Less than a week after collecting new GB3 cars, four teams were in action at Donington Park today (Thursday) as they shook down their new machines for the first time.
Chris Dittmann Racing, Hitech, JHR Developments and VRD Racing were all in action at the chilly East Midlands circuit, after a busy few days of preparations at each team base.
Almost four hours of track time allowed each squad to get to grips with the Tatuus MSV GB3-025, with the morning largely spent on accruing mileage, before conducting higher performance runs in the afternoon sessions.
British F4 race winner James Higgins was on driving duty for Chris Dittmann Racing, Noah Lisle had a first taste of GB3 action for JHR, while Hunter Yeany, who contested a GB3 round at Spa-Francorchamps in 2021, drove for VRD.
Hitech meanwhile had two driver in action, with reigning British F4 champion and Silverstone Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award winner Deagen Fairclough and teammate Keanu Al Azhari taking turns.
“For a first run, we’re in a really good spot” Fairclough commented at the end of his stint. “It’s a good ballpark and I know the team has been working ever so hard at the factory. I’ve been there to witness it and actually learn some things for myself. So I’m really pleased, the car feels great already and I got to try the DRS, which is something new! That was quite a cool feeling and I’m really looking forward to some more seat time and getting the season started.
“We had a good shakedown to learn the basics of everything, now we need to get our heads down and get a really quick set up on it. Hopefully we’ll be up there this year, both I and the team would love to, there’s been so much work already. It’s an exciting time, there’s a few other teams here looking to get one over each other, but you don’t know what each team is doing. But I’m really excited for the next few weeks.”
Today’s Donington Park test follows on from Elite Motorsport’s two days of successful running at Jerez earlier in the week, with testing expected to ramp up over the coming weeks, with a major two day test coming up at Silverstone at the end of February marking a key point in the pre-season.