VRD’s Schwarze becomes GB3 winner in chaotic reversed-grid race

Photo: Jakob Ebrey Photography

Hugo Schwarze climbed from fourth and survived two safety car restarts to win the final GB3 race of the weekend at Zandvoort.

Elite Motorsport’s Will Macintyre took the lead at the start from the inside of the front row, while JHR Development’s reversed-grid polesitter Kai Daryanani went deep into turn one while trying to fend off Hitech GP’s Keanu Al Azhari for second.

Velocity Racing Development’s Schwarze capitalised on the battle to move past both Al Azhari and Daryanani two corners later, and swept past Macintyre for the lead on the following lap. Al Azhari, meanwhile, relegated Daryanani to fourth.

Macintyre’s team-mate Flynn Jackes caused the first caution period by sliding into the gravel at turn one, and only a few corners of green flag running followed before the safety car was required again due to a three-car collision.

Rodin Motorsport’s Gianmarco Pradel collected Daryanani after getting sideways while trying a move into turn three, resulting in both cars retiring on the spot.

Hitech GP’s Nikita Johnson was able to use the high line through the banking to avoid the melee, but Argenti with Prema’s Yuanpu Cui locked up and collected Pradel’s machine.

There was only enough allocated time left for two more racing laps once the three stricken cars had been cleared, and Schwarze controlled proceedings to become the third different maiden winner of the weekend.

Macintyre maintained second ahead of Alpine Formula 1 junior Al Azhari, who scored his first GB3 podium.

Hitech’s Deagen Fairclough profited from the three-car tangle to climb seven places to fourth. Having lost out to Fairclough following the final restart, JHR’s Noah Lisle held off Johnson for fifth at the chequered flag by 0.062s

Xcel Motorsport’s points leader Patrick Heuzenroeder gained five spots to seventh, while Argenti’s Reza Seewooruthun prevailed in an early battle with Rodin Motorsport’s Alex Ninovic before holding off the Australian for eighth.

Heuzenroeder’s team-mate Jack Sherwood recovered from the back of the grid to 10th ahead of Rodin’s Abbi Pulling and Argenti’s Lucas Fluxa. Fortec Motorsports’ Stefan Bostandjiev went off at turn one on the penultimate tour and was classified one lap down.

Race results (12 laps)