Hitech return to home venue in GB3 for Round 5
Round 5 - Silverstone - Preview
It’s the shortest commute of the year for us as we cross over the road to compete in the latest round of the GB3 Championship this weekend. It’s a welcome return to Silverstone for the Hitech TGR duo of Deagen Fairclough and Keanu Al Azhari. It’s also our second visit to the British Grand Prix circuit in GB3 machinery, following the season opener in April.
It was a strong outing last time out in Hungary as we scored a total of 114 points, with Keanu securing pole position and taking two podiums on his visit to the Hungaroring. The Emirati will be hoping to carry that momentum into Silverstone, starting with two test days on Thursday and Friday before Qualifying gets underway on Saturday morning.
Keanu Al Azhari:
“I was happy with the pace of the car in Hungary and I’m sure we can continue with that level of performance this weekend. We’ve been working hard back at base, on the simulator, and with my engineers to unlock the potential in this new GB3 car.”
“Silverstone’s an amazing circuit. It’s got everything: technical bits, high-speed sections, low-speed corners - it’s a fantastic challenge. Plus, with the DRS zones, we can expect lots of overtaking. I’m looking forward to returning there.”
Currently sitting fourth overall in the points standings is Deagen Fairclough, reigning British F4 champion and no stranger to Silverstone, having clinched his title there last year. Although a technical issue affected his GB3 debut back in April, he was able to climb through the field after starting towards the back.
The 19-year-old from West Sussex is aiming for a strong weekend as the second half of the GB3 season gets underway on home turf. Deagen scored 48 points last time out in Hungary and will be hoping Silverstone once again brings good fortune.
Deagen Fairclough:
“The GB3 car has much more power and is a lot more to handle compared to the F4 car, especially with DRS. High-speed corners also require more trust in the car, and the downforce allows you to take them much quicker than in F4. Silverstone is a track I know well and really enjoy. It has a bit of everything - high-speed, low-speed corners.”
“When you race through Maggots and Becketts it’s fantastic. In F4, you can just flow through those corners, but when you get more speed in the GB3 car, it’s even better. The adrenaline you get from those turns when it’s done right is amazing.”
Race 1 from Silverstone is live on the GB3 YouTube channel and takes place at 14:45 UK time. That’s followed by Race 2 at 10:40 on Sunday, with Race 3 starting at 15:05 later that day.