Sharp start from Rodin driver as he grabs the early GB3 initiative
OULTON PARK GB3 30 MARCH & 1 APRIL
Reigning British Formula 4 conqueror Louis Sharp grabbed the early ascendancy in the GB3 Championship by taking a win on his debut at the opening round at Oulton Park.
The Rodin Motorsport driver stormed to a double pole in qualifying and converted the first of those into a maiden victory. His only challenge came after the start into Old Hall, with John Bennett trying a move around the outside before conceding at Cascades.
A collision at the rear of the field between Aditya Kulkarni and James Hedley necessitated an early safety car period, following which Sharp immediately pulled away and then edged further clear to finish
1.4 seconds ahead of Bennett.
“I really couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Sharp. “Double pole was a big achievement, a big relief that all the hard work during the winter has paid off. I knew the pace was there, but wasn’t expecting to be on pole by three tenths. The first win of the season is always the hardest one to get, so to get that out of the way gives us that momentum for the rest of the year.”
Further back, Gerrard Xie moved ahead of Ugo Ugochukwu for third on lap one but ran wide at Cascades, allowing the Mclaren junior to reclaim the place and eventually finish on the podium, while Mckenzy Cresswell and Tymek Kucharczyk came home close behind Xie in fifth and sixth. Arthur Rogeon was seventh ahead of GB4 graduate Colin Queen, who made a double overtake at the first corner to finish eighth on debut.
Wet conditions resulted in race two starting behind the safety car, with Sharp leading from Bennett once it was withdrawn, and Kucharczyk charged past Cresswell, Ugochukwu and Xie in the space of a few corners into third.
The safety car reappeared after Rishab Jain went off at Old Hall and, following the restart, Bennett made the better exit from Cascades before sweeping around Sharp at
Island bend. From there, the JHR Developments driver pulled clear for a maiden victory by almost 3s.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Bennett. “I’ve had one podium in each of the last two seasons, so to come away from the first two main races with a second and a win is amazing. I’ve always felt comfortable in the rain.”
Kucharczyk retired after losing his front wing in a collision with Sharp, who held on for second, while
Cresswell (Elite) climbed to third ahead of Ugochukwu (Rodin) and Xie (Hitech).
The final, partially reversed-grid race, produced the most drama.
Rodin’s Rogeon made a quick getaway from fourth to gain an early 2s lead over Patrick Heuzenroeder, and he further extended his advantage to 5s while Hitech’s Will Macintyre passed Jarrod Waberski for third. Macintyre then gained another place when Heuzenroeder stopped with an issue, bringing out the safety car.
Rogeon looked set for his first win after edging clear once more at the restart, but he dramatically slowed with a suspected gearbox problem a few corners from home, handing Macintyre his first win ahead of Waberski. Ugochukwu took his second podium of the weekend in third, with Kucharczyk fourth. Rogeon limped home sixth, one place behind Sharp, who gained the points lead by climbing from 12th to fifth while closest rival Bennett finished down in 14th.