Jacob Micallef produced a stunning final-lap move on Rodrigo Gonzalez to win the third and final 2026 GB3 Championship race of the weekend at Silverstone.
The Hitech driver started third on the top-12 reversed grid and initially slipped to fourth, while Gonzalez took the lead from polesitter Edu Robinson. However, Micallef fought his way back into podium contention before joining an increasingly intense three-way battle for victory during the closing five minutes.
After passing Robinson for second, Micallef closed rapidly onto Gonzalez and waited until the penultimate corner of the race to make his decisive move. He used DRS down the Wellington Straight and swept around the outside at Brooklands before holding Gonzalez off to win by only 0.176s. Robinson completed the podium in third on his GB3 debut weekend.
Gonzalez takes lead from polesitter Robinson
Robinson started Race 3 from pole after the championship’s top-12 reverse-grid format placed the Elite Motorsport newcomer at the head of the field. VRD Racing’s Rodrigo Gonzalez joined him on the front row, while Micallef and Arden Motorsport’s Leon Wilson occupied row two.
Abbi Pulling and championship leader Nikita Bedrin followed on row three, with Patricio Gonzalez and Maxim Rehm seventh and eighth. Martin Molnar and Lucas Fluxa completed the top 10, while Rowan Campbell-Pilling started 11th and double Race 1 and Race 2 winner Deagen Fairclough lined up 12th.
Gonzalez immediately capitalised when the race began. The Mexican moved past Robinson to take first place, while the polesitter settled into second and attempted to remain within range. Micallef lost one position during the opening lap, allowing Wilson to move ahead and initially dropping the Hitech driver to fourth.
Gonzalez quickly established a small advantage but could not escape. His lead remained around half a second for much of the opening 20 minutes, keeping Robinson close enough to apply pressure while Wilson and Micallef fought immediately behind.
Micallef fights back past Wilson
Micallef soon began recovering from the position he lost on the opening lap. The Maltese driver remained close to Wilson before producing an assertive move around the outside of the flat-out Abbey corner to reclaim third.
That pass proved crucial as Gonzalez and Robinson continued to run closely together at the front. Once back in third, Micallef reduced the gap to the leading pair and positioned himself to capitalise if their battle intensified.
For much of the race, Gonzalez appeared to have just enough pace to keep Robinson behind. The Elite Motorsport driver remained within striking distance but had little opportunity to draw alongside as the VRD Racing driver defended first.
However, the contest changed completely during the final five minutes. Robinson began applying significantly greater pressure and finally launched an attack, bringing Micallef directly into the fight for victory.
Robinson launches sustained attack on Gonzalez
As the race entered its final stages, Robinson moved alongside Gonzalez, beginning an extended battle through Aintree, Village and The Loop.
Neither driver backed out. They continued side-by-side towards the Wellington Straight, where Robinson again attempted to draw alongside, but Gonzalez somehow maintained first place despite the sustained pressure.
Their battle reduced the gaps between the leading three and allowed Micallef to move directly onto Robinson’s rear wing. Instead of simply watching the fight ahead, the Hitech driver recognised his opportunity and attacked.
With under four minutes remaining, Micallef challenged Robinson approaching Maggotts and completed the pass for second. He therefore moved from fourth earlier in the race into direct contention for victory with only a handful of laps remaining.
Robinson remained close behind, meaning Gonzalez suddenly faced two drivers rather than one as the leading trio compressed ahead of the final lap.
Micallef closes onto Gonzalez for final lap
Micallef began the last lap less than half a second behind Gonzalez.
The Hitech driver initially closed through the high-speed sections and remained within range down the Hangar Straight. However, rather than forcing an immediate attack, he waited for a clearer opportunity.
A lock-up under braking at Vale briefly threatened to end his challenge. Micallef nevertheless maintained control of the car and kept Gonzalez within reach as the pair started the final sequence of corners.
Robinson also remained directly behind, leaving the top three almost together as they approached The Loop. The battle recalled the similarly close reverse-grid contest at Silverstone earlier in the season, but this time Micallef had DRS available as he prepared his final attack.
Micallef sweeps around outside at Brooklands
Micallef entered Gonzalez’s slipstream as the pair accelerated onto the Wellington Straight and activated DRS.
The Hitech driver closed rapidly before moving to the outside approaching Brooklands. With only two corners remaining, he committed to the move around the outside and drew alongside the VRD Racing car.
