Frustrated in qualifying, Colin Queen charges back in GB3 action in Hungary

Floridian gains 17 positions in three races despite struggles with pace

BUDAPEST, Hungary (25 June 2024) – Colin Queen took advantage of challenges posed by a difficult qualifying session, making three charges from the back of the pack to gain 17 positions in three GB3 Partnered by the BRDC races at the Hungaroring.

The 19-year-old Floridian was gridded 21st for Saturday’s opening race, and gained six positions on the opening lap and went on to finish 14th. Starting 18th in Sunday’s second round, the GB3 rookie had another impressive start and improved to 13th. Back to 21st for the start of Sunday’s finale, he garnered an additional five positions to place 16th.

“It was a very frustrating weekend,” said Queen. “I’m glad I was able to get the starts that I had; otherwise, we would have been stuck at the back. My race craft really showed – I was a hard charger at the start of the races, and did my best at a track where it’s really hard to pass.

“I drove to the best of my ability, but from the beginning of testing and practice, we just struggled a lot trying to find pace in the car. We made a lot of changes, but it wasn’t near the pace of the top-10 cars. Then, qualifying was absolutely atrocious. There’s not much you can do when you’re starting last at this circut, but we kind of made up for that.”

Queen got off to an impressive start in the opening race, gaining three positions in Turn 1 and additional three places later in the lap. He was up to 14th by lap 2, and held that spot for the remainder of the event.

“It was a really good race,” he said. “All I had to do was push hard at the start, and it worked out. I got an absolutely amazing launch off the line and made up six places on lap one, and another position on the following lap. Then I held my ground.”

Queen got two positions at the start of the second race Sunday morning. After running 15th for much of the 11-lap race, he moved up to 14th with two laps remaining. A post-race penalty elevated him to 13th.

“I had another good start, and made up three positions on the first lap,” he said. “Then we had a good battle, and eventually I managed to get by another car. A tough race.”

Queen was gridded 21st for Sunday’s 14-lap final race. He was blocked at the start, but still managed to gain four positions on the opening lap, advancing to 16th by lap 5.

“Basically, it was a difficult first lap, getting pushed off in turn four, but I still gained four positions,” he said.  “But again, we need to extract more out of the car.”

GB3 enters the second half of the campaign at Zandvoort on July 13-14 for the Summer Trophy Weekend.

“Zandvoort is a track I absolutely love,” Queen said. “It’s up there with my favorites. We need to find the pace in these warmer dry conditions, and we will be up there in the top 10 without a doubt. We know that because we showed that at the beginning of the season and especially Spa in the cooler mixed conditions. It’s just a matter of us figuring it all out.”