Rowan Campbell-Pilling, Peter Bouzinelos and Abbi Pulling reflected on a dramatic 2026 GB3 final race at Donington Park after each left the reverse-grid contest with significant reasons to celebrate.
Campbell-Pilling converted third on the grid into his maiden GB3 victory after taking the lead at Redgate, briefly losing it during a frantic fourth lap and then fighting his way back ahead before the end of the same tour. Bouzinelos followed only 0.701s behind to claim his first GB3 podium, while Pulling completed the top three and secured her second rostrum appearance of the weekend.
The result carried particular significance for all three drivers after challenging periods earlier in their respective campaigns. Therefore, Campbell-Pilling celebrated his breakthrough at his home circuit, Bouzinelos finally converted his improving form into a podium, while Pulling viewed two top-three finishes as an important positive during a difficult season.
Campbell-Pilling converts rapid start into maiden GB3 win
Campbell-Pilling started third behind Elite Motorsport teammates Kyuho Lee and Flynn Jackes, but his launch immediately changed the order. The Xcel Motorsport driver cleared both front-row starters before Redgate and led the field through the opening three laps.
However, the local driver faced a considerably more complicated race than the opening phase suggested. He had made set-up changes following Race 2 and admitted that both he and the team encountered some difficulties, but he viewed those mistakes as part of his development during his first GB3 season.
“I mean, we got a great launch, got both the Elites off the start, which was great, led into T1. We made some alterations to the car from this morning and made some errors, had some mistakes, but, you know, it’s always going to happen, and that’s how we learn. It’s first year here, and to come away with a race win, albeit reverse-grid, but it shows what’s more to come.”
The race required more than a strong start. Lee attacked around the outside of McLeans on Lap 4 before running into the gravel, while Pulling capitalised moments later and swept around Campbell-Pilling at Coppice to take the lead. Campbell-Pilling immediately responded and powered back ahead after a drag race out of Goddards, reclaiming first before the lap ended.
Home victory leaves Campbell-Pilling struggling for words
Winning his first GB3 race already represented a major milestone, but Campbell-Pilling achieved it at the circuit closest to home and in front of a sizeable group of family members, friends and partners.
The emotional significance became clear immediately after the race. Rather than focusing solely on the reverse-grid nature of the victory, Campbell-Pilling emphasised the support around him and the opportunity to celebrate the result with the people who had followed his campaign.
“Oh no, I mean, I can’t, I actually can’t put it into words. It is incredible. You know, we’ve got so many people here this weekend, friends, family, partners. Everyone’s here to come and support, and it’s been an incredible turnout, and to get in front of everyone is incredible. There’s no other word for it.”
The victory also gave Campbell-Pilling evidence that a conventional-grid success could follow. When asked whether he felt close to achieving that next milestone, he offered a concise response that reflected his confidence after the breakthrough.
“Yeah, watch this space.”
Campbell-Pilling had already shown flashes of speed during the season, but Donington finally gave him the opportunity to convert that potential into a race victory. His ability to recover after losing the lead also added significance to the result, as he did not simply control the race from the front after his strong launch.
Bouzinelos celebrates breakthrough first GB3 podium
Bouzinelos arrived at Donington still searching for his first GB3 podium after a challenging opening part of the campaign. Starting fourth in the reverse-grid finale placed him close to the front, but he still had to remain patient while Campbell-Pilling, Lee and Pulling fought around him.
The Hillspeed driver eventually moved into second on Lap 5 when he passed Pulling on the approach to McLeans. From there, he remained close to Campbell-Pilling throughout the rest of the contest and crossed the line less than a second behind the winner.
For Bouzinelos, the result provided welcome validation after what he described as a difficult start to the year.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a shock. You know, from the start of the year it’s been pretty rocky, so I’m pleased that we ended up getting to where we are, so yeah.”
Rather than forcing his way into the battle immediately, Bouzinelos relied on consistency and allowed the opportunities ahead to develop. The fight between Pulling and Campbell-Pilling then created the opening he needed to establish himself in second.
Bouzinelos lets Donington Race 3 opportunities come to him
Campbell-Pilling and Pulling’s battle proved decisive for Bouzinelos. Pulling briefly took the lead on Lap 4 before Campbell-Pilling reclaimed it, and their fight allowed the Hillspeed driver to remain close enough to attack shortly afterwards.
Bouzinelos believed his calm approach helped him capitalise. Instead of becoming involved in every early exchange, he maintained his rhythm and waited until the drivers ahead gave him a realistic opportunity.
“I think there was a, well, I just kept calm, drove consistently, and I let it all come to me, basically. You know, I think Abbi and Campbell were battling, and I just took it, so.”
Once he reached second, Bouzinelos remained within sight of Campbell-Pilling but never moved quite close enough to launch a serious attack for victory. Even so, finishing only 0.701s behind gave him a breakthrough podium and his strongest result of the season.
The performance also offered Hillspeed an encouraging platform for the closing rounds, particularly after Bouzinelos demonstrated that he could stay with the race leader once the order settled.
Pulling explains oversteer after briefly taking lead
Pulling enjoyed another rapid opening lap after starting sixth, quickly moving into third behind Campbell-Pilling and Lee. When Lee ran wide during his challenge for the lead, she immediately closed on Campbell-Pilling and then passed around the outside at Coppice.
However, the move carried a cost. Pulling picked up marbles off the racing line and subsequently struggled with rear grip, which made it difficult to defend against Campbell-Pilling’s immediate response and Bouzinelos’ attack one lap later.
“Yeah, in the middle phase I had quite a lot of oversteer, and I think it was because I went round the outside of Rowan, and there was a lot of marbles off the track in Coppice. So it just took, like, two or three laps to get rid of all the marbles. Yeah, got in the lead, and to be honest, we’ve been a bit weak in the hairpins anyway all weekend. Yeah, at the end I saw Flynn in my mirrors catching me in the braking, and I was like, I know it was my weak spot, so I was pushing on.
“But yeah, I just had a few snaps, cleaning my tyres. A bit frustrating, but, you know, I’m still happy to get the podium, and yeah, what a start.”
Pulling eventually stabilised in third and remained close to the leading pair, finishing only 1.225s behind Campbell-Pilling. Her result gave Rodin Motorsport another podium while completing a weekend in which she had twice reached the top three.
Pulling takes positives from two Donington podiums
Pulling had already spoken candidly after Race 1 about the frustration surrounding her 2026 campaign. Repeated retirements and missed opportunities had prevented her from consistently converting pace into results, making the two Donington podiums particularly valuable.
Nevertheless, briefly leading Race 3 meant she still saw areas where she could have extracted more. Pulling balanced that frustration against the broader progress of a weekend in which she returned to the podium twice and fought at the front in the finale.
“No, it’s been alright. I mean, I was leading, so there’s a little bit to beat myself up on, but it’s been a good weekend considering the year that we’ve had. It’s a very good weekend, positive, and yeah, happy to be on the podium, happy to be smoking some champagne.”
That outlook marked a more positive conclusion to Donington than many of Pulling’s earlier weekends. She had shown front-running pace in Race 1, produced another strong start in Race 3 and briefly placed herself in contention for victory before the tyre difficulties pushed her back to third.
Campbell-Pilling and Bouzinelos therefore left the finale celebrating major career milestones, while Pulling departed with renewed momentum after her strongest overall weekend of the season. For all three, the final Donington race provided evidence of progress as the 2026 GB3 campaign entered its closing stages.
