Welsh racer Matt Rees closed out the 2022 GB3 Championship at Donington Park last weekend (October 15/16), showing great speed and promise but also suffering some bad luck which hampered his final results.
The 17-year-old was a consistent top-ten runner through testing on Friday, aiming to have a repeat podium finish after taking a race win at Brands Hatch last time out, before the all-important qualifying session on Saturday morning.
Heading out on slick tyres with the track damp but drying, Matt opted to wait until the final ten minutes in qualifying before starting to set quick lap times. Once again it was closely fought between the field, with the Welsh youngster just 0.3s from pole but only sixth quickest, with his second fastest time giving him eighth for race two.
The teenager had a slow start to the opening contest, falling back to ninth, though he fought past Roberto Faria at the Old Hairpin. However, the Brazilian regained the place at the end of the lap which also helped Zak Taylor get through, dropping him to tenth. After a brief Safety Car, Matt then passed both cars, but Faria made a late lunge at Redgate, and Matt ran wide at the Old Hairpin after suffering front wing damage, falling back to 17th place.
One of just a handful of cars opting for slick tyres for race two, with the track again damp but drying, Matt got off the line well, being careful in the opening laps knowing the track would continue to come to him. He fell to 11th before starting to climb his way back through but had a spin at Redgate which sent him back to 17th. From there he produced a superb drive through the field, lapping some two to five seconds a lap quicker than anyone else, crossing the line sixth.
Starting 15th for the reverse grid contest, the final race of the season, Matt started well and climbed to tenth, but while trying to take ninth he was shuffled back to 12th. He made a move into the chicane to gain tenth, before the Safety Car was called, and when racing resumed moved up to ninth with a pass into the Melbourne Hairpin, a position he would hold to the flag.
Matt and his family will now evaluate their options, before making a decision on his plans for the 2023 season, which will be announced at a later date.
Matt Rees shows speed but luck evades him at GB3 Championship finale
