Easter wings and bonnets

Easter weekend has always been a time to go and watch some racing. Whether it was Brooklands in the 1920s or Goodwood in the ’50s, the British public has always had somewhere to watch their heroes. This year is no different as the British F3 and GT championships descend on Oulton Park on April 23 and 25.

The last three F3 champions -Jaime Alguersuari, Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have all gone on to race or test in Fl. British F3 is one of the stepping stones to the top level, with young guns all trying to prove their worth, and the commitment and competition among both drivers and teams is intense. Combine these elements with the natural contours of the Cheshire countryside at Oulton and you’ve got a recipe for great racing.

This year’s Avon Tyres British GT Championship has been bolstered by the arrival of Scuderia Vittoria, a team started by ex-BTCC racers Tom Ferrier and Danny Buxton. They will add some Italian flair to the field with a new Ferrari 458 GT3. As well as Audi R8s, Ford GTs, Aston Martin DB95 and Ferrari 430s, there’ll be a works-backed Chevron GR8 driven by ex-BTCC/Le Mans racer Anthony Reid and GR8 regular Jordan Witt and two new cars: the Mercedes SLS and Lotus Evora. While F3 consists of three races at each round, GT involves all of the above exotica in two hourlong enduros.

Bring on an Easter weekend of rising stars and some proper cars.

British F3/GT tickets cost from £77 for adults with free entry for children under 13. For details call 0843 453 9000 or visit wwwoultonpark.cduk