Yani Stevenheydens will replace the injured Emmilio Valentino Del Grosso at Elite Motorsport for this weekend’s GB4 event at Donington Park, after receiving the call-up at short notice.
Del Grosso sustained an injury during last weekend’s Zolder 24 Hours and is unable to compete safely at Donington. Stevenheydens will consequently take over the Venezuelan’s No. 5 car, having already joined Elite for Thursday’s pre-event testing and immediately featured inside the top 10.
The 20-year-old Belgian already knows the team through his GT4 European Series programme and normally attends GB4 events alongside Del Grosso in a coaching role. However, his Donington appearance marks a rapid switch back into single-seater competition after previous experience in F4 and Eurocup-3.
Stevenheydens receives last-minute Donington call-up
Stevenheydens only learned on the morning before testing that he would race at Donington, leaving him with little preparation time before getting into the current-generation Tatuus MSV GB4-025.
Although he regularly works alongside Del Grosso during GB4 weekends, Stevenheydens had expected to remain in his usual supporting role until the extent of the Venezuelan’s injuries made a replacement necessary. Elite therefore turned to a driver already familiar with the team and its working environment.
“It was very last minute!” Stevenheydens commented. “Only yesterday morning I found out that I was driving myself. Normally I’m always here with Emmilio, helping him out as a driver coach. But unfortunately, due to the injuries sustained, he can’t really make it out in a safe way, so we decided that it was my time to jump in.
“It’s a very last minute thing, I’ve almost never driven GB4 before, I’ve never been around Donington, so there’ll be a big learning curve, but at the same time it’s good to help the team out of it.”
The circumstances give Stevenheydens two simultaneous challenges, with both the car and the circuit largely unfamiliar as he prepares for his first competitive GB4 weekend.
Limited GB4 mileage before first proper test
Stevenheydens’ previous experience of the GB4-025 amounted only to a short shakedown in which he completed around 10 laps to check that the car was functioning correctly. Thursday therefore represented his first opportunity to properly push the machinery and begin understanding its limits.
Despite that lack of mileage, the Belgian ended the opening day of Donington testing inside the top 10 without using new tyres. He admitted that he was still learning even basic procedures in the car while simultaneously trying to build competitive pace.
“I did one day, but like 10 laps, just testing the cars to see if everything was working. So I’ve never pushed the car before. So we’re still learning, yesterday I didn’t even know how to get it into neutral again! But it’s going very well, yesterday I was already inside the top 10 while not going on any new tyres.”
His immediate pace gives Elite an encouraging starting point despite the disrupted preparation, particularly with another day of testing available before the competitive sessions begin.
F4 and Eurocup-3 experience raises expectations
Stevenheydens arrives in GB4 with significantly more single-seater experience than a conventional debutant. He finished runner-up in the 2024 French F4 Championship before progressing into Eurocup-3, giving him experience of machinery both below and above the performance level he will encounter this weekend.
That background means he does not intend to treat Donington solely as an exercise in collecting mileage. Although adapting quickly remains the first priority, Stevenheydens believes his previous experience should allow him to challenge for meaningful results once he becomes comfortable in the car.
“At the same time it’s fun, but I also want to perform, of course. Having the experience from F4, EuroCup 3, higher championships, for sure, we want to get some podiums in and help the team out with as many championship points as possible.”
His familiarity with Elite should also reduce part of the learning curve. Stevenheydens already knows the personnel and working methods through his GT4 programme, allowing him to focus more heavily on understanding the GB4 car and Donington itself.
Del Grosso remains with Elite during Donington weekend
Although unable to race, Del Grosso will remain with Elite Motorsport at Donington and continue supporting the team throughout the weekend. His injury has therefore interrupted his GB4 programme rather than removing him completely from the event.
The Venezuelan is targeting a rapid return and currently hopes to be back in the car for next Thursday’s test at Brands Hatch. That session will begin preparations for the final event of the 2026 season on the Grand Prix circuit later this month.
Stevenheydens’ Donington appearance is consequently expected to remain a one-off substitution if Del Grosso’s recovery progresses as planned. For now, Elite will rely on the Belgian to convert an unexpected opportunity into points as the championship reaches its penultimate round.
