Fortec Motorsport celebrated silverware courtesy of Edward Pearson, despite a tricky start to the 2023 GB3 Championship at Oulton Park this weekend [8-10 April].
The Daventry-based team made the journey to the 2.6-mile Cheshire circuit for Easter weekend but were dealt an early blow after qualifying slightly out of position, on a track where overtaking opportunities are at a premium.
In race trim, however, the team’s trio – Max Esterson, Jarrod Waberski and Pearson – managed to limit the damage and make progress to limit the damage to their championship aspirations.
Esterson led the line for Fortec in the first and second contests, the American rising star taking seventh, then fourth, before being hit by another car and ruled out of the reverse grid finale prematurely.
In his absence, Pearson – who had made up a combined 12 positions in the opening two rounds and started third on the reverse grid – managed the tricky weather conditions expertly and bagged the final spot on the podium in a twice-interrupted third race.
He was closely followed home by South African ace Waberski, who rebounded from a frustrating spin on Monday morning in race two to make up 10 positions to fifth, despite there only being two laps of green flag action.
After the first three rounds, Esterson sits as the highest-placed Fortec driver in the standings in eighth, with Waberski 10th. and Pearson 15th.
The team end the opening weekend fifth in the Teams’ Championship, but with plenty of unrealised potential to fulfil heading to the next event at Silverstone (GP) on 5 – 7 May.
View from the Cockpit
Jarrod Waberski (#20) said:
“The last race was a good recovery from us, making up ten positions despite only a lap of green flag racing, when you add the two half-laps we managed together.
“It’s a new championship, and a new level for me this year, and things don’t happen overnight. But what this has given us is a good platform, and something to take away and work on ahead of Silverstone.”
Edward Pearson (#41) said:
“I’m definitely pleased with how the weekend ended. We’ve got a bit of time to find still, but to go forward in every race this weekend and to end with a podium is a promising start.
“There wasn’t an awful lot of racing to do in race three, but the conditions were quite tricky, so the important thing was to keep it on track and bring it home.”
Max Esterson (#42) said:
“We managed to get some good points in the first two races, but it was a shame not to finish race three.
“Whilst it’s a frustrating way to end the weekend, we do have a platform to build on. We’ll reset, and go again at Silverstone next month.”
Ollie Dutton, Team Principal said:
“Qualifying is so important around here. We went a different way with tyres, expecting a red flag, and it ended up being one of the few sessions this week not to have one. In hindsight, perhaps we should have used two.
“It’s definitely a weekend where the results don’t match the potential. But the guys did well to limit the damage as best they could, and it’s given us plenty to work on heading to Silverstone. Thanks to the entire team, as always, for all their hard work.”
