Elite Motorsport’s GB3 debutant Kyuho Lee enjoyed an extremely competitive start to life in his new series at the Silverstone season opener.
The Korean contender qualified inside the top-10 in both sessions, with a peak of seventh on the grid for round one, and delivered three strong race performances, particularly in the weekend finale in which he challenged for the podium.
“I was really happy with how the weekend went overall” Lee reflects. ”Silverstone was my first GB3 event, so there were a lot of new things to learn, but I felt I improved step by step throughout the weekend.
“Scoring strong results and being competitive from the beginning gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”
The highlight of Lee’s GB3 debut was in race three, as he diced with teammate Flynn Jackes and Hitech’s Jin Nakamura for the win during a feisty final lap. Though his on-the-road podium was eventually lost after picking up a time penalty, Lee was still pleased to have made a name for himself at the front.
“Race three was incredibly intense. Proving that I can fight at the sharp end of the grid in my very first weekend was a huge takeaway. It’s given me a clear taste of what’s needed for the upcoming rounds.”
The 17-year-old has settled in quickly with the Elite Motorsport team, and also stands to learn plenty from teammate Jackes, who has more GB3 experience than any other contender on this year’s grid.
“I’m really enjoying the environment at Elite” he enthuses. “The level of professionalism is top-tier, and the synergy between us is growing every time we hit the track. It feels like a place where I can truly maximise my potential.
“It’s good to have Flynn as a teammate who has lots of experience in this car. It’s definitely helpful to compare data and learn from him. I think we are pushing each other in a positive way and having a strong teammate is really important for development to myself and the team.”
While working closely with Elite in GB3, Kyuho is also part of the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Programme, with the luxury vehicle division of Hyundai playing a big part in his early career.
“The support from Genesis Magma Racing has been invaluable. Being part of a major manufacturer project adds a layer of responsibility, but they support me a lot on the development side as a driver.
“I’m trying to maximise to improve and be better all the time, as I get great support from Genesis.”
The Spa-Francorchamps GB3 round is next up for Kyuho, and he’s massively excited to compete at the legendary Belgian circuit for the first time.
“Spa is a circuit that needs no introduction, it’s a place that every driver dreams of. It will be my first time racing there, and I’m fully aware of its reputation for unpredictable weather and high-speed flow.
“Mastering a track like this is a challenge I’ve been looking forward to since the start of the season.
“My main focus is to carry the momentum from Silverstone and to keep our upward trajectory. Qualifying will be crucial, if we can secure a strong starting position I’m confident that we will be battling in the front pack for the podium.”