GB3: Cresswell commands race one at Brands Hatch, as title race tightens

Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell enjoyed his best day of the season, as he claimed pole position on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit with a record-breaking lap time and then a commanding victory. As he converted pole into a dominant win, drama in the title race meant that John Bennett and Tymek Kucharczyk gained ground on Louis Sharp, to ensure the fight goes all the way to the final day. 

Qualifying
Cresswell earned his third pole of the season with a new GB3 qualifying lap record time of 1m18.479s. That put him just 0.020s clear of JHR Developments’ Bennett, while Rodin’s championship leader Sharp was also within a tenth of a second to bank third. 

Hitech’s Kucharczyk was fourth ahead of the second Elite of Hugo Schwarze with Kucharczyk’s teammate Will Macintyre sixth. In an extremely close session, the top-10 drivers were covered by less than half a second, and the top-18 within a second.

However Sharp wrapped up this year’s Jack Cavill Pole Position Cup honours by claiming pole for race two, based on each driver’s second fastest laps. His fifth pole of the season ensures he starts the second race ahead of Cresswell, Bennett, Kucharczyk, Jarrod Waberski and Schwarze, who completes the top-six. 

Race one
Cresswell and Bennett made equally good starts to hold their positions on the run to Paddock Hill. Behind, Kucharczyk had passed Sharp for third, but when the British-born New Zealander attempted to go round the outside at Graham Hill Bend to regain the spot, there was no room and he was forced wide, demoting him down to eighth. 

Cresswell led every lap to earn his second win of the year, while Bennett and Kucharczyk gained big ground on Sharp by finishing on the podium in second and third respectively. Bennett set the fastest lap of the race but was unable to force a move, and with the championship in mind, settled for a strong second. 

Schwarze took fourth ahead of Macintyre, who is now out of title contention. VRD Racing by Arden’s Nikita Johnson completed the top-six, ahead of Sharp, who moved up to seventh after a late retirement for Hitech’s Gerrard Xie. 

Sharp’s championship lead stood at 33-points heading into the event, but the race one result means Bennett is only 19 points in arrears now, with Kucharczyk eight points further back. 

Race one winner Cresswell said: “I'm feeling really good, I would have liked to have a few more wins this year but it feels really good to have a good start to the final weekend so big thanks to Elite Motorsport, the car was on fire so all the effort they have put in has caused this. I’m very happy I could go out and finish the job they started so I'm really happy.

“To be honest my start was pretty bad but so was everyone else's so I was able to hold the lead. It’s really hard starting from pole here because of the the way the circuit dips down so hopefully I can have a bit of an easier time with it tomorrow starting P2. It’s going to be tough there’s some really quick guys out here so I’m going to have to give it everything.”

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch qualifying top-six result:
1. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 1m18.479s
2. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.020s
3. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, +0.093
4. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.194s
5. Hugo Schwarze, Elite Motorsport, +0.196s
6. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.266s

Click here for full results

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch race one top-six result:
1. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 15 laps
2. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.473s
3. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +5.490s
4. Hugo Schwarze, Elite Motorsport, +7.467s
5. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +8.347s
6. Nikita Johnson, VRD Racing by Arden, +15.757s

Click here for full results

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, driver's standings after race 22 of 24
1. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, 437pts
2. John Bennett, JHR Developments, 418pts
3. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 410pts
4. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, 353pts
5. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, 349pts
6. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, 254pts

Click here for full standings

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, team's standings after race 22 of 24
1. Hitech Pulse-Eight, 856pts
2. Rodin Motorsport, 848pts
3. Elite Motorsport, 670pts
4. JHR Developments, 622pts
5. VRD Racing by Arden, 481pts
6. Fortec Motorsports, 289pts

Click here for full standings

For more championship information visit www.gb-3.net.