Last season, Stefan scored his first win in Formula Palmer Audi on the Grand Prix circuit at Brands Hatch - his favourite track. His return this year in Formula 3 proved less rewarding, but hard work and solid finishes in the two races at least reduced his points deficit to fourth-placed Hywel Lloyd in the National Class championship standings.

Stefan went well in the Friday practice sessions and then followed up on Saturday morning with a strong third place in qualifying for race one, less than a tenth off his team-mate Jay Bridger's pole position time. He hoped to find some extra pace for second qualifying, but all the times were a little slower and he finished fourth on the timesheet.

When the red lights went out for race one, Stefan made a good getaway, but newcomer Jonathan Legris made an even better one from the row behind, jumping up to second place. Stefan pursued third-placed Steven Guerrero until an International Class car dropped back between them, and then spent a number of laps fending off Salman Al Khalifa. Struggling with oversteer, Stefan had to use all of his car control skills to stay out of trouble, but he couldn't avoid running wide at Clearways at the end of lap 11, which allowed the Bahraini to get past. Shortly afterwards, Ali Jackson suffered a heavy crash (fortunately without serious injury) and the field circulated behind the safety car for several laps before the race was red-flagged. Stefan finished fifth.

He and his engineer made some set-up changes for race two and the car performed better overall, though still not perfectly. Off the grid, Stefan followed Bridger for a number of laps, running at a roughly similar pace but unable to try an overtaking move. Then Bridger got past the International Class car of Viktor Jensen and Stefan spent the rest of the race in formation behind the Icelander. He came home fourth, frustrated by the processional nature of both races and the lack of overtaking opportunities, but with the small consolation of having closed the points gap.

The absence all weekend of Andy Meyrick allowed Bridger to take the lead in the National Class standings for the first time this season.

Next on the agenda is a visit to the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.