Sponsor event thanks firms from the county and beyond for backing Zak O’Sullivan’s Formula 2 season
Businesses from Gloucestershire and beyond attended a special event hosted by county racing driver Zak O’Sullivan to thank them for their support in helping him achieve his dream.
Zak, from Withington, near Cheltenham, and his family welcomed his supporters to the Classic Motor Hub, in Ablington on Saturday, June 14.
All had sponsored Zak in 2024 as he competed in his maiden Formula 2 season, taking memorable victories on the streets of Monaco and at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Sadly, budget constraints led to Zak dropping out of F2 before the end of the season – but things have taken a much more positive turn for 2025. Zak is competing in Super Formula and Super GT – Japan’s top-tier single-seater and sportscar series – as well as working with leading Formula E team Envision Racing in a sim driver role.
Surrounded by classic sportscars from decades past, the Classic Motor Hub provided a great backdrop to an entertaining Q&A with Zak and his driver coach, Kieren Clark.
Zak said: “It’s the first time we’ve been able to get all of my sponsors together in the same room, so it was a great opportunity to say thank you to everyone who’s supported me on my journey. As we know, last year didn’t quite go to plan and at one stage I wasn’t sure if I would be racing anywhere in 2025. However, things have taken a significantly more positive turn, and the future is now looking bright. It’s thanks to everyone who’s backed me that I had the platform to achieve wins in Formula 2 – and having those successes on my racing CV is helping me progress again this year.”
Zak’s Q&A covered a wide range of topics, from his first race in a kart and his first championship title in GB3 in 2021, through to his maiden Formula One test with Aston Martin and taking part in Formula One free practice for Williams at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The audience was also treated to plenty of anecdotes, including Zak and Kieren’s last-minute dash into France to buy a suit for the Monaco Grand Prix prize-giving ceremony and their audience with the Crown Prince of Monaco.
Zak also sounded a cautionary note to youngsters looking to forge a career in motorsport, and the importance of staying in education while rising up through the ranks.
He said: “In karting, I was racing against lots of kids who’d left school at a really young age, with no guarantee of a career in motorsport.
I completed my GCSEs and A-Levels around my racing commitments, which was a really important thing to do. There are only a few hundred professional racing drivers in Europe, while in the UK alone, there’s something like 6,500 karting license holders, which shows how hard it is to make a career in motorsport.”
Next up for Zak is a return to Super GT action at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia (June 27-28), before rounds six and seven of the Super Formula championship at Fuji Speedway (July 18-20).
“It was great to spend time with so many people who have kindly backed me over the last few years, and I’ll be doing my very best to repay them with some great results when I’m back on the track later this month,” added Zak.
For more information on Zak, follow him on Instagram at www.instagram.com/zak.osullivan.