Fortec Motorsport brings down the curtain on its 2023 GB3 Championship campaign at Donington Park this weekend [21-22 October].
The Daventry-based team make the relatively short journey to the East Midlands venue aiming to end their latest campaign in the UK’s premier single seater series on a high note, after a tricky run of form recently.
Qualifying has proved to be something of an Achilles heel in a highly-competitive grid, making progress difficult in race trim.
The team’s trio of rising stars – Jarrod Waberski (RSA), Max Esterson (USA) and Edward Pearson (GBR) – have battled on through the character-building run of results, however, to bank a solid haul of points, fuelling optimism that the team can return to winning ways on the full Grand Prix layout at Donington.
Characterised by its fast, flowing nature, the 2.2-mile circuit presents drivers with plenty of opportunities to pass, notably into the first corner at Redgate, and again at the Melbourne Hairpin towards the end of the lap. It’s a venue that always offers spectators a thrilling spectacle, with plenty of slipstreaming possibilities.
With a host of the championship’s leading lights embroiled in a battle for the crown, it could also offer an opportunity for several front-runners not involved in the fight to end the campaign on a high note.
After another day of pre-event testing on Friday, the competitive action begins at 10:50 (BST) on Saturday, with the opening race to follow at 14:57.
Sunday features another double bill of action, with lights out at 10:07 and 15:20. Races are live streamed for free on MSV TV’s YouTube channel.
Jarrod Waberski (#20) said:
“Heading to Donington Park this weekend, my focus is on ending the year on a high note.
“We had the pace at Zandvoort, just not the luck, so I’m excited to see what we can achieve this time out.”
Edward Pearson (#41) said:
“I can’t wait to get going for the final round at Donington Park this weekend.
“In testing, our pace has been good, so the aim is to go out and finish this season on a high note.”
Max Esterson (#42) said:
“I’m hoping to repeat my success at Donington from last year and get a solid result to finish the season.
“Testing in the wet has been good so far, but I have some work to do in the dry. We’ll try our best to get everything sorted in all conditions before qualifying on Saturday morning.”
Oliver Dutton, Team Principal said:
“It’s always tinged with some sadness when we get to the end of the season, but the focus this weekend is to end it on a high note, and go into the winter with momentum on our side.
“Donington has been a good circuit for us in the past, and it’s very different to the last two venues – Brands Hatch and Zandvoort – in that overtaking is absolutely possible, and slipstreaming is almost guaranteed.
“That should give us plenty of opportunities in the races, but of course the aim is to qualify well and have a clear road ahead! In either scenario, we have good pace in the cars and the drivers, so it’s just about putting everything together.”
