Elite Motorsport

Not to be confused with Élite Motorsport, a similarly-named Italian racing team.

Elite Motorsport

Founded	2011
Base	Norfolk, England
Team principal(s)	Eddie Ives
Founder(s)	Eddie Ives
Current series	GB3 Championship GB4 Championship Ginetta Junior Championship Ginetta GT4 Supercup Ginetta GT5 Challenge GT4 European Series International GT Open
Current drivers	GB3 Championship: 16. Bianca Bustamante 55. Flynn Jackes GB4 Championship: 35. Isaac Phelps 46. Ary Bansal 51. Alexandros Kattoulas GT4 European Series: 78. McKenzy Cresswell Josh Rattican International GT Open: 17. Tom Emson Tom Lebbon
Website	https://www.elitemotorsport.co.uk

Elite Motorsport is a British motorsport team. A mainstay in the national junior single-seater scene, it participates in the GB3 Championship, GB4 Championship as well as Ginetta one-make series, including the Ginetta Junior Championship. It is also active in sports car racing, fielding a McLaren in the GT4 European Series before stepping up to the International GT Open with Ferrari. ^{[1] [2]}

Notable past drivers for the team include Adam Smalley, Harry King, Louis Foster, Javier Sagrera, James Hedley, John Bennett and Will Macintyre.

History

According to Elite Motorsport's website, the team was established in late 2011 by Eddie Ives. ^[3] At the time of establishment, the team intended to compete in 750 Motor Club's racing series. ^[4]

In 2014, Elite Motorsport ran their self-created car, called Elite Pulse in Sport Specials in 2014. ^[4]

GB3 Championship

In November 2020, Elite Motorsport announced its GB3 Championship (then known as BRDC British Formula 3 Championship) debut in 2021, replacing Lanan Racing. ^[5] In its BRDC F3 debut season, Elite Motorsport signed Javier Sagrera, Tom Lebbon and José Garfias. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

For the 2022 GB3 season, Tom Lebbon remained with Elite Motorsport. The team signed James Hedley and John Bennett for remaining two cars. ^[9] Later, James Hedley switched to JHR Developments from the fifth round. ^[10] Ayato Iwasaki joined Elite Motorsport for the final round. ^[11]

In 2023, the team signed Oliver Stewart and McKenzy Cresswell, ^{[12] [13]} while Ayato Iwasaki remained with Elite Motorsport for a full season. ^[14] However, Patrick Heuzenroeder replaced Ayato Iwasaki for the last two rounds. ^[15]

For the 2024 season, the team signed Jarrod Waberski and Hugo Schwarze, while retaining McKenzy Cresswell. ^[16]

For 2025, the team signed Will Macintyre and two Filipina drivers: Bianca Bustamante and Flynn Jackes. ^{[17] [18] [19]} Midway through the season, Macintyre was forced to step away from racing following diagnoses of lung and brain cancer. He had won a race and scored two podiums. ^[20]

GB4 Championship

In October 2021, it was announced that Elite Motorsport was one of the first eight teams committed with GB4 for the 2022 season. ^[21]

Sports car racing

GT4 European Series

Under partnership with Entire Race Engineering, the team competed in 2024 GT4 European Series, fielding two McLaren Artura GT4s. ^[22] In 2025, the team fielded Josh Rattican and McKenzy Cresswell, also in a McLaren Artura GT4. ^[23]

International GT Open

In September 2024, Elite Motorsport purchased a Ferrari 296 GT3 for its International GT Open debut in 2025. ^[2] In its debut season, Elite Motorsport signed Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon. ^[24]

Current series results

GB3 Championship

Year	Car	Drivers	Races	Wins	Poles	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	D.C.	T.C.
2021	Tatuus-Cosworth F4-016	Tom Lebbon	24	0	0	0	1	288	9th	5th
		Javier Sagrera	24	0	0	1	1	265	10th
		José Garfias	15	0	0	0	0	117	17th
		James Hedley	3	0	0	0	0	23	26th
2022	Tatuus- Cosworth MSV-022	Tom Lebbon	24	4	1	1	5	363.5	3rd	3rd
		John Bennett	24	0	0	0	1	262.5	8th
		James Hedley†	21	0	0	0	1	156	17th
		Ayato Iwasaki	3	0	0	0	0	24	23rd
2023	Tatuus- Cosworth MSV-022	McKenzy Cresswell	23	1	1	2	8	390	4th	5th
		Oliver Stewart	22	1	0	1	1	150	16th
		Ayato Iwasaki	12	0	0	0	1	85	24th
		Patrick Heuzenroeder	6	0	0	0	1	21	26th
2024	Tatuus- Cosworth MSV-022	McKenzy Cresswell	23	2	3	1	8	376	4th	3rd
		Jarrod Waberski	23	0	0	0	3	286	6th
		Hugo Schwarze	23	0	0	0	0	219	9th
2025	Tatuus- Cosworth MSV-025	Bianca Bustamante
		William Macintyre
		Flynn Jackes

† Hedley drove for JHR Developments from round 5 onwards.

