Buckingham based Hitech Racing ended British Formula Three testing on a high, with driver William Buller recording the fourth fastest time in the final test before the series' Easter Weekend opener.
The final session, held at Silverstone ahead of the championship's media launch started on a wet track and Buller was just one of many to fall foul of the conditions, his Dallara-Volkswagen going off at Abbey, forcing the team to scramble the spare car for the remainder of the three-hour session.
However, as the track dried out and the times started to tumble Team MSA UK driver Buller exchanged times with the more recognised names in the series, ending the session with the fourth fastest time (1:40.553) only a tenth of second off the fastest time, set by Fortec Motorsport's Oli Webb.
The second Hitech car, driven by Brazilian Gabriel Dias as he steps up from the lower National Class was sixth fastest, eight-tenths off his teammate.
“Pre-season testing has had its ups and downs, but the team is heading into the season stronger and more focused as a result,” said Buller. “We have certainly learned a lot that we can take into the year ahead. Throughout testing there have been a lot of red flags and dealing with the amount of traffic on circuit has made it difficult, but we have just focused on our own programme and not been concerned about the times,” he adds, admitting that the true pace of his competitors will only really be seen at the first race of the season, at Oulton Park on April 3-5.
“It’s been hard work getting to where are now, and from the first test at Snetterton to today there has been 100 per cent improvement,” says team boss Ryan Sharp. “Some of our rivals may have peaked already, but we know we still have room for improvement and will do whatever it takes to make those improvements and be at the front of the grid.”
“While Oulton Park may be a tough start to the year, we are fully focused on picking up solid points and will soon be in a position to fight for poles and victories.”
