Idola Motorsport has confirmed Jay Leverton as the first driver in its 2026 GB4 Championship line-up. The 16-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent will make his car racing debut after progressing through a structured karting and testing pathway with the team.
The announcement took place at Stoke City FC’s Bet365 Stadium, where Leverton also unveiled his 2026 GB4 livery. As a result, he begins his single-seater career with strong backing and a clear development plan in place.
Karting progress builds strong foundation
Leverton has competed in karting since 2021, starting his journey with the TeamSport Indoor Karting Cadet Academy. He quickly established himself as a consistent performer, winning the British Indoor Karting Championship local finals in consecutive seasons.
He also claimed the Total Karting Zero Junior Northern Championship in 2022, which marked an early highlight in his career. As he moved into outdoor racing in 2023, he continued to develop in the National Karting Cup Championship and the Superone Series within the Junior Rotax category.
Alongside his racing commitments, he strengthened his preparation through simulator work at the Young Racing Driver Academy from 2023 onwards. Consequently, he built a strong technical foundation ahead of his transition into cars.
Testing programme prepares move to single-seaters
Leverton began real-world single-seater preparation with Idola Motorsport at the start of 2025. He completed extensive GB4 testing mileage at circuits including Anglesey and Donington Park, where he continued to improve his speed and consistency.
These sessions allowed him to adapt gradually to the demands of car racing machinery. Therefore, he enters 2026 with valuable experience despite this being his first full competitive season in cars. His debut race will take place at the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on 25–26 April, marking the official start of his GB4 career.
Leverton has expressed excitement about beginning his single-seater journey with Idola Motorsport and believes the partnership provides a strong platform for success.
“I am really excited to be joining Idola Motorsport for the GB4 2026 season after a great testing program. Idola Motorsport has more than 20 years racing experience and is well known for doing an excellent job.
“I believe that with their strong reputation and my passion for racing, we can work well together and achieve some incredible results on the track. I can’t wait to see what this season has in store for us!”
Idola Motorsport has also highlighted Leverton’s steady development throughout the testing programme and expects further progress during the 2026 season.
“We are excited for Jay to continue his pathway with Idola Motorsport for the 2026 season. After spending 2025 within our testing program, Jay has increased his speed and consistency throughout and we can’t wait to see how his performance develops on track in 2026 with the team.”
A structured pathway into GB4
Leverton now steps into GB4 with a carefully managed progression from karting to cars, supported by extensive preparation and a long-term development focus. With testing experience already in place and a full season ahead, he begins his rookie campaign in a strong learning environment.
If he continues his upward trajectory, he could establish himself as one of the more consistent first-year drivers in the 2026 GB4 Championship.
