Hillspeed’s Peter Bouzinelos secured his maiden podium in the GB3 Championship at Donington Park last weekend.
The Australian claimed second place in the reversed-grid final race of the weekend, having started from fourth on the grid.
“I’m still very shocked, it hasn’t hit me yet,” said Bouzinelos. “I’m very glad that I have got to this point. Obviously, it was a reversed-grid race, but it’s a big step for me, so we’ll definitely just push on.”
The 17-year-old enjoyed his most successful weekend of the year to date at Donington, finishing all three races inside the top 10, as he continues his recovery from a serious accident more than a year ago.
“It’s definitely been a rocky start,” he said. “It’s been up and down, but the team has improved. I wouldn’t have done it without the whole team; I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Bouzinelos spent more than a year out of racing action following an accident in his homeland. The teenager was struck by a car travelling at 70 kilometres per hour whilst riding his bicycle to the gym.
“I ended up fracturing 24 bones and losing two-and-a-half litres of blood in the process,” he recalled. “[The doctors] couldn’t really do surgery on me at the time, so I was broken for a good week and a half until they could actually do something.
“I had about eight infusions of blood and luckily my mum knew a couple of doctors who could give me the best procedure possible.”
Bouzinelos was wheelchair-bound for a period of time before being able to properly begin the rehabilitation process that allowed him to return to racing. He had been scheduled to step up to GB3 for Formula 4 last year, before the accident resulted in the significant injuries that held him back.
“I wanted to get back into a car as quickly as possible,” he said. “By the fourth month, I was up and ready to go so it’s been a long year last year and I’m glad to be here.”
Bouzinelos’ first time behind the wheel of a race car in a competitive scenario since the end of 2024 came at the two days of official pre-season testing at Snetterton on 10-11 March. Since then, he has continued to find his feet in the championship, culminating in his maiden podium at Donington.
“These circuits have all been new to me,” he said. “Brands Hatch [will be] the same procedure: start off learning and build into the weekend and hopefully get back on to that podium step.”
“I’m stepping up the game and so is the team, which is good. Hopefully, we can bring a better performance for the last two races, which I’m excited about.”