British contender James Hedley has been confirmed in Arden VRD's three-car line-up for the season opening GB3 Championship event at Oulton Park this weekend (7-10 April).

The 19-year-old's addition means GB3's already record-breaking grid will stretch to 25 drivers at the Cheshire venue for the first three races of the season.

Having first raced in GB3 at the end of 2021, the BRDC Rising Star has proven himself as a race winner at every level he's entered, claiming the Ginetta Junior Winter Championship in 2018, and following that up with the main title the following year with five wins and 15 podiums. 

Stepping into single-seaters for 2020, he finished fifth in the British F4 Championship with four wins, and finished a position higher in 2021, again with four wins. He completed a full GB3 season last year with a best result of third at Snetterton. 

Hedley has proven quick in testing with the Banbury-based team, having been inside the top-three on both days of the Donington Park media day tests, and then going seven tenths of a second quicker than any other contender last week at Snetterton.  

Hedley joins North Americans Nico Christodoulou and Noah Ping in the Anglo-American squad's three car line-up. 

James Hedley said:  "I'm pleased and relieved to confirm my place with Arden VRD this weekend. I think our pre-season testing pace shows we mean business, and although it's been a late deal to put together, I feel well prepared to challenge for wins and podiums. To be working with a team like Arden VRD is a milestone in my career, and I hope to work with them to take full advantage of the opportunity this weekend."

Arden VRD Team Manager Jack Woodhouse said: "We really enjoyed working with James in pre-season testing, and his performances, particularly at Snetterton were very impressive. It's great therefore to get him confirmed in our line-up for Oulton Park and we hope he's able to replicate his testing performances with us. If he does that, he'll be a certain podium threat."