Round 5 – Preview
After visiting the Netherlands last year, the GB3 Championship makes its second-ever trip to Zandvoort this weekend – and it will be the only occasion in 2024 when the series unites on the support bill with British Formula 4. As a result, Hitech will field a total of seven cars across the two junior single-seater categories.
Hitech make the short trip across the English Channel to the Dutch resort of Zandvoort leading the GB3 teams’ standings, while Will Macintyre is just two points off the top spot in the drivers’ championship. Both Will and Tymek Kucharczyk have won three races this year (Gerrard Xie also has a race win) but after a disappointing end to the previous round at the Hungaroring – all three racers are looking to secure a decent points haul in Holland.
“This will be the first time I’ll have driven Zandvoort in this car and it’ll be a weekend where I’ll need to switch on straight away and find the grip,” says Will. “Qualifying will be important because if you’re stuck in the mid-field the aero wash from the cars in front around the narrow track will be tough. I’m not expecting it to be easy to overtake – unless it rains…”
Hitech have enjoyed a brilliant run in GB3 so far this season, becoming the first team to score seven consecutive race wins in the series and they lead the teams’ championship by 33 points. Will, Tymek and Gerrard have scored a total of 12 trophies for their podium placings. Ahead of Zandvoort, Tymek is just 19 points behind his team-mate Will after 11 rounds (the third race at Silverstone was cancelled due to rain) and he’s looking forward to gaining vital experience of another Formula 1 circuit.
“After Spa and Hungary, it’s great to be able to compete on another Grand Prix track,” says Tymek. “This is a special circuit. Narrow, tricky and with two banked curves. There is also very little margin for error if you make a mistake too. I’m looking forward to getting out on track.”
Located in the dunes, a stone’s throw from the North Sea, the circuit has been hosting top-class motor racing since the 1950s. With spectators able to access the venue either by train from Amsterdam or cycle to Zandvoort-aan-Zee from local towns such as Haarlem, the Zandvoort Summer Trophy is expected to be a popular destination with enthusiasts this weekend and a suitable warm-up for the Dutch Grand Prix later in the year.
This weekend’s GB3 running starts with four 45 minutes test sessions on Thursday and two practice sessions on Friday, the competitive action gets underway with qualifying on Saturday morning followed by race one later in the day at 12.55pm. Race two takes place on Sunday at 10.10am with the final race at 4.30pm. All times are local, one hour on from BST.
