Max Esterson will return to the GB3 Championship in 2023 with Fortec Motorsport.

The American driver finished seventh in the standings for Douglas Motorsport and took one victory at Donington Park.

Esterson also won the Formula Ford Festival at the end of the season after leading every lap of the event.

The 20-year-old is delighted to be returning to GB3 for a second season: “I’m excited to be returning to the GB3 Championship – it will be nice for the first time ever for me to be doing a second year in a series – and great to be doing it with a team like Fortec who have such a tradition of success in every series they have run. 

“I was fortunate to have tested a variety of cars at the end of the year, and while I had offers to head to Europe in 2023, I’m still early in my career and have a lot to learn.

“The GB3 Championship and the pace of the GB3 car provide a great situation for me to continue learning with a balance of high-level competition and generous track time in a quick car.”

The Fortec boss Oliver Dutton is pleased to have Esterson join the team and was impressed with his results throughout 2022.

Dutton said: “Signing Max shows how determined we are to challenge for the GB3 title again in 2023. 

“He did a very impressive job in GB3 this season considering his lack of racing experience, and his high points were very good. 

“By joining us, we reckon he will be able to fine tune his development just that little bit more, and we can really push him on to try and take a title that he’s definitely capable of.”

Esterson became the fourth driver to be announced on the GB3 grid. British F4 champion Alex Dunne will race for Hitech against the Carlin duo of John Bennett and Costa Toparis.

The eight-round 2023 GB3 championship kicks off on the 8-10 of April at Oulton Park, it includes a trip to Spa and a first-ever visit to Zandvoort for the series.