In the wake of Zhou Guanyu’s breakthrough into Formula 1 as the first-ever Chinese Driver, many are wondering who might follow in his footsteps. In 2025, Formula 3 may just have the answer. Introducing Gerrard Xie – here’s what you need to know.
Origins
Born in Hong Kong on the 26th of September 2006, Xie began karting just over a decade later. He competed in karting across Europe and Asia from 2018 until 2021. Xie’s highest overall result came in 2020 during this introductory phase of his racing career. He was racing in the IAME (Italian American Motor Engineering) Asia Cup Junior and finished in third at the end of the year.
Gerrard Xie’s Single Seater Debut
In 2022, Xie made the next step and began to race in single-seaters. His debut came with H-Star Racing in the Super Formula Renault Challenge. Despite not competing in the first round at the Zhuzhou International Circuit, he managed to win all four of the other races that season. In doing this, he accumulated one hundred and twenty points, demolishing his nearest rival in second place, Jason Wu, who had eighty-eight.
Chinese Formula 4 Dominance
If you thought that was impressive, you’ll love what came next. In that same year, racing for the Smart Life Racing Team, Xie entered the Chinese Formula 4 Championship. The display he put on here was nothing short of outstanding.
Of the fourteen races held that season, Xie won twelve of them. His lowest finishing position was second place at the Macau Grand Prix. He had one retirement at the fourth race of the year at the Ningbo International Circuit. Xie also clocked up seven pole positions with Macau’s Andy Chang preventing him from achieving a clean sweep.
Naturally, Gerrard Xie won the 2022 Chinese Formula 4 Championship. He beat second place in the Driver’s Championship, Lü Jingxi, by one hundred and sixty-four points. This is the biggest points gap between first and second in Chinese F4 history. Only Brazilian American racer Bruno Carneiro could come close to this back in 2016 when he won by a measly one hundred and fifteen points.
Gerrard Xie enters GB3
By comparison, Xie had a character-building year in 2023. Teaming up with Hillspeed and backed by the Hitech Driver Academy, Xie raced across Great Britain in Europe alongside Daniel Mavlyutov.
It was a difficult year in a packed field full of competitive drivers. Xie managed to get points on the board regularly but would have to wait until the final race of the year at Donnington before he would secure his first and only win. He finished the season in twentieth position with one hundred and twenty-eight points.
In 2024, Xie joined Hitech Pulse-Eight and improved dramatically. He claimed victory in Budapest and got onto the podium twice more, at Spa and Donnington respectively. He finished the year in seventh place with two hundred and sixty-one points.
Across 2023 and 2024, Xie also competed at Spa in the Euroformula Open Championship. His best result came in his final race, which he won.
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Formula Regional Oceania
In 2024, Gerrard Xie travelled to New Zealand to compete in the Formula Regional Oceania Championship. There was some success for the Hong Kong driver here too, as he continued to develop his skills behind the wheel. He won the second race of the campaign at Taupo International Motorsport Park in what would be his only win that season.
Xie claimed Pole Position at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park before finishing the race in fourth and finished in second place – his only other podium finish – at Euromarque Motorsport Park. He finished in seventh place overall with two hundred and five points. Roman Bilinski won the title, beating Liam Sceats by forty-four points.
Gerrard Xie X Formula 3
In October 2024, Hitech TGR announced that Xie would be racing for them in the 2025 Formula 3 Championship. Racing alongside him this season will be Joshua Dufek and Martinius Stenshorne.
“I’m thrilled to be making the step up to FIA Formula 3, and to be doing so with Hitech.” – Gerrard Xie
Hitech Team Manager Paul Bellringer is confident with the signing of the Hong Kong Driver to the team, citing their time together so far and Xie’s results thus far as fundamental elements that will enable them to compete for both championships in 2025.
“Gerrard is ready for Formula 3. I’m confident he will be a significant force within our line-up for next season and we’ll be able to fight for both Championship titles once again.” – Paul Bellringer
Gerrard Xie – A Force to be Reckoned With?
There is no denying that Xie is a capable driver. The Hong Kong man has had incredible high moments and frustrating character-building times. Both will have served his development as a driver, both on and off track well. So too will his ever-lengthening relationship with Hitech. Xie will be comfortable with that outfit and this is always an advantage, especially in an ultra-competitive category such as Formula 3.
What can we expect from Xie in Formula 3? As always, it’s hard to accurately predict this. But in what is already a stacked field of young talent looking to make its mark and impress those in the higher echelons of motorsport, you wouldn’t want to count Xie out as a driver worth watching out for.
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The Formula 3 2025 Season commences from March 14th to March 16th.
Feature Image: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand
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