2026 | GB3 | Spa-Francorchamps | Race 2 | Bedrin extends championship lead with commanding victory

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Nikita Bedrin strengthened his 2026 GB3 Championship lead with a controlled and commanding victory in the second and final race of the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

The VRD Racing driver converted pole position into his third win of the 2026 season, adding a Spa-Francorchamps triumph to his earlier Silverstone double. Having started from the front after topping Friday’s second Qualifying session with a lap record of 2m11.911s, Bedrin made the most of clear air and quickly moved out of reach.

Moreover, his closest championship rival Maxim Rehm finished second for Rodin Motorsport, bouncing back from the disappointment of losing his Race 1 podium due to a post-race penalty. Rehm’s teammate Martin Molnar completed the podium after an early move on Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough.

Bedrin makes clean start from pole

Race 2 began with Bedrin starting from pole, with Rehm alongside him on the front row. Behind them, Race 1 winner Abbi Pulling lined up third as she aimed to continue her breakthrough weekend, while Fairclough started fourth for Hitech.

When the lights went out, Bedrin made a strong launch and immediately held the lead into La Source. Behind him, Rehm and Pulling ran side by side through the opening corner, with the Rodin Motorsport teammates continuing their battle through Eau Rouge and Raidillon.

Crucially, that fight allowed Bedrin to settle into the lead without immediate pressure. While Rehm held second, Pulling soon came under attack from Fairclough and Molnar on the run towards Les Combes.

Pulling loses ground in opening-lap battle

Although Pulling had started from third, the opening lap proved costly. Fairclough and Molnar both found a way past at Les Combes, demoting the Race 1 winner to fifth.

As a result, Bedrin crossed the line at the end of the opening lap with an advantage of just over one second. From there, the VRD Racing driver began to edge away, extending his margin by a few tenths each lap.

Behind him, Rehm remained in second, while Fairclough initially held the final podium position. However, Molnar soon began applying pressure, ensuring the fight for third became the main focus in the early stages.

Molnar charges past Fairclough for podium

By lap four, Molnar had moved within striking distance of Fairclough. Exiting La Source, the Rodin Motorsport driver picked up the tow and launched his attack on the run to Les Combes.

Molnar completed the move around the outside, taking third place and securing what would become another podium finish for Rodin. Fairclough had to settle into fourth, while Pulling remained fifth.

Further back, Patricio Gonzalez was also making progress. The VRD Racing driver chose the inside line at Les Combes to pass Hitech’s Jin Nakamura for sixth, before turning his attention towards Pulling ahead.

Bedrin escapes as Gonzalez pressures Pulling

At the front, Bedrin remained untroubled. His advantage continued to grow steadily, and by the chequered flag he had built a margin of 6.516s over Rehm.

Rehm’s second place marked an important recovery after Saturday’s Race 1 penalty, while Molnar’s third completed a strong race for Rodin Motorsport. Fairclough finished fourth for Hitech, ahead of Pulling, who still completed her best GB3 weekend so far after becoming the championship’s first female race winner on Saturday.

However, Pulling had to work hard to hold onto fifth. In the closing stages, Gonzalez closed onto the rear of the Rodin driver and drew alongside her on the approach to Les Combes on the penultimate lap. Pulling stood firm and resisted another challenge on the final lap, crossing the line just 0.109s ahead of the VRD Racing driver.

Nakamura finished seventh for Hitech, ahead of Xcel Motorsport’s Lucas Fluxá. Elite Motorsport’s Kirill Kutskov and Arden Motorsport’s Lewis Gilbert completed the top ten.

Just outside the points, Flynn Jackes delivered one of the strongest recovery drives of the race. Having started 22nd after failing to set a time in qualifying, the Elite Motorsport driver climbed to 11th by the finish.

Bedrin extends championship advantage

With victory at Spa-Francorchamps, Bedrin now holds a 27-point lead at the top of the GB3 Championship standings. The result continues his strong start to the 2026 campaign and gives VRD Racing further momentum heading into the next round.

The GB3 Championship will resume in Hungary on 4/5 July.