The 2026 GB3 Championship reaches its conclusion at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on 6–8 November, with a record-equalling 25-car grid expected for the series’ first-ever visit to Spain. Both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships remain undecided, while seven newcomers and two additional teams will bring further competition to an already significant season finale.
VRD Racing’s Nikita Bedrin enters the eighth and final round with an 89-point advantage over Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough, leaving the Italian within touching distance of his maiden GB3 title. However, Xcel Motorsport’s Lucas Fluxá and Rodin Motorsport’s Martin Molnar also remain mathematically in contention, with a maximum of 102 points available across the final three races.
The Teams’ Championship presents an even closer battle, with Rodin holding just a 16-point advantage over VRD as it pursues a third consecutive title. Hitech and Xcel also retain mathematical opportunities to secure the crown, ensuring that the final weekend will carry considerable significance beyond the Drivers’ Championship.
Meanwhile, the arrival of seven series debutants will bring the grid to 25 cars, equalling the championship record most recently achieved at Silverstone in 2025. TJ Speed Motorsports will make its European racing debut, while 2023 champions JHR Developments return with a two-car entry.
Bedrin enters Barcelona within touching distance of GB3 title
Bedrin has dominated much of the 2026 championship, securing six victories from the opening ten races to establish a substantial advantage over his rivals. Although the VRD driver has not won since the Red Bull Ring in July, his consistency throughout the second half of the season has allowed him to maintain control of the standings.
Four additional podium finishes since his last victory, including two third places at Brands Hatch, have strengthened his position. He arrives in Barcelona with 445 points, placing him 89 ahead of Fairclough and leaving him only 14 points away from guaranteeing the title regardless of his rivals’ results.
The championship standings following Brands Hatch reflect the significant advantage Bedrin has built, despite a false-start penalty in the reversed-grid finale preventing him from securing the championship one round early.
The Italian could now settle the title during Saturday’s opening race. A seventh-place finish or better would put him mathematically beyond the reach of his remaining challengers, while a smaller points return could also prove sufficient depending on their performances.
The official championship permutations published ahead of Barcelona outline several other scenarios, including the possibility of Fluxá and Molnar losing their remaining chances during qualifying.
Fairclough aims to complete remarkable championship recovery
Although Bedrin remains the overwhelming favourite, Fairclough enters Barcelona with exceptional momentum after transforming his championship campaign during the second half of the season.
The 20-year-old endured a difficult opening sequence of races, falling to tenth in the standings and more than 200 points behind Bedrin at the championship’s midway point. However, his performances improved dramatically from Silverstone onwards, beginning an extraordinary run that has brought six victories from the past nine races.
Fairclough has now secured seven wins, one more than Bedrin, and remains unbeaten in conventional-grid races across the previous three rounds. His consecutive doubles at Silverstone, Donington Park and Brands Hatch have established him as the championship’s leading driver on recent form.
The Hitech driver delivered another dominant performance at Brands Hatch, securing both pole positions before winning Races 1 and 2. He subsequently recovered from 12th to fifth in the reversed-grid finale, completing a weekend that added 88 points to his championship total.
Those impressive Brands Hatch performances elevated Fairclough to second in the standings with 356 points.
Although he faces a substantial deficit, another strong weekend could place Bedrin under pressure if the championship leader encounters difficulties.
Fluxá and Molnar retain outside championship hopes
Behind Fairclough, Fluxá and Molnar complete the four-driver championship battle, with only five points separating the three competitors pursuing Bedrin.
Fluxá enters his home event third in the standings with 355 points, just one behind Fairclough and 90 adrift of Bedrin. The Xcel Motorsport driver has demonstrated consistent front-running pace throughout the campaign, securing six podiums before claiming his maiden victory of the season in the reversed-grid race at Brands Hatch.
His breakthrough victory during the Brands Hatch finale came after an impressive opening lap, during which he moved from fourth into the lead before controlling the remainder of the contest. That result maintained his mathematical title chances while providing valuable momentum ahead of his home race.
Molnar follows on 351 points after an impressive first season in GB3 following his graduation from British F4. The Hungarian has secured seven podium finishes and claimed his maiden pole position in front of his home supporters at the Hungaroring, although he continues searching for his first race victory.
Both drivers will require exceptional weekends to challenge Bedrin, but their immediate battle with Fairclough for the remaining championship podium positions could prove highly competitive.
Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup remains undecided
Alongside the Drivers’ Championship, Bedrin and Fairclough will also contest the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup, which awards £2,000 to the driver who secures the most pole positions during the season.
Only one pole separates the pair heading into the final qualifying sessions, although their recent performances have followed contrasting trajectories. Bedrin established his advantage during the opening half of the season, while Fairclough has emerged as the strongest qualifying performer over the past three rounds.
