Pradel powers to maiden GB3 triumph in Hungary

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Rodin Motorsport’s Gianmarco Pradel won the opening GB3 race of the weekend at the Hungaroring.

Lining up from second on the grid, Pradel immediately grabbed the lead at the start, while Hitech GP’s Keanu Al Azhari made a poor getaway from pole and slipped to fourth.

Pradel’s championship-leading team-mate Alex Ninovic lost out to Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre, who made up two places from fourth to separate the Rodin duo.

Having built a one-second advantage on lap one, Pradel maintained the gap until the safety car was deployed on lap five.

The intervention was caused by Macintyre’s team-mate Flynn Jackes, who retired in the gravel trap at the chicane after his car’s fire extinguisher went off in the cockpit.

Green flag running soon resumed, and Al Azhari made a great restart to snatch third from Ninovic into turn one. The Alpine junior challenged Macintyre for second in the closing stages, with Ninovic waiting to pounce close behind.

There were no changes of position, however, with the trio separated by 0.7 seconds at the chequered flag. Pradel, meanwhile, controlled proceedings at the front to seal a maiden victory by 3.2s.

Xcel Motorsport’s Patrick Huezenroeder finished two seconds behind Ninovic in fifth, dropping two points further behind his title rival in the process.

Fellow championship contender Deagen Fairclough slipped behind Heuzenroeder and Noah Lisle at the start. The Hitech driver eventually fought his way back past Lisle, but then faded and had to resist late pressure from Argenti with Prema’s Reza Seewooruthun on his way to sixth place.

Seewooruthun passed JHR Developments’ Lisle and Kai Daryanani to climb from 11th to seventh, while his team-mate Lucas Fluxa made up three spots to 10th.

Velocity Racing Development’s Hugo Schwarze was another to retire early on, shortly after being forced into the pitlane with front wing damage.

Race results (15 laps)