VRD Racing and Zack Ping were newcomers to the GB4 Championship last weekend at Silverstone, and the American combination made a good start to life in their new series despite a frantic build up period.
The team’s first on track test came at Donington Park around a week before their race debut, so the event at the British Grand Prix venue was a learning experience for all involved.
Despite this, the team provided plenty of drama as Ping and teammate for the event Erik Evans went wheel to wheel for several laps in their first contest, with Ping finishing ahead in 10th, before Evans registered the squad’s best result of the event with ninth in race two.
“We’re still learning, it was a good weekend overall and we figured out a lot of stuff in the last race” Ping commented.
“We started 10th and ended up sixth or something on the start, so we figured out some stuff, but we’re still learning, still developing. Unfortunately we got tagged in the last race but it is what it is.”
Whilst pleased with progress, Ping admits that the main focus is adapting to new machinery, having raced in USF2000 so far, whilst the team has run machinery in US F4 and multiple other categories across the Atlantic.
“We’re out here to learn and develop the car and we’re not here for results yet. We’re a new team, new cars, new drivers so we’re figuring stuff out. Overall it was a good weekend.
The allure of the UK circuits is another aspect that has attracted Ping to the series, and he’s looking forward to racing at one of the country’s legendary circuits next time out, whilst also getting more time behind the wheel in the coming weeks.
“I’m looking forward to Brands Hatch, it should be a fun track, I’ve never been there. It looks pretty tight to the walls and I’m excited to get out there and have some fun.
“We’ve got a couple of weeks off, I’m going to stay here for a few days and stay with the team and help them out. We’ve got some testing at Anglesey on the eighth and ninth and then I go back home on the 10th and fly back out on the 23rd for Brands Hatch. It’s going to be a busy time but I’m here for it.”