The Hitech driver has secured five of the previous six available poles, including consecutive qualifying doubles at Donington Park and Brands Hatch. His recent performances have significantly reduced Bedrin’s advantage, leaving the award undecided ahead of Saturday.
However, Bedrin needs only one more pole position to guarantee the prize, while Fairclough must secure both to overturn the deficit. With qualifying also playing a significant role in determining the starting positions for the championship’s decisive races, both drivers will have additional motivation to maximise their single-lap performance.
Rodin and VRD separated by 16 points in Teams’ Championship
While the Drivers’ Championship strongly favours Bedrin, the Teams’ Championship remains considerably closer. Rodin Motorsport leads with 758 points, just 16 ahead of VRD Racing on 742, with Hitech third on 691 and Xcel fourth on 665.
Rodin has secured the Teams’ title in each of the previous two seasons and enters Barcelona seeking a third consecutive championship. The team has relied heavily on consistent performances from Molnar, Maxim Rehm and Abbi Pulling, allowing it to maximise points across multiple cars despite securing fewer victories than its rivals.
VRD, meanwhile, has built its challenge around Bedrin’s six victories, with Patricio and Rodrigo Gonzalez contributing additional results. The team has seven wins compared with Rodin’s one, but the consistency of the defending champions has repeatedly influenced the championship standings.
The four-way Teams’ Championship battle has changed direction several times throughout the season, particularly after Rodin overturned a 40-point deficit at Donington Park.
With 189 points theoretically available across the weekend, Hitech and Xcel also remain in contention, although both require substantial points swings. The reversed-grid finale could prove particularly important, with teams needing strong performances from multiple eligible drivers.
Super Licence points add significance to top-five battle
Beyond the championship titles, the final Drivers’ standings will also determine the allocation of valuable FIA Super Licence points. The top five finishers will receive points towards the 40 generally required to qualify for an F1 Super Licence, providing another incentive for competitors to maximise their results in Barcelona.
The GB3 champion will receive ten Super Licence points, while fifth place will earn one. Consequently, positions immediately behind the championship contenders could carry additional significance for drivers planning to progress through the international single-seater ladder.
Rehm currently occupies fifth with 324 points following another consistent weekend at Brands Hatch, where he secured second place in the opening race. The Rodin driver holds a 40-point advantage over Xcel’s Rowan Campbell-Pilling, who sits sixth on 284.
Although Rehm has established a useful margin, Campbell-Pilling remains capable of challenging for the position with 102 points available. Both drivers have demonstrated podium-winning pace during the season, making their battle another important storyline heading into the finale.
Seven newcomers strengthen record-equalling Barcelona grid
The final round will feature the largest GB3 field of the season, with 25 drivers expected to compete across ten teams. The entry matches the championship’s existing grid record, most recently achieved at Silverstone in 2025, and includes seven competitors making their series debuts.
End-of-season events traditionally provide opportunities for drivers to evaluate their next career steps, and Barcelona will follow that pattern. All seven newcomers arrive from Formula 4-level competition, bringing experience from British F4, Italian F4 and GB4 into the championship.
Their participation also creates an opportunity to gain experience of the more powerful Tatuus MSV GB3-025 ahead of potential 2027 programmes. However, adapting to the car’s greater aerodynamic downforce, additional power and Drag Reduction System will present a considerable challenge.
The additional entries come through TJ Speed Motorsports, which will make its European racing debut, and the return of JHR Developments, the 2023 GB3 Teams’ Champions. Several established outfits will also introduce new drivers, creating a significantly different competitive field from Brands Hatch.
TJ Speed makes European debut with Bansal and Kräling
TJ Speed Motorsports will make its first European race appearance at Barcelona, entering two cars for Ary Bansal and Arjen Kräling under the leadership of Team Principal Tim Neff.
Bansal arrives following a successful period across several junior categories. The Indian secured the 2025 GB4 Championship with four victories and 11 podium finishes before expanding his programme into Italian F4, where he finished sixth in 2026 after claiming victories at Mugello and Misano.
His confirmation with TJ Speed Motorsports also follows successful appearances in the Formula Winter Series, E4 Championship and Euroformula Open, giving him experience across several European circuits.
Kräling completes the line-up after competing in Italian F4 and other junior single-seater championships. The German has also raced in British F4 and GB4, providing useful familiarity with the British racing environment.
The team’s earlier announcement of Kräling’s participation marked the beginning of its Barcelona preparations, with Bansal’s arrival subsequently completing the two-car entry.
For both drivers, the finale represents an opportunity to gain experience ahead of their next career steps, while TJ Speed will aim to establish a competitive foundation for potential future European programmes.
JHR Developments returns with Wherrell and Ingram Hill
JHR Developments will return to GB3 for the first time since its championship-winning 2023 campaign, fielding a two-car line-up featuring British drivers Lewis Wherrell and Thomas Ingram Hill.
