After Deagen Fairclough topped the timesheets on Thursday, Nikita Bedrin delivered a decisive performance in the final 2026 GB3 testing session ahead of Round 1 at the Silverstone Circuit Grand Prix circuit. The VRD Racing driver stopped the clock at 1m49.577s, establishing a clear benchmark in the last meaningful running before competitive action begins.
Crucially, Bedrin’s lap placed him more than a quarter of a second ahead of his nearest rival. In addition, the time proved over two seconds faster than last season’s pole position lap at Silverstone, highlighting both the evolution of the cars and the intensity of this year’s grid. As a result, Bedrin heads into qualifying with strong momentum and clear intent.
Rodin and Hitech mount a strong challenge
Despite Bedrin’s advantage, the chasing pack showed encouraging pace. Martin Molnar secured second position for Rodin Motorsport, finishing 0.264 seconds behind. His performance underlined Rodin’s consistent speed across the day.
Meanwhile, Deagen Fairclough, who had topped the earlier session, ended the day third overall. He remained firmly in contention, just 0.078 seconds adrift of Molnar, suggesting that the fight for pole position remains wide open.
Furthermore, Maxim Rehm added to Rodin’s strong showing by taking fourth place. Abbi Pulling then ensured all three Rodin entries finished inside the top five. This collective performance positions Rodin as a serious threat heading into qualifying.
Encouraging signs across the field
Beyond the leading group, several drivers produced notable performances. Jin Nakamura continued his steady adaptation to GB3 machinery by securing sixth place for Hitech. His progress suggests further improvement could come once competitive sessions begin.
At the same time, Rowan Campbell-Pilling emerged as the lead Xcel Motorsport driver in seventh. He narrowly edged Rodrigo Gonzalez, who placed eighth for VRD Racing.
Just behind them, Kyuho Lee and Patricio Gonzalez completed the top ten. Importantly, the top ten drivers were covered by just over one second, which underlines the depth and competitiveness throughout the grid.
Fine margins define the competitive order as attention turns to Qualifying
As the standings show, even small improvements could significantly alter the order. Drivers from multiple teams—Rodin, Hitech, VRD, Xcel, and Elite—feature throughout the top positions, which indicates that no single outfit holds a decisive advantage beyond Bedrin’s headline lap.
Moreover, the midfield remains especially compressed. A difference of only a few tenths separates several positions, meaning that track conditions, tyre management, and timing will play decisive roles in qualifying. Consequently, teams will focus on extracting maximum performance at exactly the right moment.
With testing now complete, focus shifts fully to the first Qualifying session of the Round 1 weekend. Scheduled for Saturday morning, the session will determine the grid for the opening race and provide the first true measure of performance under pressure.
Given his pace, Bedrin enters as the driver to beat. However, Molnar, Fairclough, and the rest of the leading contenders remain within striking distance. Therefore, a highly competitive and unpredictable qualifying session appears likely.
2026 GB3 Silverstone Friday testing results
- Nikita Bedrin (VRD Racing) – 1m49.577s
- Martin Molnar (Rodin Motorsport) +0.264s
- Deagen Fairclough (Hitech) +0.342s
- Maxim Rehm (Rodin Motorsport) +0.520s
- Abbi Pulling (Rodin Motorsport) +0.705s
- Jin Nakamura (Hitech) +0.837s
- Rowan Campbell-Pilling (Xcel Motorsport) +0.992s
- Rodrigo Gonzalez (VRD Racing) +1.008s
- Kyuho Lee (Elite Motorsport) +1.045s
- Patricio Gonzalez (VRD Racing) +1.103s
- Flynn Jackes (Elite Motorsport) +1.241s
- Lucas Fluxa (Xcel Motorsport) +1.307s
- Leon Wilson (Arden Motorsport) +1.316s
- Yuhao Fu (Hitech) +1.346s
- Alexandros Kattoulas (Fortec Motorsports) +1.383s
- Ricardo Baptista (Xcel Motorsport) +1.630s
- Aurelia Nobels (Hillspeed) +1.638s
- Dante Vinci (Hillspeed) +1.707s
- Peter Bouzinelos (Hillspeed) +1.729s
- Kirill Kutskov (Elite Motorsport) +1.982s
- Jason Pribyl (Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing) +2.065s
- Lewis Gilbert (Arden Motorsport) +2.167s
- Jack Taylor (Fortec Motorsports) – No time set
As the GB3 field prepares for its first competitive sessions of the season, this final test has already provided a clear narrative. Bedrin leads the way with authority; however, the margins behind remain tight enough to promise an intense fight as the campaign begins.