GB4 Championship

Year	Car	Drivers	Races	Wins	Poles	F/Laps	Podiums	Points	D.C.	T.C.
2022	Tatuus F4-T014	Jack Sherwood	23	2	1	5	9	417	5th	N/A
		Alex Walker	12	3	3	2	5	244	8th
		William Macintyre	3	0	0	1	2	71	13th
2023	Tatuus F4-T014	Harri Reynolds	9	1	0	1	2	125	12th	6th
		Josh Irfan	9	0	0	0	1	117	13th
		Theo Micouris	3	0	0	0	0	44	19th
		Finn Harrison	3	0	0	0	0	29	21st
2024	Tatuus F4-T014	Alisha Palmowski	20	3	2	1	11	422	2nd	2nd
		Finn Harrison	20	2	4	1	5	291	6th
		Nick Ellis	3	0	0	0	0	29	18th
2025	Tatuus MSV GB4-025	Isaac Phelps
		Ary Bansal
		Alexandros Kattoulas

Timeline

Current series
Ginetta Junior Championship	2015–present
Ginetta GT4 Supercup	2018–present
Ginetta GT5 Challenge	2019–present
GB3 Championship	2021–present
GB4 Championship	2022–present
GT4 European Series	2023–present
GT4 Winter Series	2024–present
International GT Open	2025–present
Former series
Mini Challenge UK	2020
French GT4 Cup	2024

References

1. "Elite Motorsport plans GT4 European Series entry with twin McLaren Arturas". GT4 European Series . SRO Motorsports Group. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
2. "Elite Motorsport Purchases Ferrari 296 GT3 For GT Open". Dailysportscar. 25 September 2024. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
3. "Team". Elite Motorsport. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
4. Lickorish, Stephen (10 March 2020). "From humble club beginnings to the national racing elite" . Autosport . Retrieved 4 September 2025.
5. Allen, Peter (9 November 2020). "Elite Motorsport to replace Lanan Racing on BRDC British F3 grid". Formula Scout. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
6. Wood, Ida (1 February 2021). "Elite Motorsport announces Javier Sagrera as first British F3 signing". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
7. Wood, Ida (11 February 2021). "Ginetta Junior champion Tom Lebbon follows Elite into BRDC British F3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
8. Allen, Peter (18 February 2021). "Elite completes British F3 line-up with NACAM F4 graduate Garfias". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
9. Whitfield, Steve (13 April 2022). "2022 GB3 team-by-team season preview". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
10. Wood, Ida (21 July 2022). "Hedley leaves Elite Motorsport for JHR Developments in GB3". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
11. Whitfield, Steve (11 October 2022). "Japanese teenager Ayato Iwasaki joins Elite for Donington GB3 finale". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
12. Wood, Ida (16 March 2023). "British F4 graduate Oliver Stewart makes GB3 step with Elite Motorsport". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
13. Wood, Ida (15 December 2022). "McKenzy Cresswell switches to Elite for second GB3 campaign". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
14. Wood, Ida (9 March 2023). "Ayato Iwasaki commits to full GB3 season with Elite Motorsport". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
15. Whitfield, Steve (10 October 2023). "Heuzenroeder to make GB3 debut at Zandvoort with Elite Motorsport". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
16. Whitfield, Steve (28 March 2024). "2024 GB3 season preview: Can series rookies beat the old guard?". Formula Scout. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
17. "Will Macintyre moves back to Elite Motorsport for GB3 return". GB3 Championship . 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
18. "Flynn Jackes completes Elite Motorsport's GB3 line-up". GB3 Championship . 24 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
19. "Bianca Bustamante to make GB3 Championship debut with Elite Motorsport". GB3 Championship . 19 December 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
20. RacingNews365 Staff (17 September 2025). "Cancer diagnosis forces young British racer to step away from motorsport". RacingNews365. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
21. Craig Woollard (29 October 2021). "Top GB3, British F4 and FF1600 teams among eight committed to GB4". Formula Scout. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
22. "Elite Motorsport prepares for second GT4 European Series season". Endurance-Info. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
23. "2025 ENTRY: Elite and Rattican return in search of history". GT4 European Series . SRO Motorsports Group. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
24. "Emson and Lebbon to drive the Ferrari 296 in Elite's GT Open maiden season". International GT Open . 30 January 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.

External links

• Official website