Sharp takes the GB3 title as Johnson wins season finale at Brands Hatch

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Louis Sharp became GB3 champion in the final race of the season at Brands Hatch, as Nikita Johnson took his second victory.

Needing to finish 11th or higher in the reversed-grid race to guarantee himself the crown, Rodin Motosport driver Sharp did enough by finishing 10th, one place behind title rival John Bennett.

Velocity Racing Development by Arden’s Johnson lined up on pole, and led into Paddock Hill Bend ahead of Rodin duo Callum Voisin and Arthur Rogeon.

The safety car was immediately deployed due to a tangle further down the field approaching turn one, with VRD’s Noah Ping spinning out after contact with his team-mate Shawn Rashid, while Elite Motorsport’s Hugo Schwarze spun into retirement at Druids after suffering a rear-left puncture.

Voisin challenged Johnson into Surtees and Hawthorn when racing resumed on lap three, and the outgoing champion continued to apply pressure over the next few laps.

Rogeon tried to join in on the battle, having a look up the inside of Voisin into Stirling’s, but the Frenchman eventually faded.

Johnson resisted the pressure until the finish to edge Voisin for his second reversed-grid triumph of the season.

Hitech GP’s Will Macintyre passed JHR Developments’ Patrick Heuzenroeder for fifth into Paddock Hill Bend at the safety car restart before challenging Elite’s Jarrod Waberski.

The pair went side-by-side at one stage through Hawthorn and Westfield, but Waberski held on to finish fourth. Heuzenroeder was sixth ahead Hitech pair Tymek Kucharczyk and Gerrard Xie.

Sharp, meanwhile lost out to JHR’s Bennett on lap one, but he followed his rival home from there to seal his second single-seater title in as many years.

Saturday’s race one winner McKenzy Cresswell was close behind the pair in 11th, with Chris Dittmann Racing’s James Hedley 12th.

Race results (17 laps)