Martin Molnar became the third different driver to claim the Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award in 2026 after setting the quickest race lap of the latest GB3 Championship event at Silverstone.
The Rodin Motorsport driver produced a 1m51.235s during Race 1 on Saturday, narrowly beating eventual race winner Deagen Fairclough’s best effort by just 0.06s. Neither of the following two races produced a faster lap, allowing Molnar to secure the award for the first time this season.
Fairclough came closest to displacing him when he set the fastest lap of Race 2, while Hitech teammate Jacob Micallef topped the Race 3 times on his way to a dramatic final-lap victory.
Molnar sets benchmark during Race 1
Molnar established the weekend’s fastest race lap during the opening contest on Saturday.
The Rodin Motorsport driver recorded a 1m51.235s while fighting towards the front of the field, setting a benchmark that ultimately survived both Sunday races. His effort was only 0.06s quicker than Fairclough’s best lap in the same contest, leaving little between the two drivers.
Molnar also converted his strong pace into a second-place finish in Race 1. Although Fairclough ultimately took the victory, Molnar’s fastest lap ensured he retained one individual honour from the opening contest.
With the award determined by the single fastest race lap recorded across the entire weekend, Molnar then had to wait through Race 2 and Race 3 to see whether his Saturday time would remain unbeaten.
Fairclough comes closest in Race 2
Fairclough provided the strongest challenge to Molnar’s benchmark during the second race of the weekend.
The Hitech driver again demonstrated his pace after starting from pole and controlling the contest to secure his second victory in as many races. He also set the fastest lap of Race 2, but his effort fell just over a quarter of a second short of Molnar’s 1m51.235s.
That margin allowed the Rodin driver to retain the overall weekend benchmark despite Fairclough’s dominant Sunday morning performance.
Fairclough therefore left Race 2 with another victory but could not add a second Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award to the one he claimed at the season-opening Silverstone event.
Micallef sets Race 3 fastest lap during victory charge
Micallef completed the weekend by setting the fastest lap in Race 3.
The Hitech driver recorded a 1m52.075s despite spending virtually the entire contest involved in battles as he worked his way towards the front from third on the reversed grid.
His lap carried additional significance given the nature of his race. Micallef initially dropped to fourth before recovering the position and then joining Edu Robinson and Rodrigo Gonzalez in the fight for victory during the closing stages.
He eventually passed Gonzalez around the outside of Brooklands on the final lap to secure the win by 0.176s. Even while constantly fighting for position, Micallef still produced the fastest lap of the race, although his 1m52.075s remained 0.840s slower than Molnar’s weekend benchmark.
Molnar becomes third different 2026 winner
Molnar’s Silverstone success makes him the third driver to receive the Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award during the 2026 season.
Fairclough opened the year by setting a 1m50.059s at the first Silverstone event. However, Bedrin then took control of the award across the following three rounds.
The VRD Racing championship leader set the quickest race lap at Spa-Francorchamps, the Hungaroring and the Red Bull Ring, making him the only driver to have claimed the award more than once this season.
Molnar has now ended Bedrin’s three-event streak. His Race 1 effort also ensures that three different drivers have shared the five awards presented so far in 2026.
Sunoco rewards fastest race lap of each weekend
The Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award recognises the driver who records the quickest race lap across each GB3 Championship event.
Sunoco, GB3’s control fuel supplier, presents the award after comparing the fastest laps from all three races rather than rewarding the quickest driver in any individual contest.
That format meant Molnar’s Saturday benchmark remained the target throughout Sunday. Fairclough and Micallef each topped one of the later races but could not improve on the Rodin driver’s 1m51.235s.
Molnar therefore joins Fairclough and Bedrin among the drivers to have received the award during the opening five events of 2026.
2026 Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award winners
- Silverstone — Deagen Fairclough — 1m50.059s
- Spa-Francorchamps — Nikita Bedrin — 2m12.529s
- Hungaroring — Nikita Bedrin — 1m37.028s
- Red Bull Ring — Nikita Bedrin — 1m25.643s
- Silverstone — Martin Molnar — 1m51.235s
Bedrin remains the most successful driver in the award so far this year with three wins, while Fairclough and Molnar have claimed one apiece.
For Molnar, the latest Silverstone event therefore brought another distinction alongside his strong Race 1 performance. His 1m51.235s lap proved narrowly quicker than Fairclough’s best and remained untouched throughout Sunday, securing his first Sunoco Fastest Driver of the Weekend Award of 2026.
