Five-time British karting champion and 2017 Ginetta Junior Rookie Champion, Kiern Jewiss, will make the step up to British Formula 4 this year to contest his first-ever season in single seaters with Double R Racing.

Last year saw Kiern make the long-awaited switch to cars after an enviable karting career that saw the youngster collect over 220 wins, five British championships and a memorable victory from the back of the grid at the 2016 WSK Champions Cup. During his first year in cars, the FM Conway sponsored youngster made an immediate impression on the BTCC paddock as he starred in the Ginetta Junior Championship.

Eventually finishing 4th in the Drivers’ Championship, he closed the year with a commanding rookie title to his name – thanks to his one win, three poles, twelve podiums and a record-breaking seventeen rookie wins.

Continuing his rise up the motorsport ranks, Kiern will now join forces with Double R Racing as he moves into single-seaters for the first time. The F4 British Championship certified by FIA, powered by Ford Ecoboost, is the UK’s premier single-seater series – the only championship open to 15-year-old drivers and the first step on the FIA single-seater pyramid to F1.

“I’m very excited. It’s a big step but it’s an exciting step in the right direction for my development. I’m really looking forward to the challenge that we have ahead and hopefully we can get up to speed quickly so we can be performing right from outset.”

Part of the MBP Academy, Kiern follows in the footsteps of MB Partners stablemate, Mike Conway, as he inherits the #26 Double R Racing car, a number used by Mike on his way to the British F3 title with Double R in 2006. Kiern is excited to be working with a team with a proven track record such as Double R and is ready to embark on his next chapter.

“Double R have proved themselves as a top team, not just in F4 but across several championships. They were a front running team last year and with the way testing has started this year, it seems we’ll still be performing at the highest level. Anthony and the team have made me feel really welcome so we’re all looking forward to the year ahead.”

Double R Racing enters the new British F4 season aiming for another strong year after a successful 2017, which saw the squad win five races with Sweden’s Linus Lundqvist. Teaming up with the proven Double R squad, Kiern is keen to get up to speed so he can be fighting for race wins and picking up points from the get-go.

“Obviously, I’m here to win so that’s the main goal but in order to do that I need to develop and learn every time I get into the car. I don’t expect to walk into the championship and instantly be at my best, but I’m a quick learner so I hope to be fighting at the front as quickly as possible.”

The F4 British Championship remains on the BTCC paddock for the 2018 season and Kiern feels the championship is the perfect place for him to be.

“The championship itself is a fantastic series and I can’t wait to be a part of it. It’s a hugely competitive series and one where some great drivers have made their name, so I hope to do the same in my debut season. This year will be hard work as I’m going up against some talented and experienced drivers but I’m ready and excited for the challenge.”

Kiern has already set his stall out impressively in British F4 with a star performance during the recent pre-season test at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit.

On a day impacted by inclement weather, meaning all drivers had to run on treaded wet-weather Hankook tyres, Jewiss produced a time of 52.976 seconds which placed him almost two seconds clear of his closest rival.

Mark Blundell, MBP CEO, believes this next step is a huge one for Kiern but he’s ready for the challenge.

Jewiss joins Finland’s Paavo Tonteri and Mexico’s Sebastian Alvarez at Double R for the 2018 British F4 season, a line-up which team principal Anthony ‘Boyo’ Hieatt is confident will deliver some very strong performances throughout the season.

“Kiern got his F4 career off to an incredible start during the officially timed test at Brands Hatch last month, he was very impressive in difficult conditions and showed the speed we all know is there from his time in Ginetta Junior and karting”, said Hieatt.

“I’ve no doubt he’ll be battling at the sharp end all season, he’s a fast and committed driver and we’re certain he’s going to be one to watch throughout the year. We’re delighted to have signed Kiern to join Paavo and Sebastian, all three drivers are obviously new to F4 and single-seaters but it’s a line-up we believe has massive potential.”

Kiern’s debut year in single-seaters commences next month with the opening round of the season being held at Brands Hatch Indy on the 7th – 8th April. The ten-round, thirty-race schedule will be contested in front of the British Touring Car Championship’s massive spectator fanbase at the UK’s major circuits.

Images courtesy of Jakob Ebrey Photography