The 18-year-old joins Tom Lebbon in a planned three-car Elite entry for 2022.
Bennett finished seventh with Elite in the 2020 GT5 standings in what was his first car racing season after just a partial year of Junior Rotax karting. He recorded three GT5 top-three podium finishes in a shortened, compacted season due to the Covid epidemic and seven top-six overall finishes. His best result was a second-place but also set a new lap record on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit at the final event of the year.
This year, John was second in the final GT5 Challenge rankings having scored 10 podiums, including five victories. Bennett has already tested a current GB3 Tatuus at Pembrey (October) plus Silverstone and Donington Park this month, in a variety of weather conditions.
John Bennett (GB)
“2022 will be my first season in single-seaters so obviously there will be a huge amount to learn and adapt to but I am up for the challenge. I believe a realistic goal for me is to finish inside the top-10 in the championship at the end of the year, and to be challenging for some top-five finishes.
“It was a straightforward decision to continue racing with Elite. I have really enjoyed the past two years with them and they have pushed me on well. I’d never driven a car when I started with them and so to become the GT5 vice-champion this year and one of their 2022 GB3 drivers, I’m delighted.
“Elite performed very strongly in their debut GB3 season this year. I’m only too aware that going from Ginetta GT5 to GB3 is a huge step-up for me but I am absolutely loving the new challenge and all the techniques required for driving a completely different car.
“I believe GB3 is the most competitive championship in Britain, with some of the best single-seater drivers from around the world taking part. GB3 is the biggest step forward that I can make after GT5. I believe that it offers the best opportunity that I can have to develop my skills as a racing driver and to progress my career.
“I’d like to thank Eddie [Ives] for the great opportunity to race for his GB3 team, as well as the hard work that everyone at Elite has put in for me over these past two years. I am also incredibly grateful to my family and my sponsors for allowing myself to continue furthering my racing career.”
Eddie Ives, Team Owner & Manager
“I’m really excited to announce our next GB3 driver for 2022. John [Bennett] has been with us since moving into cars from karts two years ago.
“From that very first day in a Ginetta, his outright pace excelled. We’ve already started a GB3 test programme and John is already surpassing our expectations. We are all really excited to see how he develops over the next six months.
“From an Elite Motorsport perspective, it’s fantastic to see our ‘ladder’ of progression for existing drivers working well within the team.