Micallef maintained enough momentum through Brooklands to edge ahead and secure first place before the final corner. Gonzalez attempted to respond immediately, but the Hitech driver positioned his car carefully on the exit and prevented his rival from regaining the lead.
Only 0.176s separated them at the chequered flag after 14 laps. Robinson remained directly behind and finished another 0.521s back in third, completing a dramatic three-car battle for victory.
The result gave Micallef his first victory of the Silverstone weekend and completed a remarkable recovery after falling to fourth on the opening lap.
Patricio Gonzalez and Bedrin make late progress
The fight immediately behind the podium also intensified during the final stages.
Wilson had spent much of the race running towards the front after moving ahead of Micallef on the opening lap. However, both Patricio Gonzalez and Bedrin closed onto the Arden Motorsport driver as the race approached its conclusion.
The VRD Racing pair eventually found their way through late in the contest. Patricio Gonzalez secured fourth, finishing 3.116s behind the winner, while Bedrin took fifth another 1.626s back.
Wilson therefore slipped to sixth but still completed another strong Silverstone race after finishing inside the top eight throughout the weekend.
Bedrin’s fifth place also ensured the championship leader ended the weekend with another points finish, although he missed the podium in all three Silverstone races.
Campbell-Pilling promoted after Rehm penalty
Behind the leading six, Rehm became involved in another close battle with Campbell-Pilling and Fluxa.
The Rodin Motorsport driver initially crossed the line seventh after spending the closing stages defending from the two Xcel Motorsport cars. However, officials subsequently penalised him one position for crowding Fluxa off the circuit.
The sanction dropped Rehm to eighth and promoted Campbell-Pilling to seventh. Fluxa remained ninth, only 0.536s behind his teammate.
Fairclough completed the top 10 after starting 12th on the reversed grid. The Hitech driver could not reproduce the victories he claimed in the opening two races, but his recovery ensured he ended his strongest GB3 weekend with another points-scoring finish.
Kyuho Lee took 11th ahead of Molnar, while Flynn Jackes, Jack Taylor and Ricardo Baptista completed the top 15.
Robinson completes impressive debut weekend with podium
Although Robinson lost the lead at the start and later surrendered second to Micallef, third represented an impressive conclusion to his first GB3 weekend.
The Elite Motorsport newcomer spent the majority of Race 3 directly behind Gonzalez and became the first driver to seriously challenge the Mexican for first place. His sustained attack during the final five minutes ultimately opened the door for Micallef, but Robinson remained close enough to complete the podium.
Only 0.697s covered the top three at the finish, underlining how closely matched the decisive battle became.
Pulling recorded the only retirement of the race. The Rodin Motorsport driver completed 13 laps before failing to reach the chequered flag.
2026 GB3: Silverstone: Race 3 results
- #4 Jacob Micallef — Hitech — 14 laps
- #22 Rodrigo Gonzalez — VRD Racing — +0.176s
- #17 Edu Robinson — Elite Motorsport — +0.697s
- #21 Patricio Gonzalez — VRD Racing — +3.116s
- #20 Nikita Bedrin — VRD Racing — +4.742s
- #27 Leon Wilson — Arden Motorsport — +5.646s
- #8 Rowan Campbell-Pilling — Xcel Motorsport — +10.209s
- #1 Maxim Rehm — Rodin Motorsport — penalty
- #7 Lucas Fluxa — Xcel Motorsport — +10.745s
- #6 Deagen Fairclough — Hitech — +10.763s
- #19 Kyuho Lee — Elite Motorsport — +13.216s
- #2 Martin Molnar — Rodin Motorsport — +13.440s
- #18 Flynn Jackes — Elite Motorsport — +15.221s
- #24 Jack Taylor — Fortec Motorsports — +15.519s
- #9 Ricardo Baptista — Xcel Motorsport — +15.732s
- #11 Peter Bouzinelos — Hillspeed — +20.032s
- #10 Dante Vinci — Hillspeed — +20.426s
- #31 Jason Pribyl — Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing — +23.044s
- #12 Aurelia Nobels — Hillspeed — +26.232s
- #5 Yuhao Fu — Hitech — +32.748s
DNF: #3 Abbi Pulling — Rodin Motorsport — 13 laps
Race 3 penalty
Rehm received a one-position penalty for crowding Fluxa off the circuit. The sanction dropped the Rodin Motorsport driver from seventh to eighth and promoted Campbell-Pilling to seventh.
