With a decade’s experience of single-seater success in the UK, Chris Dittmann Racing will embark on an exciting new era in the team’s history when they expand into the ROKiT F4 British Championship certified by FIA for the first time in 2022.
Team founder Chris Dittmann began his motorsport career behind the wheel, initially in karting before graduating to the Ginetta G50 Cup and then onto single seaters. In addition, Dittmann studied mechanical engineering at university which has enabled him to understand the sport from both a driving and engineering perspective.
His family-run outfit was launched in 2010 to enable Dittmann to race in Ginettas, before a move into F3 Cup at the end of 2011. What started as a part campaign in F3 behind the wheel, ended with Dittmann racing throughout the 2012 season and taking overall honours. Subsequently he has hung up his helmet to run CDR and help future talent in the F3 category, taking three drivers’ and two teams’ titles as well as successful parallel campaigns in the GB3 Championship.
“We put our success down to hard work from the very good people we have at the team, many of whom have been with us for quite a while now,” says Dittmann. “We all have the same goal and we’re all very competitive. As an ex-driver with the engineering side to draw on, I’ve got a strong overview of both sides of racing and that has enabled me to help educate drivers at such an important stage of their development. Everyone at the team has a common goal to win and get the best out of the drivers who compete with us.”
Chris Dittmann Racing narrowly missed out on GB3 Championship honours in 2021 with British driver Ayrton Simmons, who took four wins over the course of the year. And now Dittmann believes that as Formula 4 has adopted a new chassis and engine package, the time has come to run a team in the first rung on the ladder of the FIA’s globally recognised elite pathway for young drivers.
“It has been a great year for us in GB3 and we’ll be maintaining that relationship, but we have had our eyes on F4 for a while and it was about waiting for the right time,” says the team boss. “With the new car and a new promoter in Motorsport UK the stars are aligning so now is the best opportunity to join the series.”
Dittmann believes the team’s knowledge of competing with the Tatuus chassis and Pirelli tyres in GB3 will be beneficial when they get their hands on the all-new Formula 4 Tatuus/Abarth/Pirelli package in 2022.
“The new car in F4 will be a good leveler for all the teams,” he adds. “There is no advantage in being an existing team. We have good experience with the Tatuus chassis and Pirelli tyre from GP3 and we believe that knowledge will help us for the new-look formula.
“Motorsport UK have listened to the teams and now with the package in place, British F4 will be one of the best series in the world. The UK has always been the place to be for young drivers. You only have to see how strong Lando Norris and George Russell are – who have come through the F4 route – to understand that racing in this country is a brilliant test. It’s a great learning curve for any driver to master the art of racing in a variety of conditions on demanding circuits.”
A new era begins in 2022 for this ambitious outfit from Tewkesbury and they are excited about the challenge of tackling the revised British Formula 4 Championship. With the credentials to fight for honours from the outset, team owner Chris Dittmann is relishing the new season: “We’re raring to get going!” he says.
