Lewis Gilbert will aim to continue his rapid development when the 2026 GB3 Championship heads to the Hungaroring for the third round of the season in July. The Arden Motorsport driver secured two 10th-place finishes at Spa-Francorchamps during only his second GB3 weekend. Those results marked a significant improvement from his best finish of 16th at the Silverstone season-opener.
Gilbert entered the championship directly from karting, becoming the first driver to make that move since Cian Shields in 2022. Despite the size of the challenge, the Scotsman has quickly started to establish himself among more experienced single-seater competitors.
Spa results boost Gilbert’s confidence
Gilbert left Belgium delighted with the progress he made across the weekend. In particular, the two top-10 finishes gave him greater belief in his ability to compete at this level.
“It is a massive step forward,” he said to GB3. “I’m getting the confidence in the car now.”
The result reflected the work Gilbert and Arden completed following a difficult opening round at Silverstone. Moreover, Spa allowed him to gain more experience in the car and apply the lessons he learned during his first competitive weekend.
Qualifying leaves more pace untapped
Although Gilbert finished both races in 10th, he believed Arden had the speed to achieve stronger results. He started the two contests from 16th and 13th respectively, which left him with significant ground to recover. Nevertheless, he moved forward in both races and demonstrated encouraging pace throughout the weekend.
“We had the pace to be top six or top seven,” he said. “[I] just need to try and get qualifying going our way a bit better.”
Therefore, Qualifying will form a key part of Gilbert’s preparation for Budapest. A stronger grid position would give him a clearer opportunity to convert Arden’s pace into a top-six or top-seven finish.
Gilbert adapts to a demanding transition in GB3
The move from karting to GB3 has forced Gilbert to adjust to an entirely different form of racing. He must now manage more powerful machinery, aerodynamic grip and longer race weekends while learning new circuits and technical processes. As a result, each session provides another important stage in his development.
“It’s a massive learning curve for me, almost starting from fresh again. I’m now the rookie and I’m 21. It’s a little bit surreal being able to race these cars and I’m just trying to learn as much as I can.”
Gilbert’s age and extensive karting experience have not reduced the scale of the challenge. However, his approach has allowed him to make steady progress during the opening quarter of the season.
Hard work produces early rewards
Gilbert has already exceeded some of his own expectations during the first two rounds. His Spa performances showed that he could compete inside the top 10 despite his limited single-seater experience. Furthermore, they reinforced his belief that disciplined preparation can help him close the gap to the leading drivers.
“I think Spa showed that if you just buckle down and work hard, you can get decent results,” he said. “I’ve done better than what I thought I would at the start of the year. Making this step is difficult but it is not impossible.”
That mindset has helped Gilbert remain patient while continuing to target measurable improvements. Instead of focusing solely on results, he has prioritised learning and building confidence with every lap.
2026 GB3 Spa weekend provides a memorable experience
Spa-Francorchamps also gave Gilbert the opportunity to race at one of motorsport’s most renowned circuits. He described the experience as a dream, while the challenging layout offered another valuable test of his adaptability. The high-speed corners and elevation changes demanded commitment, precision and confidence from the rookie.
Gilbert responded by securing his strongest results of the season so far. Consequently, he will arrive in Hungary with renewed confidence and a clearer understanding of the areas he must improve.
Budapest presents the next challenge
The Hungaroring will offer a very different test when GB3 resumes in July. Its technical layout places a premium on rhythm, accuracy and track position. Therefore, Gilbert will need to build speed quickly and produce a stronger Qualifying performance to maximise his chances.
“We’re aiming to go even further than we [at Spa],” he said. “Hopefully, we can carry the momentum forward and work even harder going into round three.”
Gilbert has already shown that he can learn quickly and move forward through the field. Now, he will look to turn that progress into another step towards the front as Arden Motorsport prepares for the championship’s visit to Budapest.
