BRDC Rising Star Alex Ninovic enjoyed a sublime Saturday at Silverstone, as he dominated the first GB3 Championship race of the weekend from pole position, taking fastest lap in the process. Meanwhile, a collision between he and Deagen Fairclough in race two added extra spice to this year’s red hot title battle.
Race one
Ninovic made an ideal start as he converted pole position into a comfortable lights to flag win. His near five-second triumph was aided by a sensational scrap for second place involving Rising Star Reza Seewooruthun, Gianmarco Pradel and BRDC SuperStar Deagen Fairclough.
Seewooruthun held the position early on but was passed by Pradel at Vale on lap four, with Fairclough following him through and almost moving into second around the outside of Pradel at Club. Pradel solidified his grip on second, but Fairclough came under threat from teammate Keanu Al Azhari, who had been engaged in a scrap of his own while the podium battle was unfolding.
The Emirati driver pounced at Luffield to claim his fourth podium of the year, with Fairclough having to settle for fourth ahead of Rising Star Will Macintyre.
Race two
Ninovic led the early stages of the race, only for Fairclough to squeeze past at the Loop, before a safety car intervention. Upon the resumption, Ninovic was able to blast past down the Wellington Straight with the aid of DRS. Fairclough refused to give up, and the pair collided at Brooklands, as Fairclough pitted minus a front wing, while Ninovic recovered to the back of the field.
That handed the initiative to Al Azhari, who had just passed Xcel’s title challenger Patrick Heuzenroeder for third moments before the collision at the front. Heuzenroeder was able to re-pass Al Azhari, this time for the lead at the complex on lap nine, but Al Azhari pounced again a lap later, this time at Brooklands, to seal the win.
Heuzenroeder had to settle for second, while Hillspeed’s series returnee Michael Shin claimed a maiden GB3 podium.
Race three
Pradel started the final race from pole. The Australian led from lights to flag to secure his second GB3 win, finishing 1.8 seconds clear of Seewooruthun, who ran sixth early on but was the main beneficiary of an intense battle for the podium spots behind Pradel.
JHR’s Noah Lisle claimed the final spot on the podium with a move late on, while Ninovic salvaged fourth from 11th on the grid after an inspired drive. Despite his dramas, Ninovic extended his championship lead to 39 points across the weekend, with Heuzenroeder second and Pradel third.
The championship battle continues to heat up, with meetings at Brands Hatch, Donington Park and Monza still to come.