by Simon Paice | Oct 16, 2023 | F3 News
Douglas Motorsport battled to a top-six finish thanks to a season-best performance by rookie Shawn Rashid in the latest GB3 Championship event at Zandvoort last weekend (14/15 October).
The multiple GB3 race-winning squad partook in their second away trip of the season with drivers Rashid and Tymek Kucharczyk behind the wheel for the penultimate event at Zandvoort in Holland, the former bagging his best result in sodden conditions on Sunday.
With just six races remaining on the calendar, the Northern Irish squad again showed strong pace throughout free practice around the Formula One circuit, famed for its banked and undulating corners.
Polish driver Kucharczyk showed the team’s potential in the early running and headed into Qualifying on Saturday looking to put the blue machines towards the sharp end of the grid for the day’s two races. A competitive 25-minute session was intensely close, Kucharczyk ending ninth in the times. American Rashid showed his rapidly-improving speed also, but an off in the session left him playing catch up.
Kucharczyk gave the Douglas Motorsport team cause for excitement when the lights went out to start the first race of the weekend as he powered alongside several rivals on the run to the Tarzan hairpin. Unfortunately, a swerving Matthew Rees sent James Hedley veering into the side of the Douglas driver which delayed him significantly, taking the finish in 12th place.
On the fourth row for the second race, this time Kucharczyk was squeezed on the inside at the first corner, enduring a quiet race chasing the lead pack where he finished 10th. Rashid showed his learning process was gaining momentum with a fine performance from the rear of the field, keeping his nose clean and making moves on track to climb to 20th.
The American had his chance to shine the following day, starting on the third row of the grid for the final race of the weekend in the Netherlands. Kucharczyk meanwhile had a fight ahead of him with a starting position of 17th on the grid for the last outing. A huge downpour prior to the start of the race meant it would be a messy contest, with very little in the way of green flag running after a brace of accidents breaking out at the banked second hairpin – requiring lengthy safety car interruptions.
As a result, Rashid was not given the time he would have wanted to make progress, but a feisty start from the American put him in the fight for the podium early on. Battling with championship leader Callum Voisin, a best result of the year came his way with sixth place, while Kucharczyk was sadly out of fortune as a pincer movement at the start relieved him of his front wing. After a trip to the pits for a rapid nose change by the team, the Polish youngster showed his pace by setting the fastest lap of the race en-route to an unrepresentative 18th.
“It was a weekend where we were a bit unlucky with how things played out on track unfortunately, but the improvements we have seen from Shawn in particular has been very encouraging and it’s vital that he could get a good result at the end there to show for it. Tymek was twice very unlucky to be collected at the start of races, otherwise we had speed to play with which I’m sure we’ll get to showcase next week at Donington.”
Team Principal
Douglas Motorsport will immediately be back in action for one final chance to flourish in 2023, travelling back to the UK for the remaining three GB3 Championship races at Donington Park this coming weekend (21/22 October).
Images from Jakob Ebrey Photography.
by Simon Paice | Aug 3, 2023 | F3 News
Douglas Motorsport claimed a fantastic podium finish in the fifth meeting of the 2023 GB3 Championship as they braved the elements at Silverstone last weekend (29/30 July).
The Northamptonshire-based squad made their second trip of the season to the 3.6-mile Silverstone GP circuit, a place at which they showed front-running pace at throughout their first trip back in May with their rapid rookie drivers Tymek Kucharczyk, Lucas Staico and Shawn Rashid.
Polish driver Kucharczyk showed the team’s potential in the early running with blistering pace throughout two days of testing across Thursday and Friday, putting his car on top of the times heading into the serious action for the weekend.
With three races ahead for the Douglas Motorsport trio and the title fight still far from being out of reach, Kucharczyk again burst out of the blocks in Saturday morning’s key qualifying session to decide the grid orders for the three contests.
Despite being within 0.2s of the pole position, the Polish ace would take the chequered flag third in the times and line up from that position in both of the weekend’s opening two races – his second-fastest lap also third quickest for race two’s order. Brazilian Staico was a mere 0.9s from the top spot as he lined up in 14th for the first contest, Rashid meanwhile not far back.
Later that afternoon would be the first race, one which got underway in dry conditions despite the threat of rain initially creeping in prior to the race. A tight start and hectic first lap ended with Kucharczyk best of the Douglas Motorsport trio in fourth place, taking the fight to Callum Voisin ahead of him. Trying to usurp his rival, he would narrowly miss out on a podium by a second, while Staico took a fighting top-15 finish as Rashid was delayed in an incident.
