Hitech Pulse-Eight driver Luke Browning has been announced as the newest member of the Williams Racing Driver Academy. He joins fellow Formula 3 drivers Zak O’Sullivan, Franco Colapinto and Oliver Gray as part of the Formula 1 team’s young driver programme.

Browning is fresh from his GB3 title success last season and already has two top 10 finishes this year in FIA F3. Those results mean he is currently 10th in the Drivers’ Championship after Rounds 1 and 2 in Bahrain and Melbourne.

His five wins and eight podiums en route to the GB3 crown also earned him the 2022 Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, joining fellow Williams Academy member O’Sullivan on the list of winners.

As part of his signing with Williams, Browning will complete a personalised simulator programme at the team’s Grove base in the UK as well as follow the team trackside during Grand Prix weekends.

Reflecting on his opportunity, Browning said that he was hugely excited to be part of the Williams driver programme and said he was eager to get to work with the F1 team.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Williams Racing Driver Academy. A huge thank you to everyone at Williams Racing for the opportunity to shoot for the stars. To be welcomed into the family is a dream come true, the heritage of this team is phenomenal. I can’t wait to see where we can go, our journey starts here.”

Williams Racing Sporting Director Sven Smeets added that Browning’s achievements at this stage of his career had been hugely impressive.

“We’re pleased to have Luke join the Williams Racing Driver Academy,” Smeets began. “He’s a highly talented driver with several major achievements already under his belt, including the 2022 Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award, the 2022 GB3 Championship and the 2020 British F4 Championship. Everyone at Williams Racing is looking forward to working closely with Luke throughout the year as he competes in FIA Formula 3 with Hitech Pulse-Eight. He’ll have the opportunity to develop his abilities while providing useful feedback through simulator work at Grove.”