Elite’s McKenzy Cresswell tops three-day Silverstone GB3 test

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell was fastest in the first major GB3 test of 2023, lapping one second faster than last year’s pole time on Silverstone’s Grand Prix layout.

Cresswell, who has switched from Chris Dittmann Racing for his sophomore season in GB3, recorded a 1m52.070s lap on the final day to end the test 0.181s clear of JHR Developments’ Matthew Rees.

Fortec Motorsports dominated the top of the timesheets on Wednesday, with rain persisting throughout. Max Esterson set a best lap of 2m10.967s in session three to end the day quickest ahead of team-mates Jarrod Waberski, who was fastest in the first two sessions, and Edward Pearson.

CDR’s single-seater rookie Arthur Rogeon led the way in the fourth and slowest session of the day. Hillspeed, JHR and Douglas were also on track, with several drivers running without active transponders.

Hitech GP joined the fray on a dry and sunny second day, and immediately set the pace. Reigning British F4 champion Alex Dunne led the first two sessions, recording a best lap of 1m54.567s to leave him clear of Waberski and Esterson. The trio were separated by 0.036s in session three, with Esterson setting the best time of testing so far at 1m54.301s.

Dunne was the first driver of the week to dip under last year’s Silverstone GB3 pole time in session four. Douglas driver Tymek Kucharczyk then went faster still with a 1m52.910s before Waberski eclipsed him by just 0.004s to end the day on top.

Fortec, Douglas and CDR did not take part on Friday, while Elite made its first appearance of the week, with Ayato Iwasaki and Oliver Stewart testing for the team alongside Cresswell.

Dunne and Cresswell led the two morning sessions before times tumbled dramatically in the afternoon. Cresswell posted a new benchmark of 1m52.769s in session three before Rees found a further half a second. But Cresswell responded moments later with what proved the best lap of the week.

Rees topped the final session with a lap fractionally slower than his earlier best ahead of Red Bull junior Souta Arao, who recorded his personal best to finish third overall. David Morales also set his best lap in the final session to end up fourth, the American having tested for JHR across all three days alongside the team’s two confirmed drivers Rees and Joseph Loake.

Hitech’s Michael Shin ended the test in 10th, while Arden’s Noah Ping drove for the first time on Friday. James Hedley was one of two additional drivers to test on Thursday for CDR, who has only confirmed Rogeon in its line-up so far.

Several GB4 drivers also tested, with Fortec’s Colin Queen quickest across the first two days ahead of Kevin Mills Racing’s Jack Clifford and Jeremy Fairbairn. Fox Motorsport was the only GB4 team in action on Friday, with Liam McNeilly eclipsing Queen’s benchmark. Virtuosi Racing and Hitech also ran its British F4 cars at the test.

Test results

*Laps completed with transponder