Elite Motorsport will return to GT4 Europe grid this year with full focus on regaining the title after confirming McKenzy Cresswell and Charlie Hart for the first of its two McLaren Artura GT4s.
The British team lifted both the Silver Drivers’ and Teams’ championships in 2024 with Josh Rattican and Tom Lebbon, and this year will return to full strength with a two-car entry for the full season.
Cresswell and Hart both have experience of GT4 Europe and together should form a formidable pairing. Cresswell made his debut in the series last season and quickly impressed, scoring five pole positions, two podium finishes and a race win alongside Rattican. With Rattican now moving on to a GT3 seat in GT World, Hart makes the switch from a RAFA Racing by RACELAB-run Artura to an Elite one to partner Cresswell.
Hart scored his breakthrough GT4 Europe podium finish in last year’s season finale at Barcelona, sharing with Callum Davies, but impressed with his pace on multiple occasions before that by qualifying on the front row at Spa-Francorchamps and putting in a series of impressive race stints.
Both drivers also have long histories with Elite. Cresswell, 20, is entering his fourth year with the team after first joining in 2023. He finished fourth in the GB3 single-seater series that year and did so again in 2024 following multiple wins and podiums before switching to GT4. He was also the GT4 Winter Series champion in 2025.
Hart, 19, switched from karts to cars with Elite in 2023 and finished seventh in the UK Ginetta Junior Championship with five podium finishes. Two wins and a further 10 podiums earned him third in the points the following year. After switching to GT4 in January last year, Hart finished joint third in the 2025 GT4 Winter Series before scoring a top-10 finish in the GT4 Europe Silver drivers’ points.
Cresswell and Hart warmed up for the start of the season by claiming two GT4 Winter Series wins from three races during the recent finale at Barcelona.
McKenzy Cresswell says: “This is my second year in GT4 and so the aim is to compete for the championship title, consistently fighting at the front of the field. Elite has a depth of experience in racing across many championships and has established a good reputation for creating professional drivers in various categories.
“I competed against Charlie in the GT4 Winter Series and also the GT4 European Series and shared a car with him for the first time recently. He has very good natural speed so fingers crossed we will make a good pairing.”
Charlie Hart says: “We’ll be targeting the championship title. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent McLaren for another year and hope to boost the partnership with some great results. I’m also very happy to return to Elite after the building of good relationships and foundations in Ginetta Juniors with them.
“Elite is a great team and community to work in, so I am very excited to reignite our journey. McKenzy has proven to be a very talented driver in both single-seaters and GT4, so I’m excited for what we can achieve together.”
Elite Motorsport team principal Eddie Ives adds: “We’re really excited to see McKenzy and Charlie join forces for our 2026 GT4 European Series campaign, especially after their success in the Winter Series in Barcelona. McKenzy continues to grow year on year and has already shown he can win and fight consistently at the front in GT4.
“Charlie’s return to Elite feels like a natural fit given the strong relationship we built in the past. Both drivers have proven speed and a very professional approach, and we believe their combination gives us a strong and well-balanced line-up.
“GT4 Europe is incredibly competitive but with the experience we’ve built as a team and the momentum we carry into this season, we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
News on Elite Motorsport’s second McLaren Artura will be shared soon.
