F3 Podium Finisher Clarke Reunited With Hillspeed For First UK Run Of Team’s GB4 Car
Hillspeed gave a first UK run to one of its three GB4 Championship partnered by the BRDC cars at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit yesterday, Wednesday, 16th March, where the team was reunited with BRDC Formula 3 podium finisher Oliver Clarke.
Drafted in to assist with the set-up and development of the Markham Vale team’s GB4 fleet, the Kings Lynn 19-year-old provided extremely valuable feedback during the pre-season ‘Media Day’ test which marked his first appearance on track since the end of the 2020 BRDC F3 campaign.
Clarke, who became a multiple podium finisher with Hillspeed during an impressive maiden season in the predecessor to the GB3 Championship two years ago, was the natural choice for the team to help with its GB4 test programme as activity ramps up ahead of the category’s inaugural season.
Having recently returned from a month of winter testing in Spain, where the team ran a comprehensive schedule featuring GB4 and GB3 single-seaters, this week’s outing at Donington was the first for its GB4 outfit on British soil – and the car ran faultlessly.
Lapping very competitively, Clarke missed the optimum period of track time early in the day while preparing pedal settings and seat position having been unable to attend the track the day prior due to existing commitments. Even so, he was expectedly quick and his feedback proved first class.
While still in discussion with drivers regarding race seats for the maiden season of GB4, Hillspeed has elected to forego the opening round at the beginning of April and instead start its campaign at the second event – alongside GB3 at Oulton Park – in order to provide a more competitive budget.
“Having spent a month testing in Spain, Donington marked our first time on a UK circuit with the GB4 and we were delighted Oli returned to the team to have a run in the car and provide some quality feedback”, said team principal Richard Ollerenshaw, “He was the ideal candidate to put in the car and did all we asked, we’d love to work with him again if the opportunity is there.
“We’ve decided to contain the budgets for GB4 as much as we can, and so a team decision has been made to continue testing GB4 throughout March and the first half of April ahead of the second GB4 round at Oulton alongside GB3 and British GT. We believe this is a sensible approach which provides excellent value for money for young drivers new to cars or new to the UK circuits.”
Drivers seeking competitive and cost-effective testing or race opportunities in GB4 are invited to contact Richard Ollerenshaw on +44 (0)7966 650400 or by email to info@hillspeed.co.uk
