Idola Motorsport's Jay Leverton is preparing for his car racing debut this season in GB4, and the Stoke-on-Trent resident is in confident mood heading into pre-season testing.
The 16-year-old will drive the Tatuus MSV GB4-025 car for the first time in private testing this week, having achieved plenty of mileage in previous-generation machinery.
"I’ve not been in the new GB4 car yet, I’ve always been doing practice in the old one, but they say it’s a lot nicer to drive with the new car so hopefully I’ll be alright in it" he reckons. "The team is getting me prepared for it and I’m excited to drive it.
"It’s a big step but I think I’m prepared, I’ve got a good driver coach and a good team on my back and they’re definitely going to get me ready for the season."
Despite a lack of experience compared to his rivals, his team has already reported positively on his pace, and Leverton is hopeful of an eye catching campaign with the Cheshire-based team.
"I’m very confident in it and I think that I can win the season with the team that I’ve got and the talent that I’ve got. There’s a lot of drivers out there that are going to give me a challenge, but I think I can definitely challenge for the title.
"I’ve already created a bond with the team, good friendships and they support me all the way. So every race that I do, if I have a bad one or a bad test session, they’re always on my back and always helping me to get through it. It’s an unreal team to be with and hopefully we can make some special moments together this year."
The unveiling of his car livery for the season at Stoke City Football Club's Bet 365 Stadium, where he was accompanied by first team players Aaron Cresswell and Frank Fielding, has added further to the pre-season positivity.
"It’s been brilliant, I just want to say a big thank you to Stoke for letting me come down and do the unveiling of the car. I love the car, it was actually my first time seeing it, the car is absolutely unreal, stunning, and it’s going to catch people’s eyes on the grid."
Jay's first experience of the car will come at his closest venue, Oulton Park, but he's most looking forward to hitting Grand Prix venues once the season starts.
"I’m really excited for Silverstone to be fair, I’ve driven it a lot on the sim and been there once, but I’m most excited for it. It’s an F1 circuit and a proper circuit, a big circuit and I think I’m going to be more comfortable there."
Should he enjoy a strong season, the British hopeful is targeting a rapid ascent further up the ladder.
"I just want to keep going and evolving, winning races. Hopefully this season we can win it and then move on either to GB3 or F3, and then ideally keep going up from there, hopefully to F1 one day, or even drive in GTs or something. Anywhere in my career that people offer, I’ll hopefully be able to take them up on it and have a good career."
