With the new era of the F4 British Championship ushered in for 2022, it was the perfect time for successful single-seater outfit Chris Dittmann Racing to expand into the series, alongside the continuation of their race winning GB3 campaign efforts.

Perched in the back of the truck during a rainy post-season test day at Snetterton, team owner Chris Dittmann took the time to look back over the team’s busy first year in the F4 British Championship, and how it continues to build upon its ethos of driver development across both series.

“Our first year in British F4 was a really positive experience, and a big learning year for the whole team,” he says. “Last season was the perfect time for us to come into the championship and start on a level playing field. We had a good experience already of Tatuus cars and the Pirelli tyre from GB3, so we knew it would be a good fit for our team.”

“This year we were getting drivers in with varying experience levels, some coming from championships like Ginetta Juniors and some fresh from karting, so we focused a lot on helping them settle into a new series and develop their driving style to the new car.”

With the team’s long history in the single-seater scene, an expansion into the F4 British Championship allowed them to open up a new channel to bring drivers through the ranks.

“It has always been quite difficult with GB3 to get drivers through from the lower formulas because a lot of teams already do the two championships and have been able to offer a more obvious path, so it was time for us to do the same,” he says.

“We found a lot of drivers over the years who have been running in GB3, have come from a year or so of F4 but haven’t been taught the right techniques. It’s great to have drivers with natural talent, but it’s so important to also teach them the right habits at a younger age.”

Since the team’s inception in 2010, its core values have reflected the endeavour to support young drivers in their first step onto the single-seater ladder. Working with four different racers over the course of the F4 season, the team worked hard to build each driver’s experience in the car and help to develop their skills through extensive work, both on and off track.

“All our drivers developed very quickly from where they started with us. For example, we had Jack Sherwood who came from GB4 which is a very different car. In the first few test sessions, it was a bit of a struggle for him to adapt, but once the penny dropped, he was consistently in the top 10, if not top five on pace for some races,” Chris says.

“That was a huge improvement from him, but it also shows the level we go to, to help our drivers to dial into the right frame of mind and get the most out of the car. There have been plenty of examples this year but working with Jack especially has been quite rewarding.”

Drivers competing with the team in the GB3 Championship have also benefitted from the facilities at the Chris Dittmann Racing HQ, and expertise of the team and driver coaches. Zak Taylor’s late move to the team for the last two rounds is a prime example of the support offered to young drivers to unlock their full potential. “Zak had encountered a few challenges over the year and was feeling a lack of support from his previous team,” says Chris.

“Even though he was only with us for the final two rounds, he settled into the team so quickly and it felt like he had been here all season. He went straight out and was in the top ten in almost every session, so it showed what he’s capable of, as well as the work we put in on the simulator and beyond to make him feel comfortable and prepared. It was really great to see him have a strong end to the year and show everybody what he can do.”

Working with mostly first year drivers in both championships, the focus was firmly on helping the drivers make improvements in time and technique. “Every team or racing driver wants to go for wins, but sometimes you have to be realistic about who you’re racing against. A lot of drivers on the grid were second or third year drivers with a lot more experience to pull from,” Chris says.

“We’ve been working with mostly rookies this year, so the results we’ve had have been impressive considering their previous experience levels and where they’ve come from. It’s a testament to their talent as well as to the whole team for guiding them and bringing them up to that level.”

With podium appearances in both championships and a win at Brands Hatch for GB3 driver Branden Oxley, it is clear the team are headed in the right direction, and Chris is confident that their learning experiences last season will help the team to hit the ground running in 2023. “We’ve learned a lot about both the F4 and GB3 cars this season. Our engineers have been working really hard to understand the ins and outs of the cars over the course of the season. We’ve got to a place now with both cars that we know the specific sort of changes we need to make circuit to circuit,” he says.

“It goes without saying that the goal is always to win, and we’re more than capable of doing that as a team. It’s a case of having the right drivers on board and working hard to achieve that together. Nothing’s easy in this game, but if we put the effort and preparation in, it’s definitely achievable.”