Rodin Motorsport's Alex Ninovic converted pole position into victory in the first GB3 Championship race of the weekend on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
Ninovic rebuffed a lap one challenge from Hillspeed's fellow front row starter Freddie Slater, and after seeing his lead trimmed in the early stages, unleashed a series of lap records to pull away, establishing an advantage of over four seconds before a late race safety car was deployed, after Jack Sherwood went off at Stirling's.
Sherwood's car was removed from the gravel with time for two more racing laps, but Ninovic was untroubled, rebuilding a lead of 1.198s on the restart lap, and claiming victory by over two seconds from Slater, with Hitech TGR's Deagen Fairclough claiming the final spot on the podium.
Ninovic made an excellent start off the line and held on to the lead despite being challenged by Slater on the first lap. Slater had a slower start and actually fell to third off the line, but fought back to challenge Ninovic around the outside of Druids on the first lap.
Despite getting within DRS reach of the Australian driver in the early laps, Ninovic responded to his threats and was able to streak clear before the safety car.
Fairclough also made an early attempt for the lead, but settled into third position, which he retained until the end of the race for his third podium of the season.
Xcel Motorsport’s Patrick Heuzenroeder was a quick starter and had a brief glimpse of the top-three spots, but yielded to Fairclough and finished in fourth. Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre took fifth ahead of Hiyu Yamakoshi, the Hillspeed driver finishing just under a second behind the Brit.
Just behind, Rodin Motorsport teammates Gianmarco Pradel and Abbi Pulling engaged in battle for seventh position, but Pradel held onto the position until the chequered flag.
JHR Developments teammates Kai Daryanani and Noah Lisle rounded off the top ten finishers.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch race one provisional result:
1. Alex Ninovic, Rodin Motorsport, 18 laps
2. Freddie Slater, Hillspeed, +2.030s
3. Deagen Fairclough, Hitech TGR, +2.510s
4. Patrick Heuzenroeder, Xcel Motorsport, +2.910s
5. Will Macintyre, Elite Motorsport, +3.997s
6. Hiyu Yamakoshi, Hillspeed, +4.971s
7. Gianmarco Pradel, Rodin Motorsport, +5.375s
8. Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport, +5.785s
9. Kai Daryanani, JHR Developments, +6.699s
10. Noah Lisle, JHR Developments, +7.321s
11. Enzo Tarnvanichkul, VRD Racing, +8.337s
12. Keanu Al Azari, Hitech TGR, +8.979s
13. Reza Seewooruthun, Argenti with Prema, +9.463s
14. Nikita Johnson, Hitech TGR, +9.852s
15. Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport, +10.143s
16. Lucas Fluxa, Argenti with Prema, +10.745s
17. Kanato Le, Hillspeed, +11.222s
18. Rodrigo Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +13.301s
19. Patricio Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +13.865s
DNF. Bianca Bustamante, Elite Motorsport, 16 laps
DNF. Jack Sherwood, Xcel Motorsport, 12 laps