Protyre Formula Renault BARC regular Josh Webster secured a sensational Invitational Class victory on his Formula 3 debut during the annual RTL GP Masters of F3 event at Zandvoort.
The MSA Team UK member starred throughout the weekend for British outfit T-Sport, with strong performances in wet and dry conditions culminating in a win at the wheel of his F308 Dallara Mugen-Honda.
The weekend was one of first for Webster, his first competitive outing in Formula 3, his first race meeting at Zandvoort and his first time running on Kumho tyres. Webster overcame all this pretty quickly as he ended up as comfortably the quickest of the Invitational Class drivers in a rain-affected opening practice.
Qualifying didn't go to plan for Webster though, with the Stowmarket-based racer dropping a wheel on the wet grass and crashing into the barriers while pushing for the class pole, leaving him at the back of the grid for the big race.
Unfazed, a great opening to the race saw Webster challenging for the lead at the beginning of the third lap, the Brit getting past at turn one to take the advantage. Pulling away, Webster eventually won by around 20 seconds at the finish.
Webster, who is hoping to secure the budget to contest some of the remaining races in the 2012 Cooper Tires British F3 International Series, said: “It's fantastic to win my first ever F3 race in the Invitational Class of the Masters. It was the most physically demanding race of my life so, combined with my lack of seat time in an F3 car, it made the win all the more satisfying. To win in front of such a huge crowd as well is an experience to remember that's for sure.
“I really want to say thanks to everyone back home for all of their support and a huge thank you to my sponsors Nine Group, Admiral Solutions & Support and Integra ICT. Thanks too for all the hard work from the guys at T-Sport, they did a great job and were fantastic to work with.”
