Nikita Bedrin secured his third consecutive Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award after setting the quickest race lap during GB3’s inaugural Red Bull Ring event.
The VRD Racing championship leader topped the fastest-lap classification in two of the weekend’s three races, including a commanding benchmark during Race 2.
Bedrin’s 1:25.643 proved more than one second quicker than any other race lap across the Austrian round and extended his award-winning streak after previous successes at Spa-Francorchamps and the Hungaroring.
Bedrin sets commanding Race 2 benchmark
Bedrin produced the weekend’s outright fastest race lap during the second contest at the Red Bull Ring.
The 20-year-old recorded a 1:25.643 as he controlled the race from pole position and continued his dominant Austrian weekend.
His effort comfortably surpassed the quickest laps from the other two races. Moreover, it underlined the strong pace that helped him claim victories in the opening two contests before charging through the field in Race 3.
The lap also secured Bedrin’s third successive Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award.
Championship leader also tops Race 3 times
Bedrin continued his strong pace during the reverse-grid finale.
Starting from 12th, the VRD driver worked his way through the field and eventually finished second. During that recovery, he posted a 1:26.849 to set the fastest lap of Race 3.
Although the time fell 1.206s short of his Race 2 benchmark, Bedrin again demonstrated his ability to produce competitive pace while overtaking and managing traffic.
Consequently, he ended the round with the fastest lap in two of the three races.
Rehm leads Race 1 fastest-lap order
Maxim Rehm prevented Bedrin from sweeping the fastest-lap honours across all three races.
The Rodin Motorsport driver set a 1:26.143 while leading the majority of the opening contest.
Rehm’s lap placed him half a second behind Bedrin’s eventual weekend benchmark. Nevertheless, it gave him the fastest time of Race 1 and reflected the pace that allowed him to challenge for victory.
However, Bedrin’s significantly quicker Race 2 effort ultimately decided the Sunoco award.
Sunoco rewards fastest driver at each round
GB3 control fuel supplier Sunoco presents the award to the driver who records the fastest race lap at each championship event.
The prize therefore focuses solely on race pace rather than Qualifying performance or finishing position.
Drivers receive only one award per weekend, based on the fastest lap set across all three contests.
Bedrin has now claimed the prize at three of the opening four rounds. His run began at Spa-Francorchamps before continuing at the Hungaroring and Red Bull Ring.
Bedrin extends impressive fastest-lap streak
Deagen Fairclough remains the only other winner of the award during the 2026 season.
The Hitech driver set a 1:50.059 during the Silverstone season opener to claim the first Sunoco prize of the year.
However, Bedrin has controlled the award since GB3 began its European run. He recorded a 2:12.529 at Spa before lowering the Hungaroring weekend benchmark to 1:37.028.
His 1:25.643 at the Red Bull Ring subsequently completed three consecutive successes across three very different circuits.
2026 Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award
Silverstone — Deagen Fairclough — 1:50.059
Spa-Francorchamps — Nikita Bedrin — 2:12.529
Hungaroring — Nikita Bedrin — 1:37.028
Red Bull Ring — Nikita Bedrin — 1:25.643
Silverstone provides next opportunity
The Sunoco Fastest Driver contest will continue when GB3 returns to Silverstone for the fifth round of the season.
Fairclough claimed the award during the championship’s first visit to the circuit. Therefore, he will seek to repeat that achievement when the field returns to the British Grand Prix venue.
However, Bedrin enters the weekend with considerable momentum. His three successive awards accompany a commanding championship lead and a growing collection of race victories and pole positions.
Another fastest lap at Silverstone would extend his Sunoco streak to four rounds and reinforce his position as the benchmark driver of the 2026 GB3 season.
