Nikita Bedrin left Spa-Francorchamps with valuable points after finishing second in the opening 2026 GB3 Championship race of the weekend, but the VRD Racing driver believed victory remained within reach.
The championship leader crossed the line 0.607s behind Abbi Pulling after a late charge in the closing stages. Although Pulling controlled much of the race from pole, Bedrin moved past Maxim Rehm on the penultimate lap and immediately reduced the gap to the Rodin Motorsport driver ahead.
However, with limited time remaining, Bedrin could not launch a final attack before the chequered flag. Even so, second place strengthened his championship position and continued his consistent start to the 2026 season.
Bedrin rues missing one more lap
After the race, Bedrin admitted that he felt he needed just one extra lap to put Pulling under direct pressure for the victory. The VRD Racing driver had shown strong pace throughout the Spa weekend, and he felt that pace came alive once the field settled into rhythm.
“Yeah, I was missing one lap, I think. One more lap and we’re going to have her. But I think we had a positive pace the whole week. And even in the race now, after a few laps, when we all settled down, we are really fast.
So, yeah, just a bit unfortunate that we couldn’t have her at the end. But, I mean, P2… [GB3] is a long championship and it’s a good point for sure.
Bedrin’s comments reflected the shape of the race. Pulling made the best start from pole and built an early margin while Bedrin became involved in the fight behind. That early phase gave Pulling the breathing space she needed before the Safety Car later reset the order.
Once racing resumed, Bedrin had to focus on Rehm before he could turn his attention to the lead. Therefore, his late pace arrived just too late to challenge Pulling properly.
Strong points soften Race 1 frustration
Although victory slipped away, Bedrin still viewed second place as an important result. In a championship where consistency can prove decisive, he added another podium to his early-season tally and avoided unnecessary risk at a demanding circuit.
Moreover, Spa had already produced a disrupted weekend, with heavy rain delaying the race and forcing the schedule to change. In those circumstances, a clean podium finish carried extra value.
Bedrin’s ability to recover from the early battles and finish second also underlined his race management. Rather than overcommit while fighting Rehm, he waited for the right opportunity and made the move late in the race.
As a result, he left Race 1 with strong points and remained firmly in control of his championship campaign.
Bedrin enjoys battle with Rehm
Before chasing Pulling, Bedrin had to deal with Rehm in the fight for second place on track. The pair ran closely for much of the race, with Bedrin repeatedly applying pressure before finally completing the pass at Les Combes.
That battle shaped the final phase of the race. Once Bedrin moved ahead, he quickly closed towards Pulling, but the time lost behind Rehm ultimately prevented him from mounting a stronger attack for the win.
Bedrin expects more racing at Spa
Looking ahead to the next race of the weekend, Bedrin expected the Spa layout to create more wheel-to-wheel action. With long straights, heavy braking zones and a powerful slipstream effect, the Belgian venue offers several overtaking opportunities.
“Yeah, for sure we’re going to be all battling. I mean, with such long straights and a really good track to battle. So, I think you’re going to see a lot more of that in the second race.”
His confidence made sense after Race 1. The run from La Source through Eau Rouge, Raidillon and onto the Kemmel Straight had already created key battles, while Les Combes became the decisive overtaking point.
Therefore, Bedrin expected the second race to deliver more of the same. With his pace clear across the weekend, he remained one of the favourites to fight at the front again.
Bedrin keeps momentum despite missing win
Bedrin may have missed out on victory in Race 1, but his performance still carried plenty of positives. He showed strong race pace, battled cleanly, secured another podium and collected valuable points on a weekend where conditions had already created uncertainty.
Pulling’s historic win deservedly took the spotlight, yet Bedrin’s second place ensured he continued to build his championship campaign. More importantly, his late pace suggested that he remained a major threat heading into the rest of the Spa weekend.
