The GB4 Championship returns this weekend for its co-headline event at Silverstone with the GB3 Championship, fresh off its feature in the SRO Speedweek at Spa-Francorchamps. There will be a new name on the entry list this weekend as Hillspeed have recruited Marcus Short to extend their GB4 programme to three cars, joining Max Marzorati and Megan Gilkes. Marcus spoke to F1 Feeder Series ahead of his debut in the GB4 Championship.

by Richard Smith

The GB4 grid has fluctuated in size throughout the season but Hillspeed have remained constant throughout, despite Marzorati and Gilkes only on race-by-race assurances when the series made its debut at Snetterton for the first time this season.

Short explained that Hillspeed contacted his dad, 2003 British GT champion and 2008 Dutch Supercar Challenge GT Class champion, Martin Short to offer the opportunity for a race seat at the team to either Marcus or his brother Morgan. 

Lots of things happened and then I ended up just having a test at Bedford and he agreed to let me race

Marcus Short

“Richard Ollerenshaw, the team manager of Hillspeed contacted my dad and just said that he’s been seeing me and my brother Morgan racing and wanted to give one of us the opportunity for this drive. So my dad got back to him and lots of things happened and then I ended up just having a test at Bedford and he agreed to let me race at Silverstone.”

Out with the old

Marcus previously raced in GT cars and is making the transition to single-seaters for the first time, something that didn’t take long for him to adapt to. 

“It was a pretty big change as I’ve gone from sort of a GT style car to a single-seater and it was my first time ever driving a single seater, but we had a few hours testing at Bedford and after probably 20 laps or so I started getting into a bit more of an understanding and by the end of it, I felt pretty confident and feel like I was already on top of the car.”

Familial support and past experiences

Short will be racing with the number 88 on his car as it was the number that his dad used during his racing career, someone who has had a massive influence on his career so far.

“My dad as had the most influence out of anyone because it’s because of him that me and my brother got into all of this. We’ve been following him around since we were born. He is the one who does the preparation work for us, makes sure that we can get out on track and just does everything. So, he’s definitely had the biggest influence and me and my brother are both very thankful to it.

My dad as had the most influence out of anyone because it’s because of him that me and my brother got into all of this

Marcus Short

While Short hasn’t had any real-life experience in single seaters, his success in e-sports partially compensates for the huge disadvantage he would normally face.

“I qualified for the F1 E-sports Challenger Series where you have to qualify in the top 16 in the world and you enter this and then you’re in this 12 race long competition. I ended up finishing in the top 10 in the world. So that’s sort of been good practice in a sense into the real world because the amount of sim racing I’ve done just makes it really, really simple for me when I get out on track just to know all of the tracks, how to optimise things, basically just from the amount of practice I’ve done on sim racing.”

Managing expectations

Despite the excitement of racing at Silverstone, Short isn’t placing any expectations upon himself.

I’m going into it just with a completely clear mind, just focused on having a great time

Marcus Short

“I have no expectations whatsoever cause I’ve driven the car once. We have nothing representative to tell me where I should be, so I’m going into it just with a completely clear mind, just focused on having a great time, relishing this opportunity and any success out of it would just be a complete bonus.”

A one-shot deal

Even if Marcus impresses this weekend, there isn’t a guarantee that he will take part in the final two race weekends at Brands Hatch and Donington Park.

“We will have to wait and see what happens after Silverstone, but at the moment, there’s no plan for the rest of the season.”

The GB4 Championshp continues this weekend at Silverstone with live Twitter coverage on the F1 Feeder Series Live (@F1FSLive) Twitter account.

Header Photo Credit: Hillspeed