Reigning British F4 champion Kiern Jewiss is ramping up his preparations for his maiden campaign in BRDC British F3 with the Douglas Motorsport team.

The 16-year-old dominated British F4 last year, and has been hard at work in recent weeks as he gets to grips with the BRDC British F3 car, and he’s looking forward to the challenge ahead.

“I’m really pleased to be moving into British F3 for 2019, it’s going to be an exciting new challenge that I can’t wait to start,” he commented. “Racing across the country is such a privilege and to be able to meet lots of fans, and having my friends, family and sponsors able to come to watch me is a real pleasure.”

The roll call of previous British F3 champions is amongst the most extensive in motorsport history, with Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen and Daniel Ricciardo just a few of the many notable drivers to have claimed the crown. Linus Lundqvist took the honours last year and Jewiss hopes to add his name to that prestigious list.

“British F3 is a great championship that is filled with history and I’d love to add my name to the history books. The step from F4 to F3 is a big one and British F3 is the perfect platform for me to develop my skills. The cars are quick and reliable, you get a lot of track time, plus I’m racing on circuits that I already know, so I feel I’ll be able to grow very quickly behind the wheel by racing in British F3.”

Jewiss’ graduation to British F3 also means a reunion with the Douglas Motorsport team that powered him to the Rookie title in Ginetta Juniors, and fourth overall in 2017, and also means he’ll be racing against the Double R team with whom he claimed the F4 title last year.

“Wayne [Douglas] and the Douglas team are great friends of mine and I’m looking forward to getting back to racing with them this year. Even after I stopped racing in Ginettas with Wayne he was in the paddock and we still maintained a great relationship, so I hope we can be even more successful together than we were in Ginettas.

“It’s going to be strange racing against Double R this year as they were my racing family last year and they’re a fantastic team who won the F3 drivers’ championship in 2018. I’ve got good friends there too and I’m looking forward to going toe to toe with them on track.”

The Brit enjoyed his first seat time in the Tatuus Cosworth British F3 car towards the end of the 2018 season, and came close to making a debut in the series in the final rounds. Since then he’s been back behind the wheel, including a snowy visit to Brands Hatch last week, and has enjoyed getting to grips with his new machine.

“I managed to get a few runs in the car last year thanks to Wayne and there was an opportunity for me to do some rounds but I wanted to give the British F4 title fight my full focus. The car is a lot of fun to drive, there’s more downforce, it’s quicker in a straight line, the brakes are really strong so you have to have a lot more confidence in yourself and the car to be able to drive on the limit.”

A successful 2018 meant Jewiss became the youngest finalist in the history of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award and logic would suggest that another strong season would see him nominated once more. But at this stage, Jewiss is keeping expectations in check.

“I’m not setting myself any expectations this year, I’m just going to do what I did last year and taking it one race at a time. Entering the series as an F4 champion doesn’t count for anything and my aim is to go out and do the best I can every time I get in the car.

“It’s a new championship and I’m going to need to improve every session in order to be a winner. I’m a quick learner, so who know what the championship will look like come September but I know that I will be working as hard as I can to be at the top.”