Hillspeed celebrates first win of 2023 on opening weekend at Oulton. GB3 rookie Daniel Mavlyutov converts pole to victory in rainy Rd3. Team-mate Gerrard Xie takes best of P8 from finale on GB3 debut.
Daniel Mavlyutov concluded his maiden weekend in the GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC in style at a rain-hit Oulton Park on Easter Monday, 10th April, by taking a lights-to-flag win for Hillspeed in an unpredictable round three – his first victory in single-seaters.
Starting the final race of the weekend on the ‘reverse grid’ pole position for the Markham Vale team, Mavlyutov lined-up with treaded wet-weather Pirelli tyres on his No.99 GB3 car – the Cheshire track quite wet in places but with a drying line appearing.
Nailing the start, the Turkish racer held the lead comfortably before the Safety Car was deployed at the end of lap one due to several incidents. Rain started to fall again ahead of the lap five re-start, meaning good news for Mavlyutov, and he stormed away to lead by a second over the line.
Once again, though, the Safety Car was required within a lap due to more incidents and the contest ultimately ended under caution. The victory was Hillspeed’s second in GB3 in as many race events, the team having won the final race of the 2022 season as well.
Fellow rookie Gerrard Xie also saved the best for last with a top eight finish in round three. Having shown strong pace throughout the weekend at Oulton’s full-length International Circuit, Xie put the memories of unfortunate incidents in races one and two behind him after moving up from 11th to seventh, and ultimately taking eighth to chalk-up his first points of the campaign.
Positive start to 2023 season for Hillspeed’s rookies.
Xie had begun his debut GB3 event very competitively in qualifying on Saturday, 8th April, by lapping within just 0.7 seconds of pole position. Such was the closeness of competition, though, it meant 15th on the grid for race one.
Under bright and sunny skies on Saturday afternoon, Xie made a good start to his first GB3 race and gained two places. Despite being edged back to 14th on lap two, he moved back into 13th on lap nine when Souta Arao spun out. The Safety Car was required as a result, but an unfortunate tangle at Lodge before the re-start led to retirement for Xie.
Mavlyutov had to settle for 25th on the grid for his maiden category race, losing a couple of lap times in qualifying due to track limits infringements, but a superb beginning to the encounter and excellent first lap meant he gained four positions. Running good pace and close to breaking into the top 20, Mavlyutov’s hopes were dashed on lap nine after a spin at Old Hall which led to retirement.
Following a rest day on Easter Sunday, the GB3 action resumed on Monday for round two with the weather much more changeable. Xie’s consistency in qualifying meant his second best lap was good enough for an improved 12th on the grid, but he didn’t get to actually start the race after tagging the barriers hard as he headed to the pits on the sighting lap to change from slicks to wet-weather tyres.
All hopes for Hillspeed rested with Mavlyutov, with Xie’s car too damaged, and the Turk – who had also switched to treaded rubber – aced the start. Storming through from the back of the grid to climb into 18th position on lap one, the rookie impressed on the incredibly wet track. After taking 17th on lap four he then moved into 16th on lap six, where he remained to the flag on lap 10.
Richard Ollerenshaw – Hillspeed Team Principal:
“What a way to end the weekend, especially one which brought us a lot of mixed fortunes with a number of unfortunate incidents. Daniel did everything he needed to in the final race, the track conditions were very unpredictable and – as we could see from how many drivers encountered difficulties – it was a case of driving with a cool head, even with the limited number of laps.
“It’s great to be back on the top step on the opening weekend of the season, our first working with the Hitech GP Academy guys, and we were very happy to see Gerrard take away his first points in eighth place. His pace was good in qualifying and the first race, just a shame the opening two races didn’t ultimately deliver on the promise shown. We’re all looking forward now to Silverstone.”
Daniel Mavlyutov:
“The wets were not the tyre for that race [round three] – I was hoping there would be a lot of Safety Cars! The start was good, the re-start was quite good, some guys went off and it worked in my favour. That’s motorsport, a good day today. I’m enjoying GB3, the car, and it’s nice to win the race. I’m looking forward to Silverstone which is a track I’m a little better at.”
Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit in Northamptonshire will host rounds four, five and six of the GB3 Championship season over the weekend 6th/7th May.