Rodin Motorsport’s Gianmarco Pradel powered to his first GB3 Championship victory in style during the opening race of the 2025 Hungaroring weekend. Starting from second on the grid, the Australian reacted instantly to a sluggish launch from pole-sitter Keanu Al Azhari and surged into the lead by turn one.
Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre also capitalised on Al Azhari’s slow getaway. From fourth on the grid, he slipped past both Al Azhari and Rodin’s Alex Ninovic to slot into second. By the end of the first lap, Pradel already commanded a gap of over a second as chaos unfolded behind him.
Safety Car neutralises the battle
Macintyre closed the deficit and moved into DRS range by lap four, but his pursuit was halted when the safety car appeared after Flynn Jackes’ Elite Motorsport machine came to a halt on track. The field regrouped, setting up a tense restart on lap seven.
Pradel handled the pressure with calm authority, launching perfectly to rebuild his advantage. Behind him, Al Azhari reignited his charge, diving down the inside of Ninovic at turn one to reclaim third place.
Intense fight for the podium
Ninovic refused to concede without a fight and immediately looked to retake the place from Al Azhari. The pair quickly reeled in Macintyre, creating a thrilling three-way scrap for second position. Lap after lap, Al Azhari piled pressure on the Elite driver, probing for weaknesses, while Ninovic hovered menacingly close behind.
Despite the relentless attacks, Macintyre stood firm. His defensive drive proved faultless as he blocked every attempt from Al Azhari, who in turn had to fend off Ninovic. At the chequered flag, just over six tenths of a second separated the trio after a gripping battle that lasted to the line.
While his rivals squabbled, however, Pradel calmly stretched his lead. He crossed the finish line more than three seconds clear, sealing his first GB3 win and climbing to third in the championship standings. The result also extended Ninovic’s advantage at the top of the table to ten points despite his fourth-place finish.
Strong midfield showings
Behind the lead quartet, Xcel Motorsport’s Patrick Heuzenroeder claimed a solid fifth, finishing ahead of Hitech TGR’s Deagen Fairclough, who held off a surging Reza Seewooruthun. The Argenti with Prema driver delivered one of the drives of the day, climbing from 11th on the grid to seventh.
JHR Developments secured eighth and ninth with Noah Lisle and Kai Daryanani, while Rodin’s Abbi Pulling benefitted from a post-race penalty for Lucas Fluxa to move into the top 10. Fluxa had crossed the line 10th but received a one-second penalty for forcing Pulling off the circuit.
Further back, Yuanpu Cui and Jack Sherwood brought their cars home 12th and 13th, while Bianca Bustamante finished 14th. Hugo Schwarze retired after ten laps, and Jackes’ early stoppage left him classified as a non-finisher.
Full Race One Results
- Gianmarco Pradel – Rodin Motorsport, 15 laps
- Will Macintyre – Elite Motorsport, +3.166s
- Keanu Al Azhari – Hitech TGR, +3.548s
- Alex Ninovic – Rodin Motorsport, +3.863s
- Patrick Heuzenroeder – Xcel Motorsport, +5.914s
- Deagen Fairclough – Hitech TGR, +8.297s
- Reza Seewooruthun – Argenti with Prema, +10.029s
- Noah Lisle – JHR Developments, +10.854s
- Kai Daryanani – JHR Developments, +12.174s
- Abbi Pulling – Rodin Motorsport, +13.303s
- Lucas Fluxa – Argenti with Prema, +13.656s (penalised)
- Yuanpu Cui – Argenti with Prema, +13.863s
- Jack Sherwood – Xcel Motorsport, +15.282s
- Bianca Bustamante – Elite Motorsport, +19.627s
DNF. Hugo Schwarze – VRD Racing, 10 laps completed
DNF. Flynn Jackes – Elite Motorsport, 3 laps completed