The Derbyshire-based organisation previously enjoyed considerable success in the championship and will now use the Barcelona event to re-establish its presence. Both newcomers bring experience from British junior racing, although neither has previously competed in GB3 machinery.
Wherrell joins following a competitive British F4 campaign in which he finished third overall, having established himself as a race winner and regular front-runner. His existing relationship with JHR should provide useful continuity as he adapts to the different technical demands of the GB3 car.
Ingram Hill, meanwhile, finished fourth in the 2026 GB4 Championship after securing a race victory and additional podium finishes. His progression reflects the opportunities available to successful GB4 competitors seeking experience in faster single-seater machinery.
The team’s confirmation of its two-driver Barcelona entry adds another experienced British racing operation to the final round, with JHR aiming to evaluate its competitiveness against established rivals.
Palmer, Green and Achituv complete the debutant line-up
Three additional newcomers will join established GB3 teams for the Barcelona finale, with Theo Palmer, Fred Green and Matan Achituv all stepping up after successful campaigns in British F4 and GB4.
Palmer will remain with Hitech following his runner-up finish in the 2026 British F4 Championship. The British driver secured three victories and contributed to the team’s championship success, making his promotion with Hitech a continuation of his development within the organisation.
Green will join Elite Motorsport alongside Flynn Jackes and Kyuho Lee after finishing second in the 2026 GB4 Championship. The 16-year-old secured six victories and seven pole positions, demonstrating considerable qualifying pace throughout his maiden single-seater campaign. His Barcelona debut with Elite Motorsport will provide an opportunity to assess his readiness for a full GB3 programme.
Achituv completes the group, joining Arden Motorsport alongside Leon Wilson after a promising GB4 campaign that included two podium finishes.
Under the championship’s sporting regulations, drivers competing exclusively at the final round cannot score championship points, although they remain eligible to compete for race positions. Their arrival will nevertheless influence the competitive order.
Nine drivers have claimed victories during the 2026 season
Although the championship’s leading contenders have dominated much of the season, several drivers have also demonstrated the ability to challenge for race victories.
Nine competitors have won races during 2026: Bedrin, Fairclough, Fluxá, Campbell-Pilling, Patricio Gonzalez, Pulling, Jackes, Jacob Micallef and Jin Nakamura. Of those, seven will compete in Barcelona, with Micallef and Nakamura absent from the final entry list.
The championship’s reversed-grid format has provided opportunities for drivers throughout the field, creating several breakthrough victories and podium finishes during the campaign.
Molnar remains among the most prominent drivers still searching for a maiden win, having secured seven podium finishes without reaching the top step. Rehm, Leon Wilson, Rodrigo Gonzalez, Yuhao Fu and Peter Bouzinelos have also achieved podium results but have yet to claim victory.
Meanwhile, Kyuho Lee, Dante Vinci, Ricardo Baptista, Aurelia Nobels and Jason Pribyl will target their first GB3 podiums. All five have demonstrated encouraging progress during the season, and the expanded Barcelona grid could create further opportunities for unexpected results.
Barcelona presents unfamiliar challenge for GB3 field
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will provide a demanding conclusion to the season as drivers tackle the venue in GB3 machinery for the first time.
The 4.657km circuit combines long straights, heavy braking zones and several high-speed corners, requiring teams to balance aerodynamic performance with mechanical grip. Its technical characteristics should also place considerable emphasis on tyre management, particularly during the three 25-minute races.
The opening sector features the high-speed approach to Turn 1 before drivers negotiate the demanding Turn 3, where maintaining momentum and controlling tyre temperatures will prove important. The middle sector introduces slower corners and further braking challenges, while the final section rewards aerodynamic stability and confidence through high-speed direction changes.
Barcelona’s long main straight should offer overtaking opportunities, particularly with the GB3 car’s Drag Reduction System. However, drivers will also need to manage traffic carefully, especially during qualifying with 25 cars sharing the circuit.
With limited previous GB3 running at the venue, Thursday’s testing and Friday’s practice sessions could prove particularly important in establishing the competitive order.
Qualifying could influence Drivers’ and Teams’ title battles
Saturday’s final two qualifying sessions will carry considerable importance, with the championship retaining its established two-part format.
Qualifying 1 will determine the grid for Race 1, while Qualifying 2 will establish the starting order for Sunday’s second contest. The championship will then use the fastest combined qualifying times to determine the reversed-grid formation for Race 3.
The leading 12 drivers will start the final race in reverse order, creating opportunities for additional points through overtaking. However, the format also introduces considerable uncertainty, particularly for championship contenders who could find themselves starting further down the field.
For Bedrin, a strong qualifying performance could provide the opportunity to secure the Drivers’ Championship immediately on Saturday. Fairclough, Fluxá and Molnar will therefore need to maximise their own positions while hoping the championship leader encounters difficulties.
