The 2026 GB3 season continues this weekend as the championship makes its annual trip to the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit for Round 2. Taking place across 30/31 May, the Belgian event marks the field’s first visit to mainland Europe this year and promises another crucial test for a grid packed with single-seater stars of the future.
After a dramatic season opener at Silverstone, Nikita Bedrin arrives at Spa as the early championship leader. The Italian holds a nine-point advantage at the top of the standings following an outstanding start to the campaign, where he claimed both pole positions and converted them into victories in the opening two races.
As a result, both Bedrin and VRD Racing head into the weekend with momentum. However, with Spa’s high-speed layout, unpredictable weather and demanding race format, Round 2 could quickly reshape the early title picture.
Spa-Francorchamps welcomes GB3 back to mainland Europe in 2026
Few circuits on the calendar carry the same prestige as Spa-Francorchamps. The Belgian Grand Prix venue remains one of motorsport’s most iconic tracks, combining long straights, heavy braking zones and fast, flowing corners with significant elevation change.
For GB3’s young drivers, the circuit presents a major challenge. Confidence through high-speed sections such as Eau Rouge, Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont can make a decisive difference, while slipstreaming along the Kemmel Straight is likely to create plenty of overtaking opportunities.
Moreover, Spa’s famously changeable weather could add another layer of complexity. Showers may affect Saturday and Sunday’s racing, meaning teams and drivers must stay alert as conditions evolve across the event.
Bedrin leads after Silverstone statement weekend
Bedrin’s Silverstone performance immediately established him as one of the leading title contenders. His qualifying pace was particularly impressive, as he secured both pole positions before recovering from slow starts to win the first two races of the season.
The VRD Racing driver now leads Rodin Motorsport’s Maxim Rehm by nine points. Rehm also enjoyed a strong opening round, taking two podium finishes and adding a sixth-place result in the reverse-grid finale. Behind him, Hitech’s Jin Nakamura sits third after winning Race 3 at Silverstone following a thrilling three-way fight on the final lap.
Consequently, the early championship battle already has several major players. Bedrin has momentum, Rehm has consistency, and Nakamura has already shown race-winning form.
Key contenders set for Spa challenge
Xcel Motorsport’s Lucas Fluxa is another driver to watch this weekend. The Spaniard finished on the podium at Silverstone and already has GB3 experience at Spa, having raced at the Belgian venue last year. He is currently level on points with teammate Rowan Campbell-Pilling, who impressed with regular top-six pace during his first GB3 weekend after stepping up from F4.
VRD Racing also enters the weekend in strong form. Alongside Bedrin, Patricio Gonzalez and Rodrigo Gonzalez both sit inside the top 10, making VRD the only team with all three drivers in the current top 10 of the standings.
Meanwhile, Rodin Motorsport will look to convert pace into stronger overall results. Martin Molnar claimed a podium in the opening race of the season before misfortune disrupted the rest of his Silverstone weekend, while Abbi Pulling showed encouraging pace but was denied a possible podium after her Race 2 clash with Patricio Gonzalez.
Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough will also arrive determined to rebound. The 2024 British F4 champion fought for wins at Silverstone but suffered two costly retirements. With the season still young, Spa offers him an immediate opportunity to recover lost ground.
Rookies and rising names add depth to the grid
Beyond the established frontrunners, several rookies and recent graduates have already made an impression. Elite Motorsport’s Kyuho Lee was in the lead battle during the Silverstone finale, while teammate Flynn Jackes claimed his maiden GB3 podium after leading much of Race 3.
Fortec Motorsports’ Alex Kattoulas also began the season strongly, finishing inside the top 10 in all three Silverstone races. Fellow Fortec driver Jack Taylor continues his step up from GB4 and is level on points with Xcel’s Ricardo Baptista.
Arden Motorsport’s Lewis Gilbert faces one of the biggest transitions on the grid, having moved directly from karting to GB3. Nevertheless, he scored points in all three races at Silverstone. Teammate Leon Wilson, another GB4 graduate, also showed combative form and could be one to watch at Spa.
