How rocket O'Sullivan banished painful memories with GB3 glory
After missing out on the 2020 British F4 title in astonishing fashion, Zak O'Sullivan was determined to earn his first car racing title stepping up to the BRDC British F3 championship. While the series underwent a mid-year name change to GB3, the Carlin driver was imperious throughout and deservedly claimed the title in his rookie year
Any young driver with a realistic eye on victory is always going to feel some degree of pressure as they attempt to forge a career up the junior single-seater ladder, but for Zak O’Sullivan the 2021 GB3 Championship had perhaps added significance.
The Briton entered the series – still dubbed BRDC British F3 until an enforced mid-season name change courtesy of a decision by the FIA – having just missed out on the British F4 title at the final race in dramatic circumstances the previous year. It was a bitter pill to swallow and followed another runner-up spot in the 2019 Ginetta Junior standings.
Share Or Save This Story
A proud Yorkshireman, Stefan Mackley is Autosport's National Deputy Editor. Having graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a degree in sports journalism he spent nearly four years working on local newspapers in Wiltshire - during which time he became an NQJ-qualified journalist and cut his teeth covering club racing at Castle Combe in his spare time.
Making the jump into motorsport journalism full-time, he joined the national desk for both Autosport magazine and Motorsport News in 2017 before becoming National Deputy Editor for the former in 2020.
His passion for motorsport stems from watching Formula 1 as a child with his father and is matched only by his love for Star Wars.
A better journalist than racing driver, he has so far competed in the Citroen C1 24 Hours and 116 Trophy with hopes of racing more machinery in 2021 and beyond.
More from Stefan Mackley
How brilliant Bird survived the heat to end Formula E win drought in Sao Paulo
Vote to allow Formula E drivers with WEC Spa/Berlin clash to race rejected
Dennis: "Win was there" in Sao Paulo Formula E race
Cassidy must "look internally at myself" after Sao Paulo Formula E crash
Bird: McLaren's maiden Formula E win in Sao Paulo "one of the more special"
Sao Paulo E-Prix: Bird seals McLaren's first Formula E win with last-lap pass
Sao Paulo E-Prix: Porsche's Wehrlein beats Vandoorne to pole by fractions
The glimpses that offer hope for a Formula E champion's return to the top
Latest news
Everything you need to know about the pitwall in F1 - who sits there and what does it do?
Alpine: "Shock" of having slowest F1 car triggered tech revamp
How Bruce McLaren's death shaped more than just his F1 team
Both DS Penske in the points in São Paulo
Autosport Plus
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lotus emerged as a period Goodwood force
How to get the best out of amateur racers
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.