Hillspeed’s Freddie Slater could not have asked for a better start to his 2025 GB3 Championship campaign, as the British driver swept every accolade on offer during the season-opening weekend at Silverstone. Across qualifying and racing, Slater combined outright speed with race-winning consistency to leave as championship leader and the centre of attention.
Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup
The weekend began with Slater stamping his authority on the brand-new two-part qualifying format. In session one, he stunned the field with a 1m52.194s effort, which at that point became the fastest GB3 qualifying lap on record. His margin of 0.556s was the third largest since 2016, underlining his advantage.
Then, following the mandatory five-minute break between sessions, Slater bolted on fresh Pirelli tyres and went even quicker. His 1m51.647s lap was 0.427s clear of his rivals and smashed the existing qualifying record by more than a second.
As a result, Slater earned both poles on offer and therefore two trophies, along with £600 in prize money. He now leads the Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup standings, with the season-long competition awarding £2,000 each to the driver and team that accumulate the most poles.
Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend
Slater’s speed did not stop in qualifying. Across the three Silverstone races, he consistently demonstrated pace in clear air and under pressure. In both Race 1 and Race 2, which he won, Slater also set the fastest lap. His best of the weekend, a 1m52.802s in Race 2, earned him the Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award.
That lap came during what was arguably his most commanding performance of the meeting. After nailing the safety car restart, he extended his lead to nearly ten seconds before a late neutralisation erased his advantage. Nevertheless, the lap time stood as the fastest of the event, ahead of Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre, who set the quickest lap in Race 3.
The Sunoco Award, presented by GB3’s control fuel supplier, celebrates the driver who sets the outright fastest race lap at each round. Slater therefore opened the season with maximum recognition for his speed.
Omologato One to Watch Award
Finally, Slater’s dominance over the first two races delivered him the Omologato One to Watch Award, presented by GB3’s Official Timing Partner. With two wins and 70 points scored, he became the obvious candidate for the prize. In addition to the recognition, he also received a premium timepiece from Omologato, the UK’s leading motorsport watch manufacturer.
The award, introduced in 2024, highlights the driver who scores most points in the first two races of each weekend. Previous winners included John Bennett, Tymek Kucharczyk, and eventual champion Louis Sharp. Now, Slater joins that list in emphatic style.