Hillspeed’s Aurelia Nobels will have extra motivation this weekend. With Brazilian and Belgian heritage, she counts Spa as her home round. Alongside Dante Vinci and Peter Bouzinelos, Hillspeed will aim to build on flashes of potential shown during the opening event.
Full entry list: 2026 GB3 Spa-Francorchamps grid
The 22-driver field for Round 2 is as follows:
- Rodin Motorsport
Maxim Rehm — Germany
Martin Molnar — Hungary
Abbi Pulling — Great Britain - Hitech
Jin Nakamura — Japan
Yuhao “Felix” Fu — China
Deagen Fairclough — Great Britain - Xcel Motorsport
Lucas Fluxa — Spain
Rowan Campbell-Pilling — Great Britain
Ricardo Baptista — Brazil - Hillspeed
Dante Vinci — Australia
Peter Bouzinelos — Australia
Aurelia Nobels — Brazil - Elite Motorsport
Flynn Jackes — Philippines
Kyuho Lee — South Korea - VRD Racing
Nikita Bedrin — Italy
Patricio Gonzalez — Mexico
Rodrigo Gonzalez — Mexico - Fortec Motorsports
Alex Kattoulas — Japan/Greece
Jack Taylor — Australia - Arden Motorsport
Lewis Gilbert — Great Britain
Leon Wilson — Great Britain - Nitrous Competitions ADM Racing
Jason Pribyl — United States
2026 GB3 weekend schedule at Spa-Francorchamps
The event begins with two days of preparation before racing action gets underway. On Thursday, the GB3 field will receive 90 minutes of track time, split across three 30-minute sessions.
Thursday 28 May — live timing
- 09:00–09:30 — Session 1
- 13:00–13:30 — Session 2
- 17:25–17:55 — Session 3
This running will prove especially important at Spa, where drivers must quickly build confidence through the circuit’s high-speed corners while teams work to optimise balance for both straight-line speed and stability.
Friday then provides two further 30-minute sessions before Qualifying takes place in the afternoon.
Friday 29 May — live timing
- 09:00–09:30 — Session 1
- 11:13–11:43 — Session 2
- 12:59–13:29 — Session 3
- 15:30–15:45 — Qualifying 1
- 15:50–16:05 — Qualifying 2
As is tradition at Spa, Qualifying takes place on Friday afternoon. With two short Qualifying sessions deciding the grids, drivers will need to deliver immediately. Track evolution, traffic and possible weather changes could all play a major role in shaping the weekend.
Three races set to decide Round 2
The opening two races of the weekend will be held on Saturday, with both streamed live.
Saturday 30 May — live timing and streaming
- 11:00 — Race 1
- 15:55 — Race 2
Race 1 and Race 2 will give the main contenders an early chance to consolidate their championship positions. However, Spa’s slipstreaming potential means even small mistakes can be punished quickly, especially if drivers become vulnerable along the Kemmel Straight.
The weekend concludes on Sunday morning with the reverse-grid finale.
Sunday 31 May — live timing and streaming
- 11:36 — Race 3
The top-12 reverse grid format should provide another unpredictable contest. At Silverstone, the reverse-grid race produced one of the most dramatic battles of the weekend, and Spa’s layout could create even more opportunities for overtaking.
How to follow the 2026 GB3 Spa action
Fans can follow all on-track sessions through live timing, while Saturday and Sunday’s races will be streamed live.
The live broadcasts will be available via the GB3 Championship website, the MSV TV YouTube channel and the official GB3 Facebook page. Coverage is expected to begin approximately 20 minutes before each race start.
All times are local, CEST.
Looking ahead to a crucial Belgian weekend
After Silverstone, the 2026 GB3 season already has momentum. Bedrin has established himself as the early benchmark, but Rehm, Nakamura, Fluxa, Fairclough, Pulling and several others have all shown enough pace to suggest the title fight is far from settled.
Spa-Francorchamps now offers a very different challenge. The circuit rewards bravery, precision and race craft, while its unpredictable weather often creates opportunities for bold strategy and surprise results.
With a strong 22-car grid, two days of preparation, Friday Qualifying and three races across the weekend, GB3’s return to Belgium promises to be a decisive early chapter in the 2026 championship fight.
