Hitech’s Dejan Fairclough finally claimed a first GB3 victory as the 2025 season ended at the famous Monza circuit last weekend.
As has often happened this year, it happened Rodin Motorsport Champion Alex Ninovic Who set a new record in qualifying by taking double pole position, the ninth and 10th of his title-winning campaign. Pratt was secured by four thousandths of a second over runner-up candidate Patrick Hugenroeder (Xcel) in Q1, while his margin in Q2 was one tenth over Noah Lisle (JHR).
The first race was red flagged on the opening lap after four cars were eliminated in the first race. On the restart, Poleman Ninovic was unable to break away from the pack as the DRS-equipped cars behind kept him close.
Only in the final two laps was he able to make progress, eventually taking the flag by 1.6 seconds to take his ninth win of the year, a GB3 season record.
Hugenroeder was second to boost his runner-up aspirations, with Rodin’s Gianmarco Pradel and Fairclough third and fourth as they also eyeed a runner-up finish. Hillspeed newcomers Newman Chee and Maxim Rehm rounded out the top six.
Reigning British Formula 4 champion Fairclough then won a thrilling second contest, which featured an epic battle for the lead between Ninovic, the quick-starting Fairclough and Pradel.
Ninovic may have already won the title, but he was still at the center of the GB3 action at Monza
Photo by: JEP
Fairclough and Ninovic went three abreast, with Lisle racing towards Retifilo on lap one, and all three headed into the run-off. Behind, there was more drama as Heusenroeder was eliminated in a collision with Reza Sivurathun and Chi.
This brought the first of three initial Safety Car appearances, and between them, more sensational action at the front as Fairclough looked to stamp his authority.
After the third caution, there were about eight minutes remaining, with Fairclough leading. Another late braking battle resulted in Fairclough using the escape road and Ninovic spun the corner, Fairclough restarted in front but regained the lead at Curva Grande. Pradel then took Fairclough down further with a bounce outside the Parabolica.
However, a fired-up Fairclough responded brilliantly a few moments later, passing Pradel at Retifilo, and Ninovic at Roggia a few seconds later. From there, he held off more challenges from Ninovic and Predel to win by just 0.278 seconds.
HiTech’s Keanu Al Azhari moved up from 20th to fourth ahead of Abbi Pulling and Kai Daryanani.
Rehm took the advantage of reverse-grid pole to take victory in the final race of the season, but only after an early battle with Fairclough, who shot from ninth on the grid to second, while Pradel was third.
In a slipstreaming competition, Pulling was just over a second off the race winner after being involved in a late fight, Sievuruthun was fifth after being promoted after the race, following a penalty for Heusenroeder. The Australian recovered from a challenging start to the race to deny Fairclough the runner-up spot in the standings by just three points.
Hugenroeder (left) overtook Fairclough by a narrow margin to become runner-up in the standings to Ninovic.
Photo by: JEP
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