Slater storms from last to first to win GB3’s damp Spa finale

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

A slick tyre gamble on a drying circuit helped Freddie Slater storm through the field to lead a Hillspeed one-two in GB3’s reversed-grid race at Spa-Francorchamps.

In a contest which began on a partially wet circuit, Slater was one of five drivers to fit dry-weather tyres on the grid, and it took him just six laps to reach the front before scoring his third victory by eight seconds. His team-mate Kanato Le was second ahead of Argenti with Prema’s Reza Seewooruthun, the pair having made the same tyre choice as Slater.

Joining the trio in taking slicks on the grid were Xcel Motorsport’s Dion Gowda and Jack Sherwood – with Gowda the highest-placed starter in fifth.

Velocity Racing Development’s Hugo Schwarze started from reversed-grid pole ahead of JHR Developments’ Kai Daryanani. Xcel’s Patrick Heuzenroeder pitted from third at the end of the formation lap to get rid of his wet tyres, and he joined Hitech GP’s Deagen Fairclough and Argenti’s Lucas Fluxa in beginning the contest from the pitlane on slicks.

Daryanani grabbed the lead when the lights went out, but Schwarze immediately reclaimed the advantage into Eau Rouge. Hitech’s Keanu Al Azhari climbed from seventh to third on lap one, while Gowda tumbled to 13th.

Schwarze pulled out a two-second gap, but then headed for the pitlane to change tyres at the end of lap three. Daryanani was briefly promoted to the lead before being passed on the Kemmel Straight by Al Azhari.

Slater charged from 23rd and last on the grid to seventh during the first five laps and had caught the six cars ahead on starting the next tour. He was up to third by the time he exited Raidillon, and then picked off Daryanani and Al Azhari a few corners later before romping clear.

Seewooruthun, who initially started 15th, swiftly followed Slater through into second, where he remained for the next four laps. But he was passed on the final tour by Le, who scored his third podium of the weekend.

Heuzenroeder charged up the order to grab fourth from fellow title contender Fairclough on the final lap, with Fairclough’s own recovery drive enabling him to climb to third in the points. Gowda fought back to sixth, albeit finishing over 30s behind the race winner. 

Sherwood was seventh ahead of Fluxa, while Schwarze took ninth despite being penalised 10s for being out of position at the start. Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre ran in the top four on wets early on before falling back to 10th. Al Azhari eventually came home 12th, one place ahead of Daryanani.

Rodin Motorsport’s championship leader Alex Ninovic made up five spots to fourth early on before pitting for slicks, but then retired in the closing stages – with his advantage over Heuzenroeder slashed to eight points as a result. Elite’s Bianca Bustamante also failed to finish after sliding into the barriers shortly after making a tyre change.

Race result (11 laps)