Fortec Motorsport’s efforts were ultimately hampered by a difficult qualifying and treacherous weather conditions as the 2023 GB3 Championship resumed at Zandvoort last weekend [14-15 October].
The UK’s premier single-seater series made its second overseas trip of the year, this time to the Netherlands, and the 2.6-mile venue known worldwide as the host venue for the Dutch Grand Prix.
The team’s trio of talented rising stars – South Africa’s Jarrod Waberski, Britain’s Edward Pearson and US ace Max Esterson – showed front-running pace throughout practice, placing in and around the top ten runners in mixed conditions.
But, on a circuit where overtaking opportunities are premium, qualifying proved to be the ‘make of break’ session of the weekend, and the result ultimately left the trio with an uphill task. Waberski led the team’s efforts in P8, with Esterson P14, and Pearson P17.
In the opening race, Waberski maintained position to kick off the competitive action with P8, and another top-ten finish.
Esterson was able to make up a position off the line to P13, but an early safety car intervention neutralised the race during the crucial first laps, and when it resumed, opportunities to pass became virtually null and void. Pearson took the flag in P22.
Waberski looked to be on the move in the second contest, improving to seventh early on. However, the teenager was run off the road by another car at Turn 10, and he would be forced to retire shortly after.
Esterson again claimed P13 in race two, with Pearson improving five spots to P17, and banking his first points of the weekend.
Race three proved to be a generous use of the word, with hardly any green flag racing completed in tricky wet conditions, and with a fully reversed grid. Waberski and Esterson kept their heads to move through the order and score a weekend-best result of eighth and ninth respectively.
Pearson was an unlucky victim of the slippery conditions but, along with his team-mates, is already looking forward to making amends at the Donington Park season finale next weekend [21-22 October].
Jarrod Waberski (#20) said:
“Leaving Zandvoort a bit disappointed we couldn’t get the results we deserved. We had a lot of pace and were racing the championship leaders all weekend.
Now we have to put full focus on Donington Park and ending the season on a high! Massive thanks to the team at Fortec Motorsport for the hard work in the windy and cold conditions.”
Edward Pearson (#41) said:
“It’s been a tough weekend at Zandvoort. We had great pace in testing, and we were looking good, but in the races, we had some technical problems that meant we couldn’t quite get the results we’d wanted.
“I know the team will come together for the last round at Donington Park next weekend, so it’s full focus on that.”
Max Esterson (#42) said:
“Tough weekend at Zandvoort. We didn’t perform well in qualifying and overtaking was almost impossible. I won at Donington last year so hopefully I can repeat that result and finish the year on a high.”
Oliver Dutton, Team Principal said:
“A lot of things went against us this weekend. Qualifying is so pivotal in this championship, and we definitely didn’t get the result we deserved. That then makes it a bit of an uphill challenge for the rest of the weekend, on a circuit that is so difficult to overtake on.
“Add the weather conditions into the mix, and having a reverse grid race to contend with, and it’s quite apparent that points were about the maximum we could have achieved, so it’s good to come away with a haul.
“Donington Park is more familiar territory, so we’re looking forward to getting back home and ending the year on a high there next weekend.”