Race two would take place the following morning, with Kucharczyk starting highest of the team’s Tatuus machines from the second row once more. This time, a great start ensured that he would head into the first corner in the podium positions, with silverware now within grasp for the Douglas squad.
Pulling clear of Joseph Loake behind, Kucharczyk gave chase to the top two and came home in a fine third place to ensure the team’s third podium of the season – the second for the teenager of the year. Staico pushed hard again for 16th while Rashid came home 20th.
The latter however had a golden chance to claim silverware of his own in the final race, starting from a net pole position with a rival falling by the wayside pre-race. The rain turned into a deluge suddenly, with the race sadly curtailed early after a short sprint behind the safety car.
Wayne Douglas – Team Principal: “It was important to have a consistent weekend for us, especially at a track that we have tested at extensively and were rapid at back in May. We were very close to pole in qualifying which proved our pace, and both Lucas and Shawn were pushing up the field which was very positive. To get another podium was a great performance for us as a team, and if the final race had run then we believe Shawn and Lucas would have added more strong results at the end. It gives us a good feeling heading to Brands Hatch.”
Douglas Motorsport will next be in action at Brands Hatch GP circuit in just over a month’s time, for the latest three GB3 Championship races held in Kent over the weekend of 09/10 September.
Image from Jakob Ebrey Photography.
by Simon Paice | Feb 17, 2023 | F3 News
Douglas Motorsport have signed Polish ace Tymek Kucharczyk as their latest driver for the 2023 GB3 Championship.
Kucharczyk is an exciting addition to the Northamptonshire team’s talented line-up for the upcoming campaign, with the 16-year-old racer having shined on his single-seater debut last season after a number of successful years competing in World Series Karting.
The young starlet, who races with the support of key partner PKN ORLEN, competed in the F4 Spanish Championship last year. He burst on to the scene with a stunning run of five podium finishes in a row to start the campaign, including a maiden win in only his second event at Jerez.
Kucharczyk went on to accumulate 12 podium finishes across the season, results that secured him third overall in the championship standings and second in the Rookie Trophy, in the process highlighting him as one to watch as he steps up to GB3 this season.
Wayne Douglas – Team Principal: “Tymek [Kucharczyk] produced some very impressive performances in Spanish F4 last season, so we’re delighted to get him in our line-up for the 2023 GB3 Championship. We’re sure he’ll have a very competitive year and enjoy some great results.”
Tymek Kucharczyk: “I am very happy and grateful that in 2023 I will be competing in the GB3 Championship. It would not be possible without the support of people close to me and my loyal partners.
”Racing an F3 class car in Great Britain is another important step in my career. Looking back, I will follow many great names such as my hero Ayrton Senna, who won in British F3 on his way to Formula 1.
”I would like to thank Wayne Douglas and his Douglas Motorsport team for the faith they have in me. I will work hard and give everything I have to perform well in this new chapter.”
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.
Douglas Motorsport debuted in the championship back in 2013 and have been a permanent fixture on the grid since. Mounting multiple title challenges through the years, they have secured more than 20 race wins and 80 podium finishes in the series.
by Simon Paice | Feb 10, 2023 | F3 News
Leading British single-seater team Douglas Motorsport have signed up Brazilian rising star Lucas Staico for the 2023 GB3 Championship.
The Northamptonshire team head into their 11th consecutive season in the UK’s premier single-seater championship off the back of a successful 2022 campaign, in which all three of their drivers took race wins and secured a total of seven podium finishes.
An incredible karting career for Staico saw him win more than twenty titles across Brazil and South America, before he stepped up to single-seaters last year to contest the inaugural season of the F4 Brazilian Championship.
A phenomenal debut campaign saw the 17 year old finish as the overall runner-up in the championship. Nine podium finishes across the season included three race wins, with two of those successes coming at Interlagos, the home of the Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Wayne Douglas – Team Principal: “We’re thrilled to get the opportunity to race with Lucas [Staico] this season. He really made a name for himself in Brazilian F4 last year and has a huge amount of potential, so we’re confident he’ll be one to watch once he gets up to speed in GB3.”
Lucas Staico: “I’m delighted to be part of the Douglas Motorsport team and I’m looking forward to giving my best on and off track! It’s a high-level championship and I think it’s the right way to start my journey in Europe.”
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.
Douglas Motorsport debuted in the championship back in 2013 and have been a permanent fixture on the grid since. Mounting multiple title challenges through the years, they have secured more than 20 race wins and 80 podium finishes in the series.
by Simon Paice | Feb 8, 2023 | F3 News
American talent Shawn Rashid has joined Douglas Motorsport’s driver line-up for the 2023 GB3 Championship.
