Cresswell commands GB3 race one amidst title drama at Brands Hatch

Cresswell commands GB3 race one amidst title drama at Brands Hatch

28 September 2024

Cresswell commands GB3 race one amidst title drama at Brands Hatch

28 September 2024

Elite Motorsport’s McKenzy Cresswell claimed a dominant victory from pole position in the first GB3 Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch.

Cresswell was in command from the off, and took the win half a second clear of title challengers John Bennett and Tymek Kucharczyk, who gained ground on championship leader Louis Sharp.

The pair benefited from a first lap incident at Graham Hill Bend, during which Sharp, who started third, went wide while battling Kucharczyk, dropping him down the order to eighth, though he finished seventh at the flag. 

Elite Motorsport's Hugo Schwarze just missed out on a maiden podium with fourth ahead of Hitech's Will Macintyre, who dropped out of the title race.

VRD Racing by Arden's Nikita Johnson was sixth while Sharp benefited from a late drama for Hitech Pulse-Eight's Gerrard Xie, who retired from the race on the penultimate lap, elevating Sharp up to seventh ahead of Rodin's Arthur Rogeon.

Reigning champion Callum Voisin marked his Rodin return with ninth ahead of VRD Racing by Arden's Noah Ping. 

The drama at the start ensured the championship race closed up ahead of the final two contests of the season tomorrow. Cresswell and Bennett were equal off the line, while Kucharczyk battled with Sharp through the opening corners.

With Sharp going around the outside at Graham Hill, he was forced wide at the exit, and was swamped by the drivers immediately behind, while Kucharczyk emerged unscathed to take third.

The top three remained static for the remainder of the contest, with the gap at the front never straying beyond a second and a half. While Cresswell was not in title contention heading into the event, Bennett and Kucharczyk now go into tomorrow's contests with their own chances strengthened. 

Sharp's championship lead stood at 33 points heading into the event, but Bennett is now only 18 in arrears, with Kucharczyk eight further back. 

GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Brands Hatch race one provisional 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
7. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, +16.333s
8. Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport, +17.258s
9. Callum Voisin, Rodin Carlin, +18.952s
10. Noah Ping, VRD Racing by Arden, +19.412s
11. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +21.405s
12. Colin Queen, Fortec Motorsport, +21.984s
13. Josh Irfan, JHR Developments, +25.381s
14. Tom Mills, Chris Dittmann Racing, +27.986s
15. Seb Murray, Chris Dittmann Racing, +28.986s
16. Aditya Kulkarni, Hillspeed, +29.912s
17. Patrick Heuzenroeder, JHR Developments, +31.328s
18. James Hedley, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1 lap
19. Gerrard Xie, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +1 lap
20. Shawn Rashid, VRD Racing by Arden, +14 laps

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