British karting star Jack Bartholomew steps up to the BRDC Formula 4 Championship in 2015 with Lanan Racing, the team which has claimed the past two drivers’ titles.

This is the 16-year-old’s first full season in car racing, following a karting career which began in 2008. Bartholomew showed promise from his earliest karting exploits, winning in Honda Cadets less than a month into his rookie season.

Bartholomew subsequently won the prestigious London Cup karting event in both 2009 and 2010, and twice won the Lewis Hamilton ‘True Grit’ award in the Formula One Management-endorsed Formula Kart Stars series. He also impressed in his early appearances in Senior Rotax, establishing himself as a front-runner from his first race in the category.

Bartholomew commented: “Looking at the coverage and everything that goes with it, BRDC F4 seems like a really good package. I first got in touch with Lanan in November and Graham [Johnson, team chief] called me after I returned from the Rotax Grand Finals to offer me a test in the car and it’s all gone perfectly from there.

“Lanan has a great record in the series and I’d like to help them continue that and achieve some podiums or wins, but I’ll have to wait and see where I stand when the season starts. It depends how many other new drivers are in the series but my target is to win, though I’d be happy with a top five.

“I’ve got two tests booked in March and we might get some more in if the weather allows in February. I can’t wait to get going!”

Lanan team boss Graham Johnson added: “We’re really pleased to welcome Jack on board for the 2015 BRDC F4 Championship. He has shown great potential in karting and we’re confident that we can work together to achieve great results this year. We’ve enjoyed tremendous success in the past two seasons and I hope we can continue in that vein going forward.