Karting rising star Macie Hitter had her first taste of a single seater at Bedford, UK, as she tested the MSV F4 car from the brand-new GB4 Championship.
14-year old up-and-coming talent Macie Hitter had her first taste of a formula car at Bedford, UK, as the young British racer was given the chance to drive the Tatuus F4 car that will be used in the brand-new GB4 Championship – a series promoted by MSV. Hitter has been making waves in national karting in the last years: she was second in the Honda Cadet Championship in 2019, before moving into the Junior X30 category in 2020 - scoring fourth in the HKRC Championship. She would become the first winner of the Young Racing Driver Academy 'Drive for Diversity' programme and finalist in the Ginetta Junior Scholarship - for two years in a row. Hitter was then selected for the latest FIA Women In Motorsport's promoted 'Girls On Track - Rising Stars' initiative, which saw the most promising female karting drivers from all around the world being assessed at Circuit Paul Ricard for a potential contract with the Ferrari Driver Academy. Despite only a limited amount of track time on race cars – and only at the wheel of the very propaedeutic Junior Ginetta, a drivers' favourite to graduate from karting – Hitter felt at ease in the GB4 machine, completing her very first laps in a single-seater. "To be honest with you I’m speechless" – she wrote. "Since even a toddler it’s always been a dream to drive a single seater and today the dream came true. I’ve had some very good memories in my life but this is definitely been my favourite one." "It was pretty cool just looking at it, but driving it was definitely the coolest part. From getting used to the Junior Ginetta to now moving onto a single seater has definitely been a new experience to learn." At the MSV test track at Bedford Autodrome, Hitter had the opportunity to get used to the effect of aerodynamics and the power of the F4-spec car, in five 15-minute sessions. And the young Norfolk-native was pleased with her progress: "It went really well and I’m quite surprised as to how well I did” – she said. “It’s a lot different from what I’ve done before and I’m really pleased.” Macie Hitter naturally targets a racing debut in single seaters, but would need to turn 15 before. She is now eyeing a testing program in order to potentially make her debut in 2023. "Hopefully will be getting in a few tests this year to race next year", she told us. Surely, the new GB4 Championship fills a gap in the market, offering a more cost-effective alternative to F4 series in Europe. Also, there will also be at least one other female driver on the grid in the inaugural season, as Scottish racer Logan Hannah was announced as part of the Graham Brunton Racing line-up.