Rising British talent Isaac Phelps will make his GB3 Championship debut this weekend (18–19 October) as he joins Elite Motorsport for the season finale at Monza, Italy. The 16-year-old from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, steps up from GB4 after an outstanding rookie campaign that saw him finish vice-champion in his first season of single-seater racing.
Phelps will join Elite’s established GB3 drivers Bianca Bustamante and Flynn Jackes for the three-race weekend. He takes the seat vacated by Will Macintyre, who has withdrawn from the event due to illness.
A standout debut season in GB4
Phelps’ progression into GB3 comes off the back of an exceptional GB4 campaign, where he quickly established himself as one of the standout newcomers. Representing Elite Motorsport, he collected six pole positions, four race wins, six podium finishes, and four fastest laps across the 21-race season.
His consistency and front-running pace kept him in the title hunt until the final event at Donington Park, where he ultimately finished second in the standings, just 11 points behind team-mate Ary Bansal. In doing so, Phelps led more laps and more races than any other driver on the grid, underlining his speed and racecraft.
At Donington, Phelps also claimed his second consecutive Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award, capping off a season in which he developed rapidly as one of the most promising young drivers in British single-seaters.
A steady journey from karting to single-seaters
Having started karting only in 2020, Phelps’ rise through the motorsport ranks has been remarkably swift. He joined Elite Motorsport in 2023 to contest the Ginetta Junior Championship, where he finished fifth overall and second-best Rookie, securing eight podiums and three outright wins. He later went on to clinch the Ginetta Junior Winter Series title, dominating at Silverstone by winning two of the three races. His strong performances across both tin-top and single-seater categories have made him one of the most versatile young drivers on the British scene.
Speaking ahead of his GB3 debut, Phelps described the opportunity as both unexpected and exciting: “Following a strong single-seater debut season in GB4, I thought I’d finished until next year, but I jumped at a very generous offer by Ed [Ives] last week to race at the final round of GB3 in Monza. I got to try the latest GB3 car for the first time at Donington Park last Thursday. Being realistic, I am looking for a developing weekend with great enjoyment – that’s mandatory at Elite. So my expectations are non-existent for Monza. I will give my all to ensure I am as competitive as possible and do my best for the team. And of course I am really looking forward to using DRS for the first time too.
“I’m really pleased for this opportunity but while I am excited, of course we’d all much prefer if Will [Macintyre] was in the car.”
Phelps will take part in three races around the legendary Monza circuit, known for its long straights, high-speed chicanes, and slipstream battles. The weekend will serve as both a learning experience and a chance to gain valuable seat time ahead of a potential full GB3 campaign in 2026.
Ives: “A great chance to experience the next level”
Elite Motorsport Team Principal Eddie Ives expressed his confidence in Phelps’ ability to adapt quickly to the step up: “We’re delighted to give Isaac the opportunity to step up to GB3 after such an impressive first year in single-seaters. He’s shown exceptional pace and maturity throughout the GB4 season and his results speak for themselves. This outing at Monza is a great chance for him to experience the next level, learn in a competitive environment and continue his development within the team. We have every confidence he’ll approach the weekend with his usual professionalism and enthusiasm.”
Phelps’ Monza debut is another example of Elite Motorsport’s commitment to developing young British talent through its driver pathway, which spans Ginetta Juniors, GB4, and GB3. His rapid progression from karting to GB3 in just five years highlights both his talent and the strength of Elite’s driver development programme.
For Phelps, the focus at Monza will be on building experience in the GB3 car, learning the nuances of DRS and higher-downforce racing, and continuing to demonstrate the calm and precision that defined his GB4 campaign.
As the season draws to a close at one of the world’s most iconic circuits, all eyes will be on the young Hertfordshire driver as he takes his next major step up the single-seater ladder.
