Double top ten for Hitech in season opener

Hitech Racing bounced back from a difficult qualifying session at Oulton Park to secure a double top ten finish in the first round of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series season.

“From tenth on the grid I knew it would be difficult as it isn’t easy to overtake at Oulton Park, but I made a good start to get up to eighth place and then got seventh when Jay retired,” Gabriel said. “That is an important result for us as we need to try and score points in every race. It will be good to start race two from pole position and I’m sixth on the grid for race three so I’m confident of scoring some good points from both races.”

Hitech boss Ryan Sharp said he was pleased to see both drivers score points in the season opener, with the team now looking to make the most of its pole position in the second race.

“Oulton Park is a difficult circuit to pass on, so it was good that Gabriel was able to make up places off the start and he then benefitted from Bridger’s retirement to finish seventh,” he said. “Will battled back through the field well to take tenth, so we’ve been able to get both cars in the points, which is good.

“Gabriel will now start the second race from pole thanks to the draw, and while that isn’t the way we want to get pole position, we will take what we are given. After a difficult pre-season, that might be the bit of luck we need, but both drivers are well placed to score points on Monday.”