Zak O'Sullivan becomes youngest driver ever to be selected for BRDC SuperStars

Created by 1996 Formula One world champion Damon Hill, BRDC Superstars focuses on developing the most promising young British drivers across all classes of racing.

Aged 16, O’Sullivan is the most junior member of the programme in its 12-year history and has been selected after an impressive maiden year in British F4 in 2020.

He is following in the footsteps of Formula Two runner-up Callum Ilott, 22, and double BTCC champion Ash Sutton, 27, in being invited to join the programme, where drivers are selected based on their on-track accomplishments and off-track demeanour.

Writing to O’Sullivan to announce the news, BRDC Superstars director, Andy Meyrick, said: “You have demonstrated the skills and capabilities of someone who has the key ingredients to be a future top-level professional racing driver.”

O’Sullivan, from Withington, near Cirencester, took nine wins and 18 podiums on his way to becoming runner-up in F4, only missing out on the title in dramatic circumstances in the final race at Brands Hatch. He will graduate to the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship in 2021.

Benefitting from a tailored programme of advice and development to suit his requirements, it is hoped his inclusion as a BRDC SuperStar will give him the assistance he needs to rise through the ranks of the sport and work towards qualifying for full membership of the BRDC.

He said: “It’s a genuine honour to be selected for the BRDC SuperStars programme after only two years of car racing. I’m really grateful to Andy and the team at the BRDC for showing faith in me – I’ll be doing all I can to repay that across the season.

“I’m really looking forward to stepping up to British F3 this year and knowing I have the BRDC’s support as I do that is really special.”

After his winter testing programme is complete, Zak will return to competitive action when the British F3 season gets underway at Brands Hatch over the weekend of May 22 and 23.