The inaugural 2026 GB4 Winter Series will take place at Snetterton on 24–25 October, bringing together 20 young drivers for a four-race championship that will crown its first Winter Champion. The new event follows the conclusion of the regular GB4 season at Brands Hatch in September and provides another opportunity for emerging talents to gain competitive single-seater experience ahead of 2027.
The entry combines returning GB4 competitors, experienced drivers from other junior championships and five karting graduates making their car racing debuts. Furthermore, several of the championship’s most successful teams will participate, including reigning Drivers’ Champions KMR Sport and consecutive Teams’ Champions Elite Motorsport.
Unlike the regular season, the Winter Series features two separate qualifying sessions and no reverse-grid races. With 140 points available across the weekend, the championship could produce a closely contested battle between established competitors and promising newcomers.
Snetterton hosts inaugural GB4 Winter Series
The Snetterton 300 circuit will host the first GB4 Winter Series, providing a familiar venue for several returning competitors while introducing newcomers to one of Britain’s most demanding circuits.
Snetterton also played an important role in the 2026 GB4 Championship, particularly during the fifth round in July. KMR Sport’s Alex O’Grady secured two victories that weekend, strengthening his championship advantage over Elite Motorsport’s Fred Green.
The circuit combines lengthy straights with technical corners and heavy braking zones, presenting opportunities for overtaking while rewarding precision and consistency.
Furthermore, its mixture of high-speed and slower sections will challenge drivers adapting to the Tatuus MSV GB4-025. The car features a two-litre Mountune engine, six-speed sequential gearbox and modern aerodynamic package.
Consequently, the venue should provide a useful assessment of the field’s abilities across qualifying and race conditions.
Four races across two separate event days
The GB4 Winter Series introduces a condensed format that effectively divides the weekend into two independent race events.
Saturday and Sunday will each feature a 20-minute qualifying session followed by two 20-minute races. Each driver’s fastest qualifying lap will determine their starting position for the first race of the day, while their second-fastest lap will establish the grid for the second.
The championship will repeat this procedure on Sunday, giving competitors another opportunity to improve their starting positions.
Importantly, the Winter Series removes the top-12 reverse-grid format that features during the regular GB4 campaign. Instead, all four races will use qualifying performances to determine the starting order.
The format places greater emphasis on consistent qualifying pace. Drivers must deliver at least two competitive laps in each session, while the absence of reverse grids removes an opportunity to gain favourable starting positions through lower finishes in previous races.
Revised points system and technical regulations
The Winter Series will award points to the top 20 finishers in every race, with the winner collecting 35 points, followed by 29 for second and 24 for third. Every contest will use the same scoring structure, meaning drivers can accumulate a maximum of 140 points across the four races.
Additionally, organisers have introduced specific tyre restrictions. Each competitor may nominate three slick front tyres and three slick rear tyres per race day, while an allocation of four wet front and four wet rear tyres will cover wet-weather running.
Teams must therefore carefully manage their available tyres throughout qualifying and both races.
Furthermore, all competitors will operate from Snetterton’s pit garages rather than the awning arrangements used during the main season. Cars will also enter each session directly from the pit lane.
Teams can field up to four cars, compared with the regular championship’s three-car limit.
Returning GB4 competitors target inaugural title
Seven drivers with previous GB4 experience will enter the Winter Series, giving them an advantage in familiarity with the championship’s machinery and racing procedures.
Douglas Motorsport’s Conor Grant could emerge among the leading contenders after finishing runner-up in the 2026 Rookie Championship. The Irish driver secured multiple podium finishes during his maiden campaign and will use the weekend to begin preparations for his second full season in 2027.
John O’Donnell also returns after completing the regular championship, during which he secured his maiden podium at Donington Park.
Meanwhile, Jamie Leverton continues with Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing, and William Rohan joins Pace Performance after making his GB4 debut at Silverstone.
Fox Motorsport retains Jasser Iskander and Archie Bullard, while Solenn Amrouche completes the experienced group following her first full GB4 campaign with Arden Motorsport.
Elite Motorsport fields four-car challenge on home soil
Elite Motorsport enters the Winter Series following consecutive Teams’ Championship victories in 2025 and 2026.
The Norfolk-based team has confirmed the maximum permitted four-car entry, combining returning GB4 driver John O’Donnell with Ginetta Junior graduates Henry Cameron, Harrison Mackie and Jesse Phillips.
O’Donnell joins Elite after a promising 2026 campaign, culminating in his first podium finish at Donington Park. Meanwhile, Mackie arrives after finishing runner-up in the Ginetta Junior Championship with four victories.
