The predecessor of the GB3 Championship was a Formula 4 racing series operated by the 750 Motor Club. MotorSport Vision (MSV) was awarded the operation of the series from the 2013 season.
Under the BRDC F4 moniker, British driver Jake Hughes was the first champion of the series in 2013, driving for Lanan Racing. The championship's top three drivers—Hughes, vice-champion Seb Morris, and Charlie Robertson—were all finalists in that year's McLaren Autosport BRDC Award. In 2014, George Russell was crowned champion after a dramatic victory in the season finale at Snetterton, beating his Lanan Racing teammate Arjun Maini by just three points. Russell went on to win the 2014 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award later that year. Will Palmer secured the 2015 championship after a dominant campaign, taking 12 victories from 24 races. His HHC Motorsport teammate Harri Newey finished as runner-up, and Palmer was subsequently named the winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in December.
On March 23, 2016, the FIA and MSA announced an agreement, reached the day prior, to rebrand the BRDC Formula 4 Championship as the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship. This change was made to reflect the increased pace of the new car designed for the 2016 season and to fill the void left after the British Formula 3 Championship folded in 2014. In the first season under this new name, Matheus Leist secured the championship in the final weekend of the season. British driver Lando Norris won three races and was named the winner of the 2016 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in December. Enaam Ahmed claimed the title in 2017 after a dominant campaign that included 13 race wins. Linus Lundqvist won the championship in 2018, which also saw him claim a prize drive at the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona. Subsequent champions were Clement Novalak and Kaylen Frederick, both driving for Carlin.
In August 2021, the series was renamed the GB3 Championship. This change occurred after the FIA decided to restrict the use of "F3" to the FIA Formula 3 Championship, and the 2021 car did not meet FIA standards for Formula Regional accreditation. British racing driver Zak O'Sullivan was the first to win the title under the new name. The following month, MSV announced the launch of a new support series, the GB4 Championship.
Shortly after the 2021 rebrand, the series announced a new car for the 2022 season, the Tatuus MSV-022. This car featured performance and safety upgrades, including the addition of the halo, and proved to be around two to three seconds a lap quicker than its predecessor.
For 2025, the series will introduce the Tatuus MSV GB3-025. This new car will feature "F1-inspired aero," DRS (Drag Reduction System), and a new Mountune 2.0L engine generating 280bhp, among other changes.
Points are awarded to all finishing drivers in each race. In 2013, a specific system was used for all finishing drivers, except for the reverse grid race two. Since 2014, a consistent points system has been applied to all finishing drivers in each race. In reverse grid races, an extra point is awarded for each position gained compared to a driver's starting position.
BRDC Formula 4 Championship
2013: Jake Hughes
2014: George Russell
2015: Will Palmer
BRDC British Formula 3 Championship
2016: Matheus Leist
2017: Enaam Ahmed
2018: Linus Lundqvist
2019: Clement Novalak
2020: Kaylen Frederick
GB3 Championship
2021: Zak O'Sullivan
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