Multiple race-winning BRDC Formula 4 Championship team Hillspeed is delighted to announce the signing of South American racer Gustavo Lima for the 2014 season after today, Monday, 20th January, finalising a deal with the category podium finisher.

Coming hot on the heels of the Hathersage squad’s agreement in the Ginetta Junior Championship with Lima’s fellow Brazilian Pedro Cardoso, who is part of the same XYZ Live Sports management stable, Hillspeed is absolutely delighted to have secured the second year F4 driver’s services.

Currently participating in the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, as preparation for his sophomore season in BRDC Formula 4, the 17-year-old will be aiming to become a consistent podium challenger when his main 2014 campaign gets underway in late-April. Lima will team-up at Hillspeed with the already confirmed Rahul Raj Mayer, the Malaysian having concluded a fresh deal last October.

“I’m really happy to be back in Formula 4 this year and pleased with the deal my management team has put together with Hillspeed”, commented Lima from his current base in New Zealand, “I learnt a lot in F4 last year, it was a very competitive season with a lot of really quick drivers.

“The final weekend was the highlight, taking my first podium was fantastic and the plan is to have many more this year! Hillspeed is a great team and I’m really looking forward to working with the guys there. They’ve won races in F4 and a lot of championships in other categories, like Formula Renault, so it should be a strong season.”

Lima began his karting career in 2010, where he finished third in the Junior Class of the Brazil Cup, and went on to contest the Rotax Junior Class in the Florida Winter Tour the following year as well as finishing third in the Sudam Junior Class.

Travelling from South America to Europe in 2012 to embark on his first season in single-seaters, the Brazilian ran a full campaign in Formula Renault 2.0 Alps while also contesting two races in Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup (NEC).

From there, he entered the inaugural BRDC Formula 4 Championship in the UK last year and ended the 24-race campaign 14th overall with a maiden podium finish coming during the penultimate race of the year at Donington Park.

Adding two races in the Campeonato CoDA Sur del Formula 3 Sudamericana in 2013, winning one, Lima also secured a brace of podiums in the Brazilian Formula 3 Championship where he contested six rounds.

“It’s fantastic for Hillspeed to have a driver as talented as Gustavo signed-up for the new F4 season, we’re absolutely delighted”, said Hillspeed’s Richard Ollerenshaw, “He made excellent progress last year and thoroughly deserved his podium at Donington during the final weekend. He’s clearly a very quick driver and with a full year of experience behind him, we’re sure he’ll be a strong front-runner.”

Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in Northamptonshire will host the opening event of the 2014 BRDC Formula 4 Championship season on 26th/27th April.