Phillips also enjoyed a competitive season, securing nine podium finishes and fourth in the standings before making his British F4 debut at Brands Hatch.
Cameron completes the line-up after racing with Elite in Ginetta Juniors and will make his first single-seater appearance at Snetterton.
The four-driver programme gives Team Principal Eddie Ives an opportunity to extend Elite’s recent success while developing another group of young drivers.
KMR Sport targets further championship success
KMR Sport arrives at Snetterton following another successful GB4 campaign, having guided Alex O’Grady to the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
The team has secured five championship titles across GB4’s first five seasons and will field a three-driver entry featuring Solenn Amrouche, Lewis Goff and Toby Campbell.
Amrouche brings previous GB4 experience after completing the 2026 season with Arden Motorsport. The French driver demonstrated steady improvement throughout the campaign and hopes to achieve stronger results following her switch to KMR.
Meanwhile, Goff makes his single-seater debut after dominating the Ginetta Junior Championship with ten victories and five additional podium finishes.
Campbell completes the line-up after funding much of his karting career through part-time jobs and entrepreneurial ventures.
Consequently, KMR combines an experienced GB4 competitor with two newcomers pursuing contrasting routes into single-seater racing.
Douglas Motorsport combines GB4 and British F4 experience
Douglas Motorsport will field Conor Grant alongside George Proudford-Nalder, bringing together two drivers with considerable potential.
Grant enters the Winter Series following his first full GB4 campaign, during which he secured several podium finishes and demonstrated strong progression. His experience should prove valuable as he prepares for another season with Douglas Motorsport in 2027.
Meanwhile, Proudford-Nalder arrives after finishing fourth in the 2026 British F4 Championship.
The Australian secured three victories, two additional podium finishes and two pole positions during his maiden full single-seater campaign.
Although he has yet to compete in GB4, his recent British F4 performances suggest he could challenge the championship’s returning competitors.
The pairing gives Douglas Motorsport two drivers capable of competing towards the front, with both seeking to conclude their 2026 racing programmes positively.
Pace Performance prepares three-driver line-up
Pace Performance enters the Winter Series with William Rohan, Gianna Pascoal and Alexander De Benedittis.
Rohan returns to GB4 after making his championship debut with Arden Motorsport at Silverstone in August. The American has since continued testing and will aim to build on his initial experience with a different team.
Meanwhile, Pascoal brings previous experience in car racing but will make her first competitive GB4 appearance. The South African will face the challenge of adapting to unfamiliar machinery while competing against drivers with greater championship experience.
De Benedittis completes the team’s entry as one of five competitors graduating directly from karting.
The British youngster has already completed testing with Pace Performance and will use the event to gain experience in qualifying, race starts and wheel-to-wheel competition.
For the team, the weekend also provides another opportunity to develop emerging talent following a competitive 2026 GB4 season.
Fox Motorsport mixes established competitors with newcomers
Fox Motorsport will field three drivers at Snetterton, with returning competitors Jasser Iskander and Archie Bullard joined by karting graduate Rob Crawford.
Iskander continues with the team after completing his first full GB4 season in 2026. The Saudi Arabian has progressed rapidly through the motorsport ranks and will aim to translate his increased experience into stronger results.
Bullard also brings previous GB4 experience, giving Fox another driver familiar with the car and championship’s procedures.
Meanwhile, Crawford will make his competitive car racing debut after progressing through karting.
Their contrasting experience levels create an opportunity for Fox Motorsport to support its latest newcomer while helping its returning drivers build on their previous campaigns.
Furthermore, the four-race format will provide valuable additional mileage as the outfit continues preparing its development programmes for 2027.
Fortec Motorsports fields two promising young drivers
Fortec Motorsports has confirmed Qarrar Firhand and Max Yuill for the inaugural Winter Series, combining recent single-seater experience with a newcomer stepping up from karting.
Firhand enters the event following a successful international karting career, highlighted by his victory in the 2026 WSK Euro Series OK Championship.
The Indonesian also made his British F4 debut during the final two rounds of 2026, providing valuable experience ahead of his first GB4 appearance.
Meanwhile, Yuill graduates from karting after finishing sixth in the British Kart Championship’s Senior X30 IAME division. The British driver has already completed initial GB4 testing with Fortec at Pembrey.
Although both drivers remain relatively inexperienced in single-seater machinery, Fortec’s extensive history across junior formulae should provide a strong foundation as they continue their development.
Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing continues GB4 programme
Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing will field Jamie Leverton and Archie Pearce at Snetterton, combining returning GB4 experience with a driver making his competitive car racing debut.
Leverton joined the outfit during the 2026 season and demonstrated steady improvement throughout the second half of the campaign. His continued partnership with the team should allow him to build on that progress.
