The penultimate race weekend of the 2021 GB3 Championship could have theoretically seen the champion crowned however fans will have to wait until the next round at Donington for the winner to be decided.
O’Sullivan took a step closer to honours after qualifying saw him dominate and take a double pole position. The championship leader continued his incredible and unshakable form in the opening race of the weekend where he pulled out a four second lead over his closest rival to take the flag as victor – scoring the fastest lap in the process. Mansell took the flag in fifth and Aron 14th – both Carlin drivers gaining a position over their starting placements.
O’Sullivan said of race one, “The car was awesome, I managed to pull the gap slightly later on in the [first] race. I think from lap three onwards we had a bit of a tyre advantage and really stretched the gap. The car’s been handling great all weekend and I think that really showed there.
“Luke seemed to be able to switch the tyres on a little bit faster, I had a bit of wheelspin at the start and was slightly on the back foot for the first sector. But then even early on when he was quite close it was under control, it’s so hard to overtake here, if you’re leading and don’t make any mistakes you’re pretty much guaranteed a win. But it was good to extend that gap towards the end which was a bonus.”
Race two provided drama for O’Sullivan who endured a retirement on the tenth lap of the race as he came together with Browning which sent the Carlin driver cascading into the barriers. Mansell, made sure to keep out of trouble throughout and clinched third place as a red flag brought an early end to racing. Aron finished in a strong eighth having started from 15thon the grid.
The final race of the weekend, and the full reverse grid, would see O’Sullivan produce an absolutely stunning drive in challenging wet conditions. The Carlin driver lined up in 16th on the grid and had already moved up to ninth by the end of the first lap. From there, he continued his charge and took a brilliant haul of points in sixth having secured a point for each overtake to add to his tally. Mansell took 11th at the flag, having made off a brave move around the outside of teammate Aron who finished the final race of the weekend 13th.
The result means the championship goes down to the final round at Donington in October.
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