Hillspeed’s Freddie Slater was a driver to watch in this week’s pre-season Snetterton test day, as 19 GB3 cars hit the 300 circuit at Snetterton.
The British driver was the quickest driver in four of the eight sessions in Norfolk, establishing himself and the team as likely front-runners for the season opener at Silverstone at the end of April.
The reigning Italian F4 champion will compete in selected GB3 round this year with the squad, and the 16-year-old is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
“It’s going to be great to be back in the UK and a few European tracks” he commented. “Obviously there’s a new car as well for everybody to learn so it’s going to be super interesting to see how everybody develops and it should be good fun.”
The Stratford-upon-Avon resident is a hotly tipped prospect for the future, and is using his GB3 opportunity to build his experience levels as he aims to progress up the racing ladder. He’s enjoying the challenge of getting to grips with the new Tatuus MSV GB3-025 car.
“The new car is something extra for me to learn, different downforce levels compared to the other cars I’ve driven, different approaches, so the more I can drive and the more adaptable I can be the better. It’s more track time in the end as well so that’s a bonus.
“It’s a very interesting car, it’s bigger than the old one, it’s definitely got some extra downforce, a little bit more power and obviously DRS is pretty cool and a bit more effective now, which we’re seeing on the live timing.
“You’ve just got to be on it [when driving it], it’s got that fine line of being over the limit and under the limit, so it’s a challenge for us drivers to get into the sweet spot, which is nice. It’s a big improvement in the low speed too, and it’s got a much better gearbox, the downshifts are much better. The low speed is much stronger now also.”
While he may not be participating in the full season, he’s aiming to be a powerful presence at the front of the field when he does compete with Richard Ollerenshaw’s Derbyshire-based team, who he’s gelled quickly with so far.
“I just want to win. I’m going to be trying to go for wins straight away, that’s the goal. I’m only able to do three rounds, so I’d like to finish as high up in the championship as possible, and win as many races as possible, so that’s the goal.
“The people [at Hillspeed] are lovely, the whole team and the mechanics are on it. It’s obviously a new car for them to learn too, but the team boss Richard and all the people are working so hard. It’s been good to get with the team and we’re going to have a very interesting season together!”