The 26 year old talent is set to be one to watch this season as he makes his GB3 debut, having only started his single-seater career last year with a brilliant campaign in the Avon Tyres National Formula Ford Championship with Team Ammonite.
Rashid, who lived in California before moving to the UK to race, was a regular visitor to the rookie class podium all year. Breaking into the overall top three late in the season, he recorded four podiums in the final six races including a maiden win at Brands Hatch.
The Atlanta native also contested the two big prestigious end-of-year Formula Ford events, showing promising pace in the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone before taking a dominant heat win in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.
Wayne Douglas – Team Principal: “Shawn [Rashid] is a great prospect and we’re looking forward to working with him. He put in some great performances in Formula Ford last season and while it’s a big step up to GB3 in only his second season of racing, we’re confident that with a strong testing programme he’ll be ready to hit the ground running for the opening event.”
Shawn Rashid: “I am thrilled to be a part of the 2023 GB3 Championship with Douglas Motorsport. The road to this moment has been long and gruelling, with no days off since the end of my 2022 season in the Formula Ford. The anticipation of getting back on track with my fellow competitors is electrifying.
“My relentless work ethic and passion, combined with Douglas Motorsport’s prestige and history, are sure to result in something truly special this year. I am blessed to be a part of this journey and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
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.
Douglas Motorsport debuted in the championship back in 2013 and have been a permanent fixture on the grid since. Mounting multiple title challenges through the years, they have secured more than 20 race wins and 80 podium finishes in the series.
by Simon Paice | Nov 1, 2022 | F3 News
This year’s intake of Team USA Scholarship drivers sampled GB3 machinery with Douglas Motorsport at Bedford Autodrome yesterday (Monday), as the young contenders continued their exploration of the UK racing scene.
Elliott Budzinski, Thomas Schrage and William Ferguson have spent the past few weeks in the UK, competing in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and are now gearing up for the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone this weekend (5-6 November).
17-year-old Schrage was the highest-placed of the three at Brands Hatch, having registered fourth place in the curtailed final, which was won by former Team USA contender Max Esterson, who raced and won in GB3 with Douglas this year.
A gap in their schedule allowed the trio to get behind the wheel of Douglas Motorsport’s Tatuus MSV-022 GB3 cars, which represent a big step up from the Formula Fords they are used to thanks to considerable increases in horsepower and downforce.
FRP F1600 Championship championship-winner Schrage said: “I had a fantastic time at Bedford Autodrome with Douglas Motorsport turning laps in their GB3 Championship car. Being my first time in a car with aero, it definitely did not disappoint.
“Huge thanks to Jeremy Shaw, the Team USA Scholarship and all the Team USA supporters and partners for organising today’s test and allowing me to step into a GB3 car for the first time! Also, thank you to the Douglas Motorsport crew including Wayne Douglas and Gemma for making today so amazing!”
Karting graduate and SCCA June Sprints Formula F winner Budzinski commented: “Firstly, I cannot thank Douglas Motorsport, Gemma [Stevenson], and Wayne [Douglas] enough for allowing us to do some laps in their cars. It’s a big contrast from these to the Formula Ford, so definitely took a bit to get used to.
“For me downforce isn’t something I’ve experienced before and wow, to think a car could do that! All in all though, I think it went quite well and I was super excited to try my hand in something with a bit more horsepower!”
Canadian Formula 1600 Championship runner-up Ferguson added: “Wow! What an awesome way to start off the week. The Team USA boys and I got to do a few laps in a GB3 car with Douglas Motorsport at Bedford.
“We all got comfortable with the car pretty quickly and had a lot of fun pushing the limits. The Douglas crew, Wayne, Gemma and Alex were very welcoming to us and we had a very enjoyable day. The taster has definitely opened my eyes to racing in the UK and I’m looking forward to moving up in the future!”
A Team USA Scholarship driver has graduated into GB3 from the scheme across the past two seasons, with the trio looking to follow in the footsteps of Bryce Aron and Esterson, who both won GB3 races this year.
Douglas Motorsport Team Principal Wayne Douglas reckons each of this year’s trio has the potential to continue moving up the ladder, based on their performance at Bedford Autodrome.
“We are thrilled to have continued our partnership with the Team USA Scholarship and given the opportunity to Elliott, William and Thomas to test a GB3 Championship car,” he said.
“We were very impressed by how each of them adapted to the car and it’s clear they have a lot of potential for the future.”
Story produced by the GB3 Championship media team.
