VRD Racing’s Nikita Bedrin bounced back from a slightly disappointing first 2026 GB3 Qualifying session to secure a commanding pole position for Race 2 at the Hungaroring.
The championship leader finished third in Qualifying 1, a tenth of a second away from Rodin Motorsport’s Martin Molnar, who took pole for the opening race of the weekend. However, Bedrin responded emphatically in Qualifying 2 and delivered a 1m34.601s to claim his fourth pole position of the season.
His lap put him more than two tenths clear of the field and gave him a strong platform for Sunday morning. Before that, however, Bedrin will start Race 1 from third and will look to turn another front-running grid position into valuable points.
Bedrin pleased after “really good” second 2026 GB3 Hungaroring Qualifying
Bedrin took clear satisfaction from his Qualifying 2 performance, especially after feeling that he had left time on the table in the opening session. The VRD Racing driver found the improvement he needed and praised the lap that secured pole.
“It was a really good second qualifying, we put a really good lap together, so I’m really happy with that,” Bedrin commented afterwards, while speaking to GB3.
The result gave Bedrin an important response after Qualifying 1. Although he remained inside the top three, he expected more from the first session and wanted to maximise the car’s pace more effectively.
Adjustments help Bedrin deliver in Qualifying 2
The short gap between Qualifying sessions gave VRD Racing only a limited window to react. Nevertheless, Bedrin and the team made the right changes and turned a promising morning into a pole-winning one.
“I’m not so happy about how Q1 went, I feel like we had way more than that. We did some adjustments for quali two and we delivered of course. I couldn’t be more happy about the Q2 lap.
“Q1 should have been a bit better but it’s still a good starting position, P3 and P1, and we’re always constantly there, especially through practice, so it gives good confidence going into the races.”
His comments highlight the balance of frustration and confidence that shaped his Qualifying. On one hand, Bedrin believed Qualifying 1 should have produced a stronger result. On the other, he still starts Race 1 from third before lining up on pole for Race 2.
As a result, the VRD Racing driver leaves Qualifying with two strong opportunities to score heavily across the Hungaroring weekend.
Bedrin says VRD Racing got it right when it mattered
Bedrin also underlined the importance of executing at the key moment. With track position playing such an important role at the Hungaroring, his Qualifying 2 lap could prove decisive for Sunday’s race.
“The most important thing is we got it right when it mattered at the end of Q2.
That pole adds to Bedrin’s strong 2026 Qualifying record and reinforces his position as one of the benchmark drivers in the field. Moreover, it gives him clear momentum after a morning that initially looked slightly below his expectations.
Bedrin expects chances from third in Race 1
Although Bedrin secured the best starting spot for Race 2, his immediate attention turns to Race 1. He will line up third behind Molnar and Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough, but he believes the Hungaroring can still offer opportunities, particularly on the long run towards Turn 1.
“We can still fight from P3 in race one, it’s a cool track to race on, especially with the long straight, so it’ll be an exciting race this afternoon for sure. It’s a bit dirty off line from what I’ve seen so far, but it will be interesting to see how the first lap plays out.”
Therefore, Bedrin’s start could shape his Saturday result. If he launches well and uses the straight effectively, he can immediately challenge the front row. However, the dirty offline sections could also make any attack risky, especially in the opening corners.
Even so, Bedrin heads into both races with confidence. He has front-running pace, a Race 2 pole position, and another chance to strengthen his championship position at a circuit where Qualifying execution often makes the difference.
