2026 | GB3 | Brands Hatch Pre-Season Testing | Molnar sets benchmark pace ahead of season opener

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Martin Molnar capped an impressive 2026 pre-season programme by setting the fastest time in GB3 Championship testing at Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit. Driving for Rodin Motorsport, the Hungarian delivered a stunning 1m16.605s lap during the closing moments of the third session on Thursday. As a result, he heads into the season opener at Silverstone with strong momentum.

Moreover, his benchmark effort proved historic. The lap time not only eclipsed last year’s pole position by over a second but also became the fastest GB3 lap ever recorded at the circuit. In addition, it stood more than two seconds quicker than the best race lap from the 2025 season.

Close competition at the front and consistency across the field

Despite Molnar’s standout performance, the competition remained tight. James Hedley, representing VRD Racing, finished just 0.143 seconds behind in second place. Meanwhile, Molnar’s teammate Maxim Rehm secured third, only marginally further adrift. This strong showing underlined Rodin Motorsport’s depth as the team placed multiple drivers near the top of the timesheets.

Continuing the trend, Abbi Pulling ensured three Rodin cars featured inside the top four. Having already topped the opening session of the day, she maintained her pace to finish fourth overall. Just behind, Deagen Fairclough led the charge for Hitech in fifth, only 0.030 seconds shy of Pulling.

Furthermore, Jin Nakamura impressed on his first outing in a Hitech GB3 car, claiming sixth place. He edged Rowan Campbell-Pilling of Xcel Motorsport by a narrow margin in a tightly contested midfield.

Elsewhere, Flynn Jackes continued his strong pre-season form by finishing eighth for Elite Motorsport. He ended the session comfortably ahead of Nikita Bedrin, who had earlier topped the second session for VRD Racing. Rounding out the top ten, Kyuho Lee impressed during his first visit to Brands Hatch, further highlighting the competitive depth across the grid.

With pre-season testing now complete, attention turns firmly to the opening race weekend. Notably, Molnar and Fairclough each topped three days of running, while Rehm led proceedings during the earlier test at Snetterton.

Therefore, teams and drivers will regroup before returning to action at Silverstone Circuit for the pre-event test on 23 April. With form established and confidence building, the stage is set for an exciting start to the GB3 season.