Australian youngster Jack Clifford will make his European racing debut with Kevin Mills Racing in the 2023 GB4 Championship.
The 17-year-old is a graduate of Australian Formula Ford racing, having competed in three different categories in his homeland, in addition to several karting campaigns.
He began karting at the age of eight in Melbourne with his first race coming at Todd Road as a nine-year-old.
Grassroots success led to the step up into Formula Ford machinery in 2021, making his single-seater debut shortly after his 16th birthday. His first campaign in Kent Formula Fords in Australia saw him take third in the championship with a win and nine podiums, emulating his father Andrew, who was a regular Australian Formula Ford and Formula 3 contender in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
From there, he competed in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship in a Duratec-powered Mygale last year, and scored podiums in the second half of the season as well as three fastest laps, while also completing a one-off entry in the Australian Formula Ford Championship.
He now makes the switch to slicks and wings competition with reigning Teams’ Champions Kevin Mills Racing in GB4, joining American Jeremy Fairbairn at the Gloucestershire-based squad.
Jack Clifford said: “I’m ecstatic to be competing in the GB4 Championship in Britain this year. It’s a big step on the motorsport ladder, especially coming from Australia. It is a great stepping stone category as it competes on world class race tracks, has tremendous exposure as well as great driving standards. I look forward to becoming one with the Tatuus GB4 car and the Kevin Mills Racing team, and cannot wait to race as I take this next step in my career!
“The learning curve in England is much steeper than Australia, and one which will develop my driving throughout the year. I look forward to working with the 2022 Teams’ Championship winners, the Kevin Mills Racing team.”
Team Principal Kevin Mills said: “We’re really looking forward to working with Jack in the 2023 GB4 Championship. He comes to us with some good Formula Ford experience in Australia, and we will be working very hard to help him make the adaptation to slicks and wings. We’ve got some good pre-season testing planned, and alongside Jeremy Fairbairn, we’re building another really strong international driver line-up as we look to defend our title.
“Having now filled two seats, we’re now exploring options regards expanding to three cars, as we continue to receive interest and enquiries from prospective drivers.”
17 January 2023
