2022 GB3 Championship

The 2022 GB3 Championship was a motor racing championship for open wheel, formula racing cars held across England and Belgium. The 2022 season was the seventh organised by the British Racing Drivers' Club in the United Kingdom, and the second season under the GB3 moniker after rebranding from the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship in mid-2021.[1] The championship featured a mix of professional motor racing teams and privately funded drivers. For the 2022 season, a new updated chassis and engine pack were introduced.[2] The season was run over eight triple-header rounds.[3]

Luke Browning took the drivers' championship at the final round at Donington Park, with his team, Hitech Grand Prix, taking their first teams' title.

Teams and drivers

All teams were British-registered.

Team No. Driver Rounds
Hitech Grand Prix 4 United States Bryce Aron All
5 United Kingdom Luke Browning All
6 United Kingdom Cian Shields All
Carlin 7 Brazil Roberto Faria All
31 Spain Javier Sagrera All
35 United Kingdom Callum Voisin All
Chris Dittmann Racing 8 United Kingdom McKenzy Cresswell All
12 United States Ayrton Ori 6
21 United Kingdom Zak Taylor 7–8
68 United Kingdom Branden Lee Oxley 1–7
Douglas Motorsport 11 Australia Marcos Flack 1, 3–7
16 Australia Tommy Smith All
42 United States Max Esterson All
Elite Motorsport 17 Japan Ayato Iwasaki 8
27 United Kingdom John Bennett All
34 United Kingdom Tom Lebbon All
67 United Kingdom James Hedley 1–4
Fortec Motorsport 21 United Kingdom Zak Taylor 1–6
43 Denmark Mikkel Grundtvig All
50 Sweden Joel Granfors All
Arden Motorsport 22 Canada Nico Christodoulou 3–8
32 United Kingdom Alex Connor All
77 United States David Morales All
JHR Developments 53 United Kingdom Matthew Rees All
67 United Kingdom James Hedley 5–8
Hillspeed 64 Canada Nick Gilkes All
Source:[4]

Race calendar and results

The provisional calendar was announced on 22 October 2021. The championship supported the British GT championship at seven of its eight meetings.[3]

Round Circuit Date Pole position Fastest lap Winning driver Winning team
1 R1 Oulton Park
(International Circuit, Cheshire)
16 April United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning Hitech Grand Prix
R2 18 April United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning Hitech Grand Prix
R3 United States David Morales Denmark Mikkel Grundtvig Fortec Motorsports
2 R4 Silverstone Circuit
(Grand Prix Circuit, Northamptonshire)
7 May Sweden Joel Granfors United Kingdom Luke Browning Sweden Joel Granfors Fortec Motorsports
R5 8 May Sweden Joel Granfors United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Tom Lebbon Elite Motorsport
R6 United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Cian Shields Hitech Grand Prix
3 R7 Donington Park
(Grand Prix Circuit, Leicestershire)
28 May Sweden Joel Granfors United