Nikita Bedrin believes VRD Racing has returned to where it belongs after overcoming a difficult build-up to claim pole position for the opening 2026 GB3 race at Donington Park.
The championship leader had struggled to match Deagen Fairclough during the two days of pre-event testing, with the Hitech driver topping all six sessions before Qualifying. Bedrin responded when it mattered, however, producing a 1m20.324s to beat Fairclough by 0.056s in the opening session and secure his sixth pole position of the season.
The result carried additional significance given Bedrin’s lack of previous experience at Donington. He entered the weekend racing at the circuit for the first time and admitted that his testing form had left him uncertain about what VRD could achieve in Qualifying.
Bedrin surprised by 2026 GB3 Donington Qualifying turnaround
Bedrin arrived at Donington without the pre-season mileage several of his rivals had accumulated and spent the opening two days trying to build his understanding of the circuit. His pace remained some way from Fairclough’s benchmark in testing, leaving VRD with work to do before Saturday morning.
Changes made to the car transformed its performance, allowing Bedrin to immediately challenge at the front when competitive running began. He believes the improvement also showed that VRD had successfully responded after a more difficult previous round at Silverstone.
“It’s my first week ever on the circuit, and we didn’t have any pre-season preparations here, so I’m quite new! I didn’t know what to expect going into today, to be honest. The pace in practice has been quite off, and we’ve done some changes. I didn’t know what to expect, but it actually was really good. So now we are back in the game, we can see that we’ve managed to do pole in Q1, and I felt like for sure I had much more time in me in Q2 as well. So for sure we are back on top, where we belong. I’m just happy that we had our hard time, that we’ve gone through from Silverstone, but now we’ve managed to actually step it up for qualifying when it matters.”
Although Fairclough ultimately responded with pole for Race 2, Bedrin still qualified second in that session. The leading pair were separated by only 0.069s, ensuring they will share the front row for both of the weekend’s opening races.
Bedrin prepared for close fight with Fairclough
Bedrin expects the start of Race 1 to provide the first major test, particularly given both he and Fairclough have demonstrated strong launch performance this season.
The Italian intends to defend his pole position and fight for victory, but his championship situation means he does not need to treat losing the lead at the start as a disaster. He remains focused on collecting a strong haul of points even if the race does not develop entirely in his favour.
“We are both pretty good on the start, so we see how it plays out. I’m feeling quite comfortable with the pace and to be honest, even the worst case that I go to P2 from the start, it doesn’t really matter as long as I score consistent points. Of course, I’m going to fight for the win and I’m not going to be any softer than I usually am, but it’s also important for me to stay calm and get the points in.”
That approach reflects the advantage Bedrin carries in the championship. Fairclough needs to continue making gains, whereas Bedrin can afford to consider the wider consequences of every battle.
2026 GB3 championship position shapes Bedrin’s approach at Donington Park
Bedrin has no intention of abandoning his aggressive approach completely, but he recognises that the balance between reward and risk has changed as the season approaches its conclusion.
A retirement would cost substantially more than conceding a handful of points to Fairclough, particularly while Bedrin remains in control of the championship. He therefore wants to maintain his pace without taking unnecessary risks simply to defend every position.
“I’m taking each weekend it as it comes, but I’m not going to be trying anything out of this world crazy. Of course, I’m going to be still pushing really hard, but honestly, it’s not worth a risk of a DNF or, let’s say five points difference for me right now, so I’ll be still pushing really hard.”
That philosophy will be tested immediately at Donington, where Fairclough has been the fastest driver for much of the weekend. Bedrin’s Qualifying performance nevertheless demonstrated that testing form has not translated into a decisive advantage once competitive action began.
Bedrin seeks to capitalise from Race 1 pole
Bedrin will start the opening race from pole with Fairclough alongside him, while Rodin Motorsport’s Martin Molnar and Abbi Pulling form the second row.
The championship leader has already achieved his first objective by responding to his difficult testing form with pole position. The next challenge will be converting that starting advantage while remaining conscious of a title situation in which consistent scoring is becoming increasingly valuable.
For Bedrin, Donington is therefore about balancing two objectives. He wants another victory, but with the championship in his hands, he knows keeping Fairclough within reach without exposing himself to unnecessary risk could prove just as important.
