Leading single-seater team Douglas Motorsport will be back on the GB3 Championship grid next season, with American rising star Max Esterson their first confirmed driver for a multi-car entry in 2022.
The Northamptonshire based team have been a leading force in the UK’s premier single-seater championship, formerly known as BRDC British F3, ever since their debut back in 2013, and they are targeting more front-running success next season.
Esterson is an exciting addition to the team as he prepares to make his debut in GB3. It’s the latest chapter of a flourishing young career for the New York City born driver, who only contested his first full season of karting in 2019 before stepping up to cars the following year.
A race-winner in his maiden season in the U.S. F1600 Championship Series, Esterson then travelled to the UK for the 2020 Formula Ford Festival and Walter Hayes Trophy. He has stayed competing on these shores ever since, challenging for the championship title all the way through to the last round of this year’s Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship.
On top of that, in October the 19 year old successfully won the coveted Team USA Scholarship, earning him the opportunity to represent his country in the two big prestigious end-of-year events, the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone.
An eye-catching two weeks for Esterson saw him finish a brilliant second in the milestone 50th running of the Festival, before sensationally dominating the Walter Hayes. Topping every session he contested at Silverstone, he sealed the event win with a lights-to-flag victory in the grand final.
Esterson is also a hugely successful sim-racer and has competed with the support of iRacing for the last two years. Starting his virtual career at 11 years of age, he quickly moved up the ranks to become one of the top five drivers in the US and has secured multiple high-profile event wins and championship titles.
Preparations have already begun for Esterson’s introduction to the GB3 Championship, with Douglas Motorsport’s first ever American driver having shown great pace during some initial test outings with the team. They will now embark on a comprehensive driver development programme over the coming months ahead of the season starting in April.
“We’re looking forward to competing in the GB3 Championship once again next season. With some exciting upgrades to the car being introduced and a fantastic 2022 calendar, the series firmly remains the pinnacle of the UK single-seater scene.
“Max [Esterson] is a very talented young driver and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team. He’s put in some superb performances in Formula Ford this season, particularly in the two big events in recent weeks, and if his early testing times are anything to go by, we’re confident he’ll be a leading name in GB3 as well.”
“I’m really excited to continue my single-seater career with a step up into the GB3 Championship with Douglas Motorsport. Switching from the Formula Ford to the GB3 car was a bit of an adjustment, but Wayne and the team have done a great job welcoming me to the series and are providing me with a great place to continue learning.
“Testing has gone well so far and we are already working hard to prepare for the first race of the season in April. Thank you to my supporters Team USA Scholarship, iRacing, Christian Angle Real Estate, Amity Search Partners, B. Dyson Capital Advisors, Bell Helmets, Max Papis Innovations (MPI) and many others for making this possible.”
The GB3 Championship is the pinnacle of the UK single-seater ladder, competing at the biggest race circuits across the country and further afield. The series is watched around the world courtesy of free live online streaming of its races.
