Fortec Motorsports has confirmed that Franciszek Cegielski will join the team for the 2026 GB4 Championship. The 16-year-old will make his car racing debut with one of the UK’s most successful single-seater outfits as he steps up from a highly successful karting career.
Fortec continues to strengthen its driver line-up ahead of the new season. As a result, Cegielski enters GB4 within a proven championship-winning environment, which has already delivered Drivers’ titles in 2022 and 2024.
Strong karting pedigree across national and international levels
Cegielski arrives in GB4 with an impressive karting record built in Poland and on the international stage. He claimed the Polish OK-N Championship title in 2025 after finishing runner-up in OK Junior the previous year. Earlier, he secured the Polish Rotax Max Challenge Junior crown in 2023, which marked his emergence as a leading national talent.
He also tested himself against elite international competition. In major events, he finished eighth in the OK-N World Cup, 11th in the ROK Cup Superfinal, and 10th in OK-N Senior within the Champions of the Future Academy series. In addition, he competed in both the FIA European Championship and FIA World Championship in the OK category, gaining valuable experience against the strongest karting fields in the world.
Across his career, he has achieved 11 victories and 22 podium finishes from 60 races. Therefore, he enters single-seater racing with a proven record of consistency and competitiveness.
Preparation and adaptation ahead of GB4 debut
Cegielski complements his racing development with a strong focus on physical and mental preparation. He combines gym training with additional sporting disciplines such as motocross, basketball, and kickboxing, which support his overall fitness and reaction skills.
He has already begun adapting to car racing machinery. During his first test in Valencia, he quickly found pace and impressed the team with his composure and learning speed. Consequently, he begins 2026 with a solid foundation despite this being his first season in cars.
Cegielski has expressed excitement about joining Fortec and entering GB4 for the first time. He aims to learn quickly and establish himself as a competitive force as early as possible in the season.
“I’m very excited to be making my car racing debut with Fortec Motorsports in the GB4 Championship. The team has a long history of success and provides the ideal environment for me to develop as a driver. My goal is to learn quickly, work hard with the engineers, and push to fight at the front and compete for podiums as soon as possible.”
Fortec Team Principal Oliver Dutton has also highlighted Cegielski’s maturity, preparation, and early adaptability to single-seaters. He believes the Polish driver has strong foundations for rapid progress in GB4.
“Franciszek has an outstanding karting pedigree and a very composed and mature process for his age. GB4 is a big step, but with his work ethic and preparation, we’re confident he has the foundations to adapt quickly and develop into a very competitive driver. He stepped into the car for the first time in Valencia and was instantly on the pace, and I am certain he will be fighting for wins in 2026.”
A promising step into single-seaters
Cegielski now begins a key transition from karting to car racing with a team known for developing championship-winning talent. With strong international experience, disciplined preparation, and early signs of pace, he enters GB4 as one of the more intriguing rookies on the 2026 grid.
If he continues his rapid adaptation, he could emerge as a regular contender for strong results during his debut season.
