Xcel Motorsport has confirmed that Ricardo Baptista will join the team for the 2026 GB3 Championship season.
The Brazilian driver steps up to GB3 with good experience at F4 level, having contested last year’s Brazilian F4 Championship, taking a victory at Autódromo Velo Città mid-season. In all he secured 15 top-10 finishes from the 21 races, and was a constant presence inside the top-six in the second half of the campaign.
Having followed his father, also named Ricardo, into racing, the 18-year-old has also competed in Spanish F4 and the Formula Winter Series, as well as a round of the Euroformula Open Championship at the Red Bull Ring.
He started his 2026 preparations in the Formula Regional Oceania Trophy, and now turns his attentions to the GB3 Championship with frontrunners Xcel, who powered Patrick Heuzenroeder to the runner-up spot in last year’s standings.
Ricardo Baptista: “I’m incredibly excited to be joining Xcel Motorsport for the 2026 GB3 Championship. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with such a motivated and professional team, and I’m really looking forward to getting started. The goal is to work hard together, build strong momentum throughout the season, and fight for strong results. I can’t wait to begin testing and start this new journey with the team.”
Team Principal Gary Bonnor: “We’re very pleased to welcome Ricardo to Xcel Motorsport for the 2026 GB3 season. He’s a talented driver with great potential, and we believe he will fit extremely well within our team environment. We’re excited to work with him and support his development throughout the year. We’re confident that together we can achieve some strong performances.”
10 March 2026
