Lewis Williamson has stated that he is aiming to step up to the GP3 Series in 2011. He impressed many on his GP3 test debut at Estoril last week when he topped the timesheets on his first day in the car. The Formula Renault UK runner-up only found himself taking part in the test after a last-minute call from Atech CRS team boss David Hayles.
The 20-year-old Scotsman spoke to the GP3 website about the experience and his plans for 2011. “I saw the car for the first time on Wednesday when I arrived for a seat fitting, and it doesn't actually look that different from a Renault,” he said. “The tub and steering wheel are similar, but the biggest difference is obviously the engine and the tyres are a lot different, they are a lot wider. When I first got in the car it took a while to get used to it, the team said I would have a bit of turbo lag, so you have to anticipate getting on the throttle a bit earlier. But the main thing was getting the car out the pits! I found it so hard to get it off the hand clutch. I think yesterday I only managed to pull away three times without stalling, but when I did get it right it was so smooth. Apart from that it was just getting used to a new car.”
Speaking about his plans for next season, he said: “I think unless anything changes drastically in the next couple of weeks I will definitely be in GP3 next season. We were already looking at doing GP3 before this week. I do have a test in an F3 car that was a prize for doing well in the championship this year, but I think F3 really threw itself out the window with costs and moving gateposts the whole time. Unless you're with the best team you're not really going to do well because they need money to constantly change bits on the car, and wind tunnel time, so if you sit back at any time you can have a fast car one weekend and then be half signed off the next. It's a bit difficult and not good for sponsors.
“In GP3 it's much fairer and there are not a lot of changes being made during the season, it might just be a change of the wing or something. During the season you just have 30 minute sessions so as a driver you just get out on track and get on with it, and if it's got a problem you drive around it. It's the best thing to do.”