 2025 season, the GB3-025 features a redesigned chassis, significantly increased aerodynamic downforce and a Drag Reduction System (DRS). Further upgrades for 2026 included a 2.4-litre Mountune engine, aerodynamic refinements and chassis improvements.
The greater performance will require Palmer to adapt his driving style, particularly through high-speed corners and under braking. Tyre management and qualifying preparation will also present different challenges, with limited opportunities to build confidence before the competitive sessions begin.
Barcelona’s combination of long straights, technical corners and high-speed changes of direction will provide an appropriate test of his ability to adapt.
Palmer will also encounter a different championship format, with the GB3 weekend featuring three races, including a reversed-grid finale.
Although he will be competing against drivers with substantially more experience in the category, the opportunity provides a useful introduction to the next level of the junior racing ladder.
Palmer joins Hitech’s GB3 title challenge at Barcelona
Palmer’s arrival comes as Hitech prepares for a decisive final round of the GB3 Championship, with Deagen Fairclough remaining mathematically in contention for the Drivers’ title.
Fairclough enters Barcelona second in the standings with 356 points, trailing VRD Racing’s Nikita Bedrin by 89. Xcel Motorsport’s Lucas Fluxá and Rodin Motorsport’s Martin Molnar also remain in contention, with a maximum of 102 points available across the final three races.
The Hitech driver strengthened his championship position during the penultimate round at Brands Hatch, securing two victories after an impressive double-pole qualifying performance.
Palmer is set to join Fairclough and Yuhao Fu in Hitech’s Barcelona line-up, providing the outfit with additional representation during the championship’s concluding weekend.
The finale will also feature several other drivers progressing from lower categories. British F4 rival Wherrell will make his GB3 debut with JHR Developments, alongside GB4 graduate Thomas Ingram Hill.
Their participation adds further interest to the weekend, with Palmer and Wherrell continuing their progression after finishing second and third respectively in British F4.
Palmer prepares for next step in single-seater career
Palmer’s GB3 debut represents another important milestone following his successful British F4 campaign, providing an opportunity to experience more powerful machinery while continuing his relationship with Hitech.
His three victories, strong qualifying performances and runner-up championship finish demonstrated his progress throughout 2026, while his contribution to Hitech’s Teams’ Championship underlined the value of his consistent results.
Although the Barcelona weekend will introduce new challenges, Palmer will benefit from remaining with an organisation that already understands his driving style and development.
With his first GB3 appearance now confirmed, the British driver will aim to maximise his track time and gain valuable experience during the season finale at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 7–8 November.
