Abbi Pulling and Nikita Bedrin delivered a landmark weekend for the GB3 Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, as both drivers converted pole positions into commanding victories.
Pulling made history for Rodin Motorsport by becoming the first female driver to claim pole position in GB3. She then went even further on Saturday, leading every lap to become the first woman to win a race in the championship.
Meanwhile, VRD Racing’s Bedrin continued his impressive start to the 2026 campaign. After claiming pole in the second Qualifying session with a new Spa Qualifying lap record, he controlled Race 2 from the front and strengthened his championship lead.
Pulling enters Jack Cavill Cup battle with historic pole
Pulling produced one of the standout moments of the Spa weekend when she secured pole position in the opening Qualifying session. In doing so, she entered the fight for this year’s Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup and added another milestone to her growing single-seater career.
Crucially, she did not allow the achievement to stand alone. When the lights went out on Saturday, Pulling made a strong start, controlled the pace, and led every lap on her way to a historic victory.
As a result, she became the first woman to win a GB3 race, completing a superb pole-to-victory performance at one of motorsport’s most iconic circuits.
Bedrin raises the benchmark with record-breaking pace
While Pulling claimed Saturday’s historic headline, Bedrin responded with another statement performance in the second Qualifying session. The VRD Racing driver delivered a stunning 2m11.911s lap around Spa-Francorchamps, setting a new GB3 Qualifying record at the Belgian venue.
That result gave Bedrin his third pole position of the 2026 season and strengthened his advantage at the top of the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup standings. With three poles from the opening part of the campaign, he now holds a two-pole lead over Pulling.
Bedrin then converted that pole into victory on Sunday morning. He led from lights to flag in Race 2, claimed his third win from the opening five races, and further extended his advantage in the championship standings.
Jack Cavill Cup rewards Qualifying excellence
Pulling and Bedrin both received £300 in prize money for their pole positions, along with trophies presented by award founder John Cavill.
The Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup continues to reward the fastest qualifiers in the GB3 Championship. Each pole position earns £300, while the driver with the most poles at the end of the season receives the Cup and a £2,000 prize. In addition, the winning driver’s team also earns £2,000.
John Cavill created the award in honour of his father, Jack Cavill, who supported underfunded drivers from the 1960s onwards. Since the championship’s formation as BRDC F4 in 2013, John has continued that legacy through his long-standing partnership with GB3.
Previous winners and recipients highlight the award’s importance in the junior single-seater ladder. George Russell, Linus Lundqvist and Luke Browning have all won the Cup, while Lando Norris and Ollie Bearman have also received prizes through the initiative.
2026 Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup standings
- Nikita Bedrin, VRD Racing – 3 poles
- Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport – 1 pole
Bedrin claims Sunoco Fastest Driver honour
Bedrin’s Spa weekend also brought success beyond Qualifying and race victory. The championship leader claimed his first Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award of the season after demolishing the GB3 race lap record.
During Race 2, Bedrin set the fastest lap of the event with a 2m12.529s, taking almost 2.5 seconds off the previous Spa race lap record set by Freddie Slater last year. He achieved the time while running in clear air at the front, underlining the pace that carried him to victory.
Moreover, Bedrin had already shown strong race pace in Saturday’s opening contest. He set the quickest lap of Race 1 with a 2m13.849s, despite track conditions still improving after heavy morning rain.
The Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award recognises the driver who sets the fastest race lap at each GB3 event. After Deagen Fairclough claimed the honour at Silverstone, Bedrin now joins the 2026 winners’ list following his dominant Spa display.
2026 Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award
- Silverstone — Deagen Fairclough, 1m50.059s
- Spa-Francorchamps — Nikita Bedrin, 2m12.529s
Momentum swings towards Bedrin as Pulling makes her mark
Ultimately, Spa-Francorchamps delivered two major storylines for the 2026 GB3 Championship. Pulling made history with a breakthrough pole and victory, while Bedrin strengthened his title bid with another pole, another win, and a new race lap record.
As the season moves forward, Bedrin carries clear momentum at the top of both the championship and the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup standings. However, Pulling’s Spa performance added a fresh dimension to the campaign and proved that she can fight at the front on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
