DOUBLE R BOSS HAILS F3 CHAMPION LEIST

Double R Racing boss Anthony ‘Boyo’ Hieatt hailed Matheus Leist a hero after the Brazilian clinched the first BRDC British Formula 3 title since the championship’s rebranding.

Leist overturned a 15-point deficit heading into the final weekend of the championship to beat Carlin’s Ricky Collard by 27 points, thanks largely to a victory in the opening race as Collard failed to finish following a clash with Leist’s team-mate Enzo Bortoleto.

The title was the team’s first championship success in 10 years since Mike Conway captured the British Formula 3 International Series – F3’s former guise in the UK – in 2006.

“He’s been a hero,” said Hieatt of Leist. “We had him last year but he wasn’t able to show his true speed, he had school and stuff, he was going back and forth [to and from Brazil].

“But he learned the circuits, and this year he’s been so consistent. He doesn’t mess up; he had two DNFS at Brands but he caught up the points.”

“He’s a great driver, he’s got a really bright future. He should be top of any team manager’s list. Had I done FIA F3, he’d have been my first call. He’s a team leader, doesn’t mess up. If he’s not on pole, we haven’t done a good enough job because he could be on pole every time.

“He’s a great kid and always happy – even if he hadn’t won he would have been. He’s just got a great personality.”

“It’s huge for the team, too. We had a big upheaval this year, moving workshop, so we were a little bit late starting testing and not doing FIA F3 – but we don’t miss that a bit. This is a nice place to be.”

Leist was equally praising of Double R, saying: “It’s just amazing. The whole season we worked so hard for this, and the team did an excellent job. There are no words to describe this feeling right now.

“It’s always about Carlin – that’s all you ever hear about. I’m happy I could prove that Double R is a mega team, which did a brilliant job.”