10:30am Tuesday 22nd December 2009
By Andrew Simpson
KNUTSFORD teenager Oliver Webb is confident he can drive faster than the best of the rest of Britain’s drivers next season.
The 18-year-old, who moves up to race in the Cooper Tires British F3 International series in 2010, topped the timesheets during a three-days test in Spain.
“I think I surprised everybody,” he said this week.
“The trip went very well; our aim was to test a whole load of things on the car rather than to put in fast lap times, so to be quicker than everybody else made it even better.”
Rookie Webb, who has agreed to race for Fortec Motorsport again after piloting one of their cars to third place in the Michelin Formula Renault UK championship last summer, was fastest around the circuit in Valencia in both dry and wet conditions.
Among those trailing in Webb’s wake were Carlin Motorsport duo James Calado and Jean-Eric Vergne, whose team have won the British F3 title in each of the past two seasons.
Webb said: “It was a really productive few days against some strong competition.
“Those two [Calado and Vergne] are likely to be racing at the front of the grid next season, so to be quicker than them is a huge boost.”
Webb’s smooth switch to a faster car has not gone unnoticed either.
Fortec’s senior race engineer Mick Kouros told the Guardian: “We have been impressed with how easily Oli has adapted to the car.
“He has been in the top three at all the tests he has attended so far and was quickest in a couple of those, particularly in wet weather.”
Webb, who won two races in 2009 and finished in a podium position in another eight, admits he is keen to prove he can cope racing at a higher level.
He added: “The team seem to be pleased and pleasantly with how quickly I have come to terms with the car and how it handles in different situations.
“Now I have spent a little more track time behind the wheel I am even more confident than before that I can win the championship for and push on in my [racing] career.”
Webb will launch his latest bid for on-track glory at home circuit Oulton Park on Easter Bank Holiday Monday, April 5.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/trade_directory/