McKenzy Cresswell returns to the GB3 Championship with Elite Motorsport in 2024, with all eyes set on a sustained challenge for title honours.
The BRDC Rising Star, who celebrates his 18th birthday next Tuesday (16 January), is embarking on his third GB3 season, having finished 11th and fourth in the final standings across the past two years.
Across his two campaigns he has accumulated nine podium finishes, with eight of those coming last year, including his maiden victory at Silverstone in July. Cresswell, who spent his early life in Austin, Texas, fought back from a tricky opening event at Oulton Park to remain in title contention heading to the Donington Park season finale in October. He also claimed a maiden series pole position at Zandvoort, during the penultimate event of the year.
Prior to entering GB3 in 2022, Cresswell won more races, claimed more fastest laps, and scored more podiums than any other driver in his rookie British F4 season in 2021, finishing third in the final standings, just 26-points behind the title winner.
McKenzy Cresswell said: “I must win the championship this season. I’m staying with a great team, Elite Motorsport, and we’ve previously shown we can run at the front. With the exception of the first event at Oulton Park, we were on the pace last year.
“After the misfortune of the opening races, we were last in the Championship so it became a ‘catch-up’ season. We improved at every round and I clawed back to fourth.
“GB3 is a great championship to develop as a driver. There are endless lessons to be learnt and experience to be gained. Winning races and being fast is one thing but what really can make or break your season is how you minimise your losses and ensure you are scoring as many points as possible when not at the very front.
“Despite offers following my FIA Formula 3 Championship debut at Silverstone and the Red Bull Ring last year, we simply didn’t have the budget to move up to F3 in 2024. I wanted to remain racing single-seaters in Europe so weighed up the options and returning to GB3 made the most sense. It is a cost-effective championship that is growing in popularity and exposure.
“Elite have proven their quality in GB3 and have shown they have a strong package as well as a very talented engineering core. I am well integrated into the team having done a full year with them already, so staying on for this year made the most sense. We gained a lot of experience and towards the end of the season, started achieving some great results.”
Team Owner and Manager Eddie Ives said: “I’m very pleased and proud that McKenzy has chosen to remain in GB3 with Elite Motorsport.
“McKenzy was super fast in 2023 and had it not been for an unlucky opening event last season, I’m fairly confident he would have been fighting for the overall title throughout the season.
“As a team we are working hard to improve various aspects of our excellent GB3 package.
“With the continuity of having McKenzy with us again this coming season, I’m confident this will provide a very strong 2024 GB3 campaign for us.”
10 January 2024
