Dante Vinci put Hillspeed on top as the 2026 GB3 Championship pre-event testing began at Spa-Francorchamps on Thursday, delivering the quickest lap across the day’s three 30-minute sessions. The Australian set a 2:11.875 in the opening session around the Belgian GP venue, placing him narrowly clear of championship leader Nikita Bedrin.
Vinci’s benchmark proved enough to keep him at the head of the combined order, despite close pressure from VRD Racing’s Bedrin. The Italian was just 0.020s adrift after also producing his best time in the morning’s first session.
Pulling and Fairclough lead the later sessions
Rodin Motorsport’s Abbi Pulling ended Thursday third overall after topping the final session with a 2:12.197. Her best lap came late in the third test and moved her to within 0.322s of Vinci’s outright pace.
Pulling’s Rodin teammate Martin Molnar followed in fourth, courtesy of his 2:12.336 from session one, while Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough completed the top five. Fairclough had led the second session with a 2:12.387 before improving again in the final test to end the day 0.477s off the fastest time.
Rodin place all three cars inside the top six
Maxim Rehm ensured all three Rodin cars finished inside the top six, ending Thursday 0.603s away from Vinci after improving in the final session. Elite Motorsport’s Kyuho Lee took seventh overall, with his best effort coming during the opening test.
Lee’s teammate Flynn Jackes followed in eighth after a stronger final-session run, ahead of Xcel Motorsport’s Rowan Campbell-Pilling and Hitech’s Jin Nakamura. The top 10 were covered by 0.836s, while 11 drivers finished within a second of Vinci’s benchmark.
A total of 22 drivers participated in Thursday’s test. GB4 champion Ary Bansal occupied Lucas Fluxa’s seat at Xcel Motorsport and finished 13th overall, with Fluxa set to return to the car on Friday.
VRD Racing’s Rodrigo Gonzalez was only able to set a representative time in the opening session, with his day curtailed after an incident exiting Les Combes late in the test. He is expected to return to action on Friday.
GB3 running at Spa continues on Friday with three further 30-minute test sessions, followed by the two-part qualifying session later in the afternoon.
Combined Thursday testing results
Combined Thursday testing results
- #10 Dante Vinci (Hillspeed): 2:11.875
- #20 Nikita Bedrin (VRD Racing): +0.020
- #3 Abbi Pulling (Rodin Motorsport): +0.322
- #2 Martin Molnar (Rodin Motorsport): +0.461
- #6 Deagen Fairclough (Hitech): +0.477
- #1 Maxim Rehm (Rodin Motorsport): +0.603
- #19 Kyuho Lee (Elite Motorsport): +0.709
- #18 Flynn Jackes (Elite Motorsport): +0.807
- #8 Rowan Campbell-Pilling (Xcel Motorsport): +0.826
- #4 Jin Nakamura (Hitech): +0.836
- #5 Yuhao Fu (Hitech): +0.957
- #21 Patricio Gonzalez (VRD Racing): +1.048
- #7 Ary Bansal (Xcel Motorsport): +1.071
- #17 Kirill Kutskov (Elite Motorsport): +1.115
- #31 Jason Pribyl (Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing): +1.126
- #22 Rodrigo Gonzalez (VRD Racing): +1.206
- #24 Jack Taylor (Fortec Motorsports): +1.235
- #11 Peter Bouzinelos (Hillspeed): +1.309
- #9 Ricardo Baptista (Xcel Motorsport): +1.325
- #27 Leon Wilson (Arden Motorsport): +1.488
- #12 Aurelia Nobels (Hillspeed): +1.711
- #26 Lewis Gilbert (Arden Motorsport): +1.713
