Joel Pearson will make a full-time return to racing after agreeing a deal with Chris Dittmann Racing to contest the 2022 ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA.
The 16-year-old was forced to take a sabbatical from his racing career in 2021 after being diagnosed with bone cancer, putting a promising rise through the ranks – including podium finishes and consistent, front-running form in the 2020 Ginetta Junior Championship – on hold.
Now, having undergone specialist treatment and chemotherapy in Germany, Pearson is ready to pick up where he left off and recently tested the new Tatuus T-421 with Tewkesbury-based CDR in preparation for his return to competition.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic to confirm I will be racing in ROKiT British F4 with Chris Dittmann Racing in 2022,” said Pearson, speaking at the Silverstone season launch.
“It has been a very challenging twelve months to get back to this position, but I’m immensely grateful for all the support I’ve received, not just from family and friends, but the entire motorsport community.
“It has been a huge motivation for me throughout my recovery to get back in the car and back to what I love doing, which is racing. I’m now looking forward to the next chapter in my career with CDR, and hopefully to a successful season ahead.
“There will be plenty to learn, and it is an incredibly competitive field, but all we can do is work hard, leave no stone unturned and put our best foot forward. I’m relishing the challenge.”
Team Principal, Chris Dittmann, welcomed Pearson to the fold and is looking forward with optimism to his team’s debut in Britain’s FIA Formula 4 series this season.
“Everybody at CDR is delighted to welcome Joel to the team,” said Dittmann.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us this season, as a new team to the series and with Joel making his return to competitive action, but we’re all feeling very motivated and, with the benefit of some good winter mileage with the new car, I think we’re in good shape.
“Now we’re looking forward to getting our heads down and to starting the new season at Donington Park later this month.”
Pearson becomes the 15th confirmed driver on the grid, joining rising stars from Europe’s leading single-seater teams, such as Argenti, Carlin, Hitech GP, JHR and Virtuosi Racing.
It’s all change in the category for 2022, including the introduction of the new Tatuus T-421 second-generation FIA Formula 4 chassis, powered by an Abarth engine and with control tyres by Pirelli.
Donington Park marks the start of another ten-event, 30-race season on 23-24 April, with live coverage available on ITV4.
