Pre-event testing for the 2025 GB3 Championship at Silverstone concluded with two competitive days of running on the Grand Prix circuit. Across 27 drivers and multiple teams, the times tumbled as conditions improved, and the field produced a clear picture of the frontrunners heading into the season opener. Hillspeed’s Freddie Slater and Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic emerged as the main pace-setters, while several newcomers announced themselves with promising speed.
Slater sets the pace
Freddie Slater led the way on the opening day of testing, ending Thursday fastest overall after topping two of the three sessions. The Hillspeed driver produced his best effort late in the day to secure the benchmark performance.
Rodin Motorsport placed two cars inside the top three, with Alex Ninovic and Gianmarco Pradel both improving in the final session to finish just behind Slater. JHR Developments’ Kai Daryanani impressed in fourth, narrowly ahead of Lucas Fluxa of Argenti with Prema.
Reigning F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling underlined her adaptability by claiming sixth for Rodin, ahead of Xcel Motorsport’s Patrick Heuzenroeder, who had opened the day with the quickest time in the first session. Hillspeed’s Kanato Le placed eighth, with Hitech TGR’s reigning British F4 champion Deagen Fairclough and Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre completing the top ten.
Beyond the top ten, the competitive depth of the field showed with close margins through the midfield. Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, son of the two-time Formula 1 world champion, made his first GB3 appearance with Fortec and placed inside the top twenty, while Divy Nandan debuted with Chris Dittmann Racing.
Pre-Event Testing: Silverstone: Day 1
- Freddie Slater, Hillspeed
- Alex Ninovic, Rodin Motorsport
- Gianmarco Pradel, Rodin Motorsport
- Kai Daryanani, JHR Developments
- Lucas Fluxa, Argenti with Prema
- Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport
- Patrick Heuzenroeder, Xcel Motorsport
- Kanato Le, Hillspeed
- Deagen Fairclough, Hitech TGR
- Will Macintyre, Elite Motorsport
- Dion Gowda, Xcel Motorsport
- Keanu Al Alzhari, Hitech TGR
- Noah Lisle, JHR Developments
- Yuanpu Cui, Argenti with Prema
- Reza Seewooruthun, Argenti with Prema
- Hiyu Yamakoshi, Hillspeed
- Nikita Johnson, Hitech TGR
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, Fortec Motorsports*
- Jack Sherwood, Xcel Motorsport
- Mika Abrahams, Fortec Motorsports
- Hugo Schwarze, VRD Racing
- CDR1, Chris Dittmann Racing*
- Enzo Tarnvanichkul, VRD Racing
- Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport
- Stefan Bostandjiev, Fortec Motorsports
- Bianca Bustamante, Elite Motorsport
- Divy Nandan, Chris Dittmann Racing*
*Non-entry drivers
Ninovic strikes back
The second and final day of testing belonged to Alex Ninovic, who delivered the outright fastest lap of the week. The Rodin Motorsport driver topped the morning session and held the position through the day, ending testing as the unofficial lap record holder.
Slater maintained his strong form with second place overall, while Pradel ensured another top-three finish for Rodin. Heuzenroeder continued to impress for Xcel Motorsport in fourth, closely followed by Daryanani, who again ran consistently near the front. Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre rounded out a tightly packed top six that featured six different teams.
Pulling once again showed front-running pace for Rodin, matching Hillspeed’s Le for seventh overall. Hitech’s Nikita Johnson climbed into the top ten alongside JHR’s Noah Lisle, both within striking distance of the leaders.
The midfield order remained competitive, with just over a second covering the top seventeen drivers. Fortec’s Fittipaldi and Abrahams gained further mileage, while VRD Racing and Chris Dittmann Racing also logged valuable track time across both cars. Bianca Bustamante climbed into the midfield with Elite Motorsport, narrowing the gap to the leaders.
Pre-Event Testing: Silverstone: Day 2
- Alex Ninovic, Rodin Motorsport
- Freddie Slater, Hillspeed
- Gianmarco Pradel, Rodin Motorsport
- Patrick Heuzenroeder, Xcel Motorsport
- Kai Daryanani, JHR Developments
- Will Macintyre, Elite Motorsport
- Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport
- Kanato Le, Hillspeed
- Nikita Johnson, Hitech TGR
- Noah Lisle, JHR Developments
- Hiyu Yamakoshi, Hillspeed
- Yuanpu Cui, Argenti with Prema
- Deagen Fairclough, Hitech TGR
- Dion Gowda, Xcel Motorsport
- Lucas Fluxa, Argenti with Prema
- Jack Sherwood, Xcel Motorsport
- Reza Seewooruthun, Argenti with Prema
- Keanu Al Azhari, Hitech TGR
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr, Fortec Motorsports*
- Mika Abrahams, Fortec Motorsports
- Enzo Tarnvanichkul, VRD Racing
- Hugo Schwarze, VRD Racing
- CDR1, Chris Dittmann Racing*
- Flynn Jackes, Elite Motorsport
- Bianca Bustamante, Elite Motorsport
- Stefan Bostandjiev, Fortec Motorsports
- Divy Nandan, Chris Dittmann Racing*
*Non-entry drivers
A fiercely contested campaigns awaits
Two days of testing at Silverstone delivered a clear message: the 2025 GB3 grid is highly competitive, with multiple teams capable of challenging at the front. Ninovic and Slater traded fastest times across the two days, while Pradel, Daryanani, Heuzenroeder and Macintyre all signalled their potential to disrupt the established order. Pulling added further intrigue with consistent top-ten pace, underscoring the depth of talent across the field.
With the season opener imminent, the stage is set for a fiercely contested campaign that promises excitement from the first qualifying session onwards.
