Zak O’Sullivan, the 2021 GB3 champion, 2023 Formula 3 runner-up and 2024 Formula 2 race-winner got behind the wheel of a Pace Performance GB4 car at Donington Park last week, as part of his role with the series newcomers.
The British driver, who drove contemporary F1 machinery with Williams as recently as December 2023 is no stranger to the MSV paddock of course, and immediately showed that the Pace Performance squad can live up to its name by setting the fifth quickest time on the first day of the official Media Day test.
“I really enjoyed it,” he commented. “I’ve not been in a Tatuus MSV configuration car since 2021 when I raced the old GB3 car but it was good to get back and also nice for me to feel that the DNA of the car in its GB3 form has stayed put in GB4. I really enjoyed my time in the car.”
The new Tatuus MSV GB4-025 machine has already received an enormously positive response from teams and drivers, and O’Sullivan’s view is no different.
“I think it’s really good, one of the flaws of other cars at this level is that there’s no differential in them, so they require a bit of a unique driving style to get used to.
“In this new GB4 car however, there’s a lot of carryover parts from GB3 which means there is a differential on the car. It improves the driver’s feeling and means they’re used to it when moving up into bigger cars. From that side I was pleasantly surprised with the way it handled and it felt like a car faster than it actually is almost!”
O’Sullivan will have a busy season ahead, having already started a campaign in Japan’s Super Formula category in addition to further races in Super GT and a role with the Envision Racing Formula E team. When his commitments allow, he expects to be in the GB4 paddock assisting with the development of Pace’s confirmed driver Josh McLean, a racing newcomer.
“When I’m not in Japan I think I’ll be at a lot of the GB4 races helping out with Josh and just in general with the team. I’ve got a lot of experience with this sort of chassis and car combination, so we’re trying to put that to good use.
“Part of the reason I was in the car at Donington was to create a reference, not just for the team but for Josh. It’s his first year in cars so he has a bit of learning to do but I think we’re there or thereabouts.
“The main thing for him will be to find improvements through the year and to learn as much as he can, which I think he’ll manage regardless of any circumstances.”
And yet there’s even more involvement for O’Sullivan, who is responsible for the team’s visual identity too thanks to his graphic design skills!
“I was taking extra care not to damage the livery! I’ve always designed my own helmets but had never really put livery design into practice until this year. I’ve designed the garage set up, the suits, basically everything for the team.
“I know Sean [Byrne] the team owner very well, so we got to work and I’m happy with how it’s come out. It’s cool to see something I’ve thought about go into reality.”