The Teams’ Championship contenders face a similar challenge, with Rodin and VRD needing to position multiple eligible drivers competitively. With only 16 points separating them, even relatively small differences across qualifying and the opening race could influence Sunday’s championship battle.
2026 GB3 Barcelona weekend schedule
The Barcelona programme begins on Thursday, 5 November, with a four-hour open pit lane test session before three Free Practice sessions on Friday. Saturday will feature the final qualifying sessions of the year and Race 1, while Sunday’s double-header will conclude the championship.
Thursday, 5 November — Testing
13:00–17:00 — Open Pit Lane Test Session
Friday, 6 November — Free Practice
11:00–11:30 — Free Practice 1
14:20–14:50 — Free Practice 2
16:20–16:50 — Free Practice 3
Saturday, 7 November — Qualifying and Race 1
10:55 — Qualifying 1
11:15 — Qualifying 2
15:00 — Race 1
Sunday, 8 November — Races 2 and 3
11:10 — Race 2
14:50 — Race 3
All session times are local Central European Time (CET, UTC+1).
How to follow the 2026 GB3 Barcelona finale
Fans will be able to follow the entire Barcelona weekend through the championship’s official digital platforms, with live timing available during Thursday’s test, Friday’s practice sessions and Saturday’s qualifying.
The championship will also broadcast all three races live, providing coverage of the final Drivers’ and Teams’ Championship battles as they unfold.
Saturday’s Race 1 broadcast will begin at approximately 14:40 CET, ahead of the 15:00 start. Sunday’s coverage will begin at 10:50 for Race 2 and 14:30 for Race 3, with the final broadcast also featuring the end-of-season podium ceremony.
The official GB3 live timing and streaming platform will provide access to session information and race broadcasts throughout the weekend. Fans can also follow the action through the MSV TV YouTube channel, which will stream the championship’s final three races.
The official Barcelona viewing guide also provides further information about the event programme and broadcast arrangements.
2026 GB3 Barcelona entry list
A total of 25 drivers across ten teams are expected to compete in the final round, including seven competitors making their championship debuts.
- #1 Maxim Rehm — Rodin Motorsport
- #2 Martin Molnar — Rodin Motorsport
- #3 Abbi Pulling — Rodin Motorsport
- #4 Theo Palmer — Hitech *
- #5 Yuhao Fu — Hitech
- #6 Deagen Fairclough — Hitech
- #7 Lucas Fluxá — Xcel Motorsport
- #8 Rowan Campbell-Pilling — Xcel Motorsport
- #9 Ricardo Baptista — Xcel Motorsport
- #10 Dante Vinci — Hillspeed
- #11 Peter Bouzinelos — Hillspeed
- #12 Aurelia Nobels — Hillspeed
- #14 Thomas Ingram Hill — JHR Developments *
- #15 Lewis Wherrell — JHR Developments *
- #17 Fred Green — Elite Motorsport *
- #18 Flynn Jackes — Elite Motorsport
- #19 Kyuho Lee — Elite Motorsport
- #20 Nikita Bedrin — VRD Racing
- #21 Patricio Gonzalez — VRD Racing
- #22 Rodrigo Gonzalez — VRD Racing
- #26 Matan Achituv — Arden Motorsport *
- #27 Leon Wilson — Arden Motorsport
- #31 Jason Pribyl — Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing
- #35 Ary Bansal — TJ Speed Motorsports * **
- #36 Arjen Kräling — TJ Speed Motorsports * **
Key: * New driver | ** New team
Barcelona prepares to crown the 2026 GB3 champions
The Barcelona finale promises a competitive conclusion to the 2026 GB3 Championship, with the record-equalling grid adding further significance to the series’ maiden visit to Spain.
Bedrin enters the weekend firmly in control of the Drivers’ Championship, requiring only 14 points to guarantee the title. However, Fairclough’s extraordinary late-season resurgence has kept the battle mathematically alive, while Fluxá and Molnar will aim to capitalise on any difficulties encountered by the championship leader.
The Teams’ Championship presents a considerably closer contest, with Rodin seeking its third consecutive crown and VRD attempting to secure its first independent title. Hitech and Xcel also retain outside chances, ensuring that every points-scoring opportunity could influence the final standings.
Beyond the championship battles, seven newcomers will aim to establish themselves ahead of potential 2027 programmes, while TJ Speed and JHR Developments begin important new chapters in their respective GB3 journeys.
With three races remaining, multiple awards still undecided and 25 drivers preparing to compete, Barcelona will provide a fitting conclusion to an eventful 2026 season.ionships still undecided and the reversed-grid finale offering the potential for further unpredictability, Barcelona will bring the 2026 GB3 Championship to a historic conclusion.
