GB3 rookie season finale at Brands Hatch for Colin Queen

19-year-old Floridan looks to return to top British open-wheel series in 2025

WEST KINGSDOWN, England – (29 September 2024) – Colin Queen finished his rookie season in the GB3 Partnered by the BRDC with a tough weekend at the historic Brands Hatch circuit – showing promise that he looks forward to continuing in the top British open-wheel series in 2025.

“We’re looking to do GB3 next year, and we’re definitely going to be on it, without a doubt,” Queen said. “This year was a learning year for me. It was one of the most valuable years of racing in my life, and I’m coming away with so much knowledge that will benefit me greatly in whatever I do in the future.

“We’ve had very strong pace. I’m going to work my butt off in the off-season, and come back next year and produce some podiums, wins and hopefully a good shot for a championship. It was a disappointing weekend, but I have high hopes for next year.”

The 19-year-old ONE Sotheby’s International Realty-backed driver of the No. 62 fielded by Fortec Motorsports finished 12th, 16th and 14th, set up by bad luck due to traffic in the closing minutes of qualifying that resulted in poor starting position for all three races.

“Just some unfortunate bad luck in qualifying with traffic and all,” Queen said. “Our pace was

great. We were shooting for top five – or even top three – in qualifying, but I just never got in a full lap without hitting traffic.”

Queen got off to a strong start in Wednesday’s test day, leading a session and posting the fourth-fastest overall lap on the 2.4-mile Brands Hatch layout that hosted 12 Formula One Grands Prix between 1964 and 1986.

However, he only used two practice sessions in Friday’s rainy test on the 1.2-mile Indy layout, and was 19th in Saturday’s lone practice.

“Wednesday was our true pace,” he said. “Friday rain kicked in, so I didn’t even get in a push lap. I was just bedding brakes and scrubbing in wet sets of tires. Saturday in practice, we had an unfortunate red flag, and then, by the time I got heat in my tires, the session ended.”

Queen got up to speed quickly in qualifying, and was first, second and third following his opening three push laps. After a pit stop to change tires at the midway point while ranked fifth, he was ninth and on a push lap when a red flag waved with 4:50 remaining in the session. He was unable to get in a fast lap when the session resumed, and fell to 14th in the final minute.

“My first set of tires wasn’t the best, and I got in an OK lap,” explained. “Then I came in for a new set of tires, and the red flag came out just as I was getting them up to temperature. I went out again and created a 15-second gap to the car in front, but by the end of the end of the corner to the end of the lap, he checked up, I was right on him. That was make or break for qualifying.”

Race One saw him fall to 16th on the first of 15 laps, but he managed to gain three positions on lap two. He held that position until the final lap, when he gained a position to finish 12th.

Sunday morning’s Race Two saw a similar scenario on the tight circuit. Starting 18th based on his second-fastest lap in qualifying, he got into trouble on the opening lap, but his day was saved by a safety car which allowed him to pit to change a tire without losing track position. He held 17th position throughout the event, managing to make a pass to take 16th on the final lap.

“That’s Brands Hatch, no matter what you do, you cannot get close enough to pass, unless someone makes a mistake. I was able to make a couple of overtakes, but no many. That’s the nature of the track. We were very fast. I got held up by a car for most of race one, and then on the second race when a car lunged me from three car lengths back on the opening lap and I got a puncture. I pitted for a new tire, but luckily the pace car came out after I went by. But I couldn’t make any progress from there until I got a car on the last lap.”

Race three saw him start 14th and hold that position throughout the event.

“It was a big chaos on the start,” he said. “I had a few opportunities throughout the race that I took advantage of, but it is very difficult to pass on this circuit especially with these cars.

For next year, GB3 will feature a upgraded car, a Tatuus MSV GB3-025 that features a totally new chassis, more power and F1-inspired aerodynamic that includes a DRS system.

“It will be completely different,” Queen said. “It’s good. Everyone’s going to be on an even playing field. There will be limited testing, and I’m very good on getting on getting on top of a car quickly. I’m very confident for my future.”

Now, he is looking forward to returning to him home in the United States to begin preparation for 2025.

“I’m going back home to Florida, and I’m looking forward to beginning to work flat-out for next year, stay hungry. ”