Red Bull and Honda Junior Souta Arao will drive for Hitech GP in GB3 this season.

The 17-year-old  drove superbly in French F4 last year taking three wins on his way to third in the Championship. 

In his rookie season, Arao finished behind the more experienced Hugh Barter and eventual champion Alessandro Giusti.

The Japanese driver is ecstatic to be stepping up to GB3: “I am delighted to be competing in GB3 this season. Both GB3 and Hitech GP have a long history, and I’m really looking forward to a year of racing in such a great environment! 

My participation would not be possible without the support of Honda and Red Bull, and I look forward to working hard with the team from the first GB3 tests.”

Prior to making his F4 debut last year, Arao won the Suzuka Racing School Formula scholarship. He was chosen by former F1 driver and double Indy 500 winner Takuma Sato and fellow ex F1 racer Shinji Nakano as the best performer.

The Red Bull Junior will be partnered by the British F4 Champion Alex Dunne.

The Silverstone-based team look to repeat their Teams and Drivers Championship successes in 2022 with Luke Browning.

Hitech are running four Red Bull Junior Team drivers with Arao in GB3 as well as Sebastian Montoya in FIA F3, Isack Hadjar and Jak Crawford further up the ladder in FIA Formula 2.

Team Principal Oliver Oakes said: ”We are proud to continue our relationship with Red Bull for another season.

“It will see us bring two exciting talents, Jak and Isack, to the FIA F2 grid, who have proven themselves with strong results in F3. 

We are delighted to see Montoya step up to FIA F3 after testing with us last November in Jerez, alongside French F4 race-winner Arao who has had some promising results as he joins the GB3 grid. 

“It’s an exciting pool of drivers and we look forward to fighting for victories on track.”