Keanu Al Azhari produced an impressive performance during a dramatic second GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC race of the weekend to claim his first series win at Silverstone this morning (Sunday). The Hitech TGR driver was calm and decisive in a lively race which could have been won by one of several drivers.
It was yesterday’s race winner, Alex Ninovic, who led from pole position initially at the wheel of his Rodin Motorsport machine. Fellow front row starter Deagen Fairclough attempted to wrest the position from him for Hitech TGR, but had to settle for second as the field filed through Copse for the first time.
Behind that Patrick Heuzenroeder produced a strong launch from fourth to pass Al Azhari and occupy a top-three spot on the road during the early exchanges. But it was between Ninovic and Fairclough right at the front initially, with the latter producing a move on the Village Loop to lead the way when they passed the timing line for the second time.
The fight was temporarily paused during a safety car period after Abbi Pulling stopped on track with damage, but the battle resumed at full speed on lap five. Ninovic attempted to immediately re-take the lead on the restart with a bold move at Copse, but was forced to once again slot into second after running around the outside.
Ninovic versus Fairclough came to a head on lap seven when the former produced a strong run down the Wellington Straight to get back ahead. This was short lived however, as Fairclough immediately tried to regain the place at Brooklands, losing his front wing in the process whilst Ninovic ran off the track.
This handed the initiative to those behind, which could have gifted the lead to Heuzenroeder were it not for Al Azhari decisively sweeping past him shortly before this. That allowed the Hitech TGR racer to move into the leader with Heuzenroeder now acting as his main rival.
From there, it was left to that duo to fight for the win with Heuzenroeder making a pass for the lead at the Village Loop on lap nine. Al Azhari was back past a lap later as dark clouds began to circle however after completing a move up the inside at Brooklands. This was ultimately the pass for the win, with Al Azhari driving home to cross the line just over one and a half seconds ahead of Heuzenroeder.
The podium was completed by Hillspeed’s Michael Shin, who gained ground off the line run fifth and remained in position behind Heuzenroeder during the opening laps. When the drama in front unfolded, this left him in the perfect position to seize a podium. Shin was made to work for it however, after holding off late pressure from Reza Seewooruthun.
Behind Shin and Seewooruthun came a host of drivers who fought hard for positions in the lower reaches of the top-10 early on. Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre, Noah Lisle of JHR Devlepments and his teammate Kai Daryanani were all in the top-10 throughout the race, but kept their noses clean and avoided the trouble that hit the early leaders to finish fifth, sixth and seventh. Macintyre was later dropped a position in the final result for gaining a lasting advantage after exceeding track limits.
Yuanpu Cui had to settle for eighth after losing ground to Shin off the line, and running sixth early on. A brief loss of momentum whilst under attack from Seewooruthun cost him momentum however, and he also ceded ground to Lisle, Daryanani and Macintyre. He was just over a second behind Daryanani in seventh across the line but wasn’t able to find a way back past. Gianmarco Pradel and Yevan David completed the top-10.
After the earlier drama, Fairclough ended up just 20th with Ninovic further back still in 21st. This non-score has reduced the championship leader’s advantage in the points standings to just 23 from race runner-up Heuzenroeder.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, race two result:
1. Keanu Al Azhari, Hitech TGR
2. Patrick Heuzenroeder, Xcel Motorsport, +1.588s
3. Michael Shin, Hillspeed, +2.914s
4. Reza Seewooruthun, Argenti with Prema, +3.174s
5. Noah Lisle, JHR Developments, +7.542s
6. Will Macintyre, Elite Motorsport, +4.773s*
7. Kai Daryanani, JHR Developments, +9.105s
8. Yuanpu Cui, Hillspeed, +10.592s
9. Gianmarco Pradel, Rodin Motorsport, +11.168s
10. Yevan David, Xcel Motorsport, +11.739s
11. Enzo Tarnvanichkul, VRD Racing, +14.822s
12. Patricio Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +15.342s
13. Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport, +16.056s
14. Jack Sherwood, Xcel Motorsport, +20.274s
15. August Raber, Argenti with Prema, +20.517s
16. Divy Nandan, JHR Developments, +21.888s
17. Bianca Bustamante, Elite Motorsport, +22.619s
18. Rodrigo Gonzalez, Chris Dittmann Racing, +23.857s
19. Nicolas Stati, Chris Dittmann Racing, +27.991s
20. Deagen Fairclough, Hitech TGR, +50.372s
21. Alex Ninovic, Rodin Motorsport, +1m22.172s
DNF. Hugo Schwarze, VRD Racing
DNF. Lucas Fluxa, Argenti with Prema
NC. Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport
*1 place penalty for track limits