Hitech has added Jacob Micallef to its GB3 Championship line-up for selected rounds during the remainder of the 2026 season. The 16-year-old will step into the programme as Jin Nakamura leaves the championship to focus fully on his FIA Formula 3 campaign. Meanwhile, Micallef will continue to contest the complete F4 Spanish Championship season alongside his new GB3 commitments.
His first appearance will come at the Hungaroring from 2–5 July, where he will become the first Maltese driver to race in the GB3 Championship.
Micallef welcomes major career opportunity
Micallef will move into GB3 during only his first full season in single-seater racing. The category represents the next stage of his development and sits one step below FIA Formula 3 on the junior single-seater pathway.
The Maltese driver expressed his excitement at joining Hitech while also highlighting the significance of representing his country.
“I’m incredibly excited to be joining Hitech for these races in the GB3 Championship. Stepping up to this championship only one step away from FIA F3 in only my first season is an unbelievable opportunity, and I can’t wait to learn and develop as a driver alongside such a professional outfit.
“Flying the Maltese flag in the championship means everything to me, and I’m determined to make my country proud.
“A huge thank you to my family, my sponsors, my management team and Hitech for believing in me.”
The selected-round programme will allow Micallef to gain experience in faster and more technically demanding machinery while maintaining his primary F4 campaign.
Strong F4 form earns GB3 promotion
Micallef has already attracted attention during the early stages of his first full single-seater season. He claimed pole position at Portimão during only the second round of the 2026 F4 Spanish Championship. That performance demonstrated his one-lap pace and strengthened his case for an opportunity higher up the single-seater ladder.
Before joining the Spanish series, Micallef made his car-racing debut in the F4 Saudi Championship at the end of 2025. He recorded two top-10 finishes during the opening round at the Bahrain International Circuit and quickly adapted to the demands of formula racing.
Hitech has now chosen to accelerate his development by introducing him to GB3 competition before the conclusion of his first complete F4 season.
Hitech backs emerging Maltese talent
Phil Blow, Hitech GB3 Championship Team Manager, believes Micallef has shown enough early promise to justify the promotion. The team will use the selected events to assess his progress while helping him adapt to a higher level of performance and competition.
“We’re delighted to announce Jacob for selected rounds of our GB3 Championship campaign and to promote another young and emerging talent to the next level of single-seater racing. Even at this early stage of his career, he has made an impressive start in the F4 Spanish Championship and has adapted smoothly to life in single-seaters after a strong karting career.
“We believe this is the right opportunity for Jacob to demonstrate his potential at the next level and we look forward to welcoming him to the team in Budapest next month.”
Hitech has regularly supported young drivers as they progress through the junior categories. Therefore, the programme will give Micallef access to an experienced team as he takes on the most significant challenge of his career so far.
Karting success provided early foundation
Micallef developed his racing career within Malta’s motorsport community before moving into international karting and single-seater competition. He followed his father, Duncan Micallef, into motorsport. However, while Duncan achieved success as an FIA Top Fuel Drag Racing Champion, Jacob pursued a route through karting and junior formula racing. Jacob finished third in the FIA Karting European Championship’s OK category before stepping up to the F4 Saudi Championship one year later. His karting experience gave him a strong technical and competitive foundation as he began his transition into cars.
He has since maintained that momentum through his performances in Saudi Arabia and Spain.
Hungaroring presents first GB3 test
The Hungaroring will host Micallef’s first races with Hitech’s GB3 squad from 2–5 July. The technical Budapest circuit will provide a demanding introduction to the championship. Its long sequences of corners reward precision, rhythm and confidence, while limited overtaking opportunities increase the importance of qualifying.
Micallef must also adapt to the GB3 car’s greater speed, aerodynamic grip and braking performance. However, his recent single-seater progress and Hitech’s experience should support that transition.
The weekend will mark an important moment for both Micallef and Maltese motorsport. More importantly, it will give the teenager an early opportunity to measure himself against drivers who already compete at the next level of the single-seater pathway.
