Browning ‘back at home’ with Hitech TGR and aiming for F2 glory

20 February 2025

There’s no place like home and for Luke Browning, that has become Hitech TGR in recent years as the Briton gears up to continue his affiliation with the team in 2025.

Stepping up to Formula 2 for his rookie campaign, the Williams Racing Development Driver believes he’s in the perfect place after competing with the team in Formula 3 last year, where he narrowly missed out on the title.

“I’m super happy. It’s been a dream for a long time to have the opportunity of Formula 2,” Browning said of his F2 promotion. “Going back a few years, I wouldn’t have believed this would happen, so to have the chance and to do it with a team like Hitech and have the people around me that I do, it’s exciting.

“We’ve been working hard over the winter, and I really want to win this Championship for these guys. I’m putting everything in place to hopefully set up in the right position for it.”

"We’re in a good place. I’m the most prepared I’ve ever been, and I just can’t wait to get started”

Browning says that his previous experience and level of familiarity with the team is a major benefit, and a strength, going into the new campaign. He has raced in Hitech cars in various categories stretching back to 2022, so is more than comfortable with how the team works, and vice versa.

The 23-year-old says that it has become like home for him, and that only adds to his motivation to pay their faith back with the biggest prize in junior single seater racing.

“It’s awesome to have been nurtured by Hitech and I think that’s the key, there’s no shock factor for me. I’ve been with them for many years now, but they’ve become an absolute powerhouse.

“You walk into the factory and it’s just spotless. That’s a testament to Oli’s commitment along with everyone here at Hitech.

Browning believes he's in the right place with Hitech TGR and feels he's 'at home'

“There’s a great atmosphere at the team, they’ve not lost that touch of personality, which is nice, so they’ve got everything. It feels like home now and I feel like I’ve grown with the team and helped to develop it. If there’s any team I’d want to win it for, it would be these guys.”

2024 ended in bittersweet fashion as Browning entered the final round at Monza in title contention but endured one of his most challenging weekends of the year.

He ultimately missed out on the F3 Drivers’ Championship, but after a winter away from racing, he feels rejuvenated and ready to right that this time around in F2.

“I think I’m the fittest I’ve ever been. I’ve been getting ready for a busy year, so I think now more than ever is the time to push yourself to the limit, but also to take some time off for yourself.

“That time off is needed, and it’s important to balance the break and to process the disappointment of last year in order to come into the new season with fresh motivation.

“I think I said after the end of the F3 season, you need a few things on your side to win a Championship. I’ve won a few in the past and those things have come my way in those seasons, but last year, it just wasn’t meant to be.

“Looking globally, we’re in a good place. There’s not a whole lot I can say apart from that I’m the most prepared I’ve ever been, and I just can’t wait to get started.”

Since then, Browning has driven in Formula 2 across the final three rounds of 2024 before getting to grips with the Hitech car in post-season testing around Yas Marina.

After missing out on the F3 title in 2024 the Briton has eyes on F2's biggest trophy

Having scored points in his maiden F2 Feature Race around Baku, he went on to endure a trickier time across the final two weekends of the season. However, he felt immediately more comfortable come testing.

“The post-season test was fantastic. I turned up and went a tenth off the fastest time. After the final round in 2024, to turn up to the test and then be right on it, it was great to see that potential we have.

“I’m hoping that this year everything runs nice and smoothly, and it all works out. If we can continue to show that we can fight right at the sharp end and we can go for the title this year.”

Browning and his rivals are currently preparing for pre-season testing in Barcelona, where the field will gather for three crucial days before jetting off to Melbourne for the opening race of 2025.

The British driver says he has clear targets in mind going into the event, and while ending up fastest of all sounds nice on paper, it isn’t the most important thing to accomplish during testing.

“I want to be more well-rounded and mature in my driving style. I want to come out of the test having learned as much as I possibly can and to be in the right place for the races going forward, that’s my only goal for the test.

“I think whatever comes other than that will be more than a positive. Laptime-wise, testing is testing. You never know what everyone else is doing, but it’s always reassuring to be up there.

“Equally, you can see teams dominate testing and then turn up to the first weekend and be off the mark. So, the main goal is to learn.”