VRD Racing's Patricio Gonzalez sits sixth in the early GB3 Championship standings, following his best all-round weekend performance since joining the series last year, in the season opener at Silverstone.
The Mexican driver twice qualified inside the top-10, with a high of sixth on the race two grid, and banked sixth and fifth place finishes as his best scores in the races. He left the British Grand Prix venue with 40 points, playing a big hand in VRD's current status as teams' championship leaders.
"A lot of work went in over the winter" he explains. "We spent a lot of time testing, working on my fitness, and understanding the car better. I also worked a lot on my driving and learning from last season. The team has also been a big part of my improvement, giving me a lot of support and helping me improve this year."
While the sixth and fifth places were his best race results yet, he could have gone even better. He was in the fight for the final podium spot with Abbi Pulling in race two, but after some spectacular side by side racing on the last lap, ended up connecting wheels with the Rodin contender. He flew over the top of her and into the gravel, and while he was able to continue, he was relegated to 11th as he recovered.
"I was very determined" he commented. "Silverstone was a positive weekend and we had good pace, so of course I wanted that first podium. It showed me we are getting closer, and it gave me confidence for the next races.
"It wasn't a bad start, but I always want more. We’ve had some strong moments and also things to improve. The team has supported me a lot through the season, and the goal is to keep learning and move further up in the standings."
VRD not only leads the team standings, but also the drivers' chart too, thanks to Nikita Bedrin's double victory at Silverstone. Gonzalez admits he's been learning a lot from the championship leader, who has considerable experience of almost every kind of junior single-seater.
"It’s been really good" he enthuses. "Nikita has a lot of experience, so it’s helpful to see how he works and approaches things. I’ve definitely learned from him and it’s helping me improve as a driver."
Spa is next up in just under a fortnight's time, and Patricio is eagerly awaiting his first ever weekend at the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, where he hopes to make amends for the lost podium at Silverstone.
"I’m really excited. Spa is one of the most iconic tracks in the world, so racing there for the first time will be very special. It will also be a big learning experience for me.
"The target is to keep improving and have a strong weekend. Of course, we’ll be pushing for good results and if we have the pace, fighting for the podium would be great."