Patricio Gonzalez began the 2026 GB3 Championship season with a major step forward at Silverstone, producing his strongest overall weekend since joining the category last year.
The VRD Racing driver delivered a series of competitive performances across qualifying and the races, underlining the progress he has made during the off-season. Gonzalez twice qualified inside the top 10, including an impressive sixth-place starting position for race two, before securing sixth and fifth-place finishes during the weekend.
As a result, the Mexican racer left the British Grand Prix venue sixth in the early championship standings with 40 points. Furthermore, his consistent scoring helped VRD Racing secure the lead in the teams’ championship after the opening round.
The strong start has also provided Gonzalez with renewed confidence as he continues his development in one of the world’s leading junior single-seater championships.
Winter work pays off early for Gonzalez as he takes on the 2026 GB3 season
Following the encouraging Silverstone performance, Gonzalez highlighted the extensive preparation programme completed during the winter break.
The VRD Racing driver explained that he focused heavily on testing, fitness, technical understanding and refining his driving style in order to arrive better prepared for his second GB3 campaign. At the same time, he praised the role VRD Racing played in helping him make another step forward.
“A lot of work went in over the winter,” he explained to GB3. “We spent a lot of time testing, working on my fitness, and understanding the car better. I also worked a lot on my driving and learning from last season. The team has also been a big part of my improvement, giving me a lot of support and helping me improve this year.”
That extra preparation quickly translated into improved pace at Silverstone, where Gonzalez looked increasingly comfortable throughout every session. His ability to consistently challenge near the front of the midfield demonstrated both stronger racecraft and improved confidence behind the wheel.
Importantly, he also managed to score valuable championship points across the event, avoiding major mistakes while continuing to push for stronger finishes.
Late-race drama denies first podium finish
Although Gonzalez celebrated his best results in the 2026 GB3 Championship so far, the Silverstone weekend could easily have produced an even bigger breakthrough.
During Race 2, Gonzalez found himself battling Rodin Motorsport driver Abbi Pulling for the final podium position in a dramatic final-lap fight. The pair raced side by side in one of the most exciting moments of the weekend before making contact.
The incident sent Gonzalez airborne over the top of Pulling’s car and into the gravel. Despite the heavy moment, he managed to rejoin the race and continue to the finish. However, the incident dropped him down the order to 11th place.
Even though the podium opportunity disappeared in frustrating circumstances, Gonzalez still viewed the race as another sign of his growing competitiveness.
“I was very determined,” he commented. “Silverstone was a positive weekend and we had good pace, so of course I wanted that first podium. It showed me we are getting closer, and it gave me confidence for the next races.”
The performance also reinforced the belief that Gonzalez now has the pace to regularly fight closer to the front of the grid as the season develops. Nevertheless, the Mexican driver acknowledged that both he and the team still have areas they want to improve over the coming rounds.
“It wasn’t a bad start, but I always want more. We’ve had some strong moments and also things to improve. The team has supported me a lot through the season, and the goal is to keep learning and move further up in the standings.”
Learning from teammate Nikita Bedrin
VRD Racing enjoyed a hugely successful opening weekend overall, with the team not only leading the teams’ standings but also topping the drivers’ championship thanks to Nikita Bedrin’s double victory at Silverstone.
For Gonzalez, working alongside such an experienced team-mate has already become an important part of his development. Bedrin’s extensive background across several junior formula categories has given Gonzalez another valuable reference point inside the team.
The Mexican driver admitted he has already learned a great deal from observing Bedrin’s approach both on and off the track.
“It’s been really good,” he enthused. “Nikita has a lot of experience, so it’s helpful to see how he works and approaches things. I’ve definitely learned from him and it’s helping me improve as a driver.”
Having an experienced benchmark within the garage could prove increasingly important as Gonzalez continues adapting to the demands of the GB3 Championship and pushes for more consistent top-five results.
Gonzalez eager for first visit to Spa for Round 2 of the 2026 GB3 Championship
Attention now shifts to Spa-Francorchamps, which hosts the next round of the championship in less than two weeks’ time. The Belgian circuit will provide another major learning opportunity for Gonzalez, who will race there for the first time in his career. Widely regarded as one of motorsport’s most iconic venues, Spa presents a unique challenge with its high-speed layout, dramatic elevation changes and unpredictable weather conditions.
Despite the challenge ahead, Gonzalez is eagerly anticipating the experience.
“I’m really excited. Spa is one of the most iconic tracks in the world, so racing there for the first time will be very special. It will also be a big learning experience for me.”
At the same time, Gonzalez made it clear that he intends to build on the momentum created at Silverstone and continue climbing the championship standings.
“The target is to keep improving and have a strong weekend. Of course, we’ll be pushing for good results and if we have the pace, fighting for the podium would be great.”
Momentum building ahead of Spa
Although the dramatic collision at Silverstone denied Gonzalez a possible first GB3 podium, the opening round still represented an important breakthrough in his development.
The combination of improved pace, stronger consistency and growing confidence has placed the VRD Racing driver in a promising early championship position. Moreover, the atmosphere within the team remains extremely positive following its strong overall start to the season.
Now, with momentum building and Spa-Francorchamps approaching quickly, Gonzalez will aim to transform his encouraging pace into even bigger results as the GB3 campaign continues.
