VRD Racings's Nikita Bedrin stormed to a double pole position in the first GB3 qualifying sessions of the year at Silverstone.
He registered a 1m50.123s in session one to hold a tiny 0.035s margin to Rodin's Martin Molnar, but found around seven tenths to set a 1m49.402s to claim race two pole also.
Qualifying one
Bedrin spoilt Rodin Motorsport’s party in qualifying one, beating Molnar to pole by just 0.035s as Maxim Rehm and Abbi Pulling took third and fourth respectively. The Rodin trio had been the dominant force for much of the session, but a late effort of 1m50.123s from the VRD Racing driver took Bedrin to the top of the timings.
Molnar led the Rodin team for a lot of the session, ending up nearly two tenths clear of teammate Rehm, who was just 0.023s quicker than Pulling. Despite not achieving pole, it was a statement performance from Molnar and the Rodin crew, as all three cars will line up inside the top four for race one.
Behind them, Deagen Fairclough (Hitech) was best of the rest in fifth, albeit only just over a tenth of a second back from his British compatriot in fourth. Rowan Campbell-Pilling completed the top six for Xcel Motorsport, making the third row an all-British affair for race one.
Elite Motorsport’s Kyuho Lee was seventh, with the trio of Jin Nakamura (Hitech), Patricio Gonzalez (VRD) and Leon Wilson (Arden Motorsport) separated 0.070s and completing the top-10. Just 0.683s separated Wilson in 10th and Bedrin on pole. A second separated the top 13 drivers and the entire field was covered by just over two seconds.
Qualifying two
Bedrin found seven tenths of a second to his Q1 time to take double pole with a 1m49.402s in Q2. The Italian was much more comfortable in the second session, with a healthy 0.232s margin back to Hitech’s Fairclough in second. The Briton was one of the most improved drivers between the two sessions, improving on his Q1 time by 0.839s.
The Rodin trio of Rehm, Molnar and Pulling completed the top five, with the team remarkably separated by just 0.004s – Molnar 0.003s behind Rehm with Pulling just 0.001s further back.
Patricio Gonzalez impressed in sixth, gaining three positions in comparison to his Q1 placement and improving on his lap time by a staggering 0.976s to be just over four tenths off the pole time. Xcel Motorsport’s Campbell-Pilling was seventh, almost matching his margin to pole from the first session and just 0.005s behind Gonzalez.
The top-10 was completed by Lucas Fluxa (Xcel), Nakamura and Lee, with Lee dropping three places in comparison to his Q1 efforts. Just over half a second separated Fairclough in second and Lee in 10th.
The first race of the weekend is due to commence at 15.10 UK, with full live streaming available on the GB3 website.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Silverstone, provisional qualifying one result:
1. Nikita Bedrin, VRD Racing, 1m50.123s
2. Martin Molnar, Rodin Motorsport, +0.035s
3. Maxim Rehm, Rodin Motorsport, +0.215s
4. Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport, +0.238s
5. Deagen Fairclough, Hitech, +0.350s
6. Rowan Campbell-Pilling, Xcel Motorsport, +0.416s
7. Kyuho Lee, Elite Motorsport, +0.478s
8. Jin Nakamura, Hitech, +0.613s
9. Patricio Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +0.665s
10. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +0.683s
11. Lucas Fluxa, Xcel Motorsport, +0.719s
12. Rodrigo Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +0.775s
13. Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport, +0.867s
14. Yuhao Fu, Hitech, +1.011s
15. Alex Kattoulas, Fortec Motorsports, +1.074s
16. Dante Vinci, Hillspeed, +1.149s
17. Kirill Kutskov, Elite Motorsport, +1.476s
18. Peter Bouzinelos, Hillspeed, +1.490s
19. Aurelia Nobels, Hillspeed, +1.623s
20. Jason Pribyl, Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing, +1.798s
21. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsports, +2.070s
22. Ricardo Baptista, Xcel Motorsports, +2.137s
23. Lewis Gilbert, Arden Motorsport, +2.476s
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Silverstone, provisional qualifying two result:
1. Nikita Bedrin, VRD Racing, 1m49.402s
2. Deagen Fairclough, Hitech, +0.232s
3. Maxim Rehm, Rodin Motorsport, +0.270s
4. Martin Molnar, Rodin Motorsport, +0.273s
5. Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport, +0.274s
6. Patricio Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +0.410s
7. Rowan Campbell-Pilling, Xcel Motorsport, +0.415s
8. Lucas Fluxa, Xcel Motorsport, +0.539s
9. Jin Nakamura, Hitech, +0.589s
10. Kyuho Lee, +0.769s
11. Rodrigo Gonzalez, VRD Racing, +0.876s
12. Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport, +0.989s
13. Alex Kattoulas, Fortec Motorsports, +1.065s
14. Leon Wilson, Arden Motorsport, +1.180s
15. Dante Vinci, Hillspeed, +1.192s
16. Yuhao Fu, Hitech, +1.323s
17. Kirill Kutskov, Elite Motorsport, +1.463s
18. Peter Bouzinelos, Hillspeed, +1.534s
19. Aurelia Nobels, Hillspeed, +1.573s
20. Ricardo Baptista, Xcel Motorsport, +1.730s
21. Jason Pribyl, Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing, +1.806s
22. Jack Taylor, Fortec Motorsports, +2.269s
23. Lewis Gilbert, Arden Motorsport, no time set