Meanwhile, Pearce graduates from the organisation’s Junior Academy after completing an extensive testing and development programme.
The Winter Series also follows an important announcement for the Northampton-based operation. Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing recently confirmed plans to enter the Euroformula Open Championship in 2027, having acquired three Tom’s-powered Dallara 324 cars.
Consequently, the Snetterton event provides another opportunity to strengthen its British single-seater programme while the team prepares for expansion into European competition.
Fernandez leads R Racing’s GB4 debut
R Racing will make its first competitive appearance in GB4 with Chase Fernandez, who returns to single-seater racing following previous experience in British F4.
The 17-year-old rejoins a team with which he shares an established relationship, having previously competed for R Racing in Ginetta Juniors before returning as a driver coach during 2026.
Although Fernandez has experience across several car racing categories, Snetterton will mark his first GB4 appearance.
His previous familiarity with the circuit and team could help him adapt quickly to the new machinery.
Furthermore, R Racing will use the event to begin its expansion into single-seater competition after establishing itself within junior sports car racing.
The weekend therefore represents an important milestone for both driver and team.
Five karting graduates begin their car racing careers
The inaugural Winter Series will provide a particularly important opportunity for five drivers making their first competitive appearances in car racing.
Rob Crawford, Toby Campbell, Alexander De Benedittis, Max Yuill and Archie Pearce will all make the transition from karting to GB4 at Snetterton.
Although the five newcomers have gained varying amounts of testing experience, they will face similar challenges when adapting to the more powerful single-seater machinery.
Qualifying will demand precision and consistency, while the races will introduce additional considerations such as tyre management, standing starts and the different dynamics of wheel-to-wheel competition.
Furthermore, the absence of reverse grids means newcomers must develop their outright pace quickly to secure favourable starting positions.
Nevertheless, the four-race format provides several opportunities to learn and improve, allowing the drivers to gain valuable experience before potentially pursuing full-season programmes in 2027.
Snetterton testing and race weekend schedule
The championship has scheduled two days of testing ahead of the competitive action, allowing drivers and teams to refine their setups and prepare for the weekend.
Thursday includes four sessions and a dedicated practice-start session, while Friday provides another four sessions totalling two hours of track time.
Thursday, 22 October — Testing
- 09:50–10:35 — Test Session 1
- 11:35–12:00 — Test Session 2
- 12:05–12:25 — Practice Starts
- 14:20–15:10 — Test Session 3
- 16:05–16:50 — Test Session 4
Friday, 23 October — Testing
- 09:35–10:05 — Test Session 1
- 11:20–11:50 — Test Session 2
- 14:00–14:30 — Test Session 3
- 15:45–16:15 — Test Session 4
Saturday, 24 October — Qualifying and Races
- 10:10–10:30 — Qualifying
- 12:20–12:40 — Race 1
- 15:20–15:40 — Race 2
Sunday, 25 October — Qualifying and Races
- 09:40–10:00 — Qualifying
- 11:50–12:10 — Race 3
- 14:50–15:10 — Race 4
All times are local UK time. The UK changes from BST to GMT overnight on Sunday, 25 October.
How to follow the GB4 Winter Series
Fans can follow every session throughout the event via the dedicated GB4 Winter Series website, which will provide the latest results, championship standings and event information.
Live timing will cover both testing days, the qualifying sessions and all four races through the official live timing portal.
Additionally, organisers will stream all four races through the same platform and the MSV TV YouTube channel.
Lewis McGlade will provide commentary throughout the race broadcasts, allowing viewers to follow the battles as the inaugural Winter Championship develops.
With four races across two days, the competition will provide several opportunities for drivers to gain points before the final contest determines the champion on Sunday afternoon.
Inaugural GB4 Winter Series promises competitive showdown
The first GB4 Winter Series brings together a diverse entry, with experienced championship competitors facing drivers who have demonstrated their potential across British F4, Ginetta Juniors and international karting.
Grant and O’Donnell enter with previous podium finishes, while Proudford-Nalder, Goff and Mackie arrive following successful campaigns in other junior categories. Meanwhile, five karting graduates will attempt to make immediate impressions during their first competitive appearances in car racing.
The participation of established championship-winning operations also strengthens the field. KMR Sport will seek to continue its Drivers’ Championship success, while Elite Motorsport hopes to extend its remarkable run across the Teams’ Championship.
With no reverse-grid races and identical points allocations across all four contests, consistency in qualifying and race conditions could prove decisive.
Ultimately, Snetterton will offer one driver the opportunity to become the first GB4 Winter Champion while providing the wider grid with valuable experience ahead of the 2027 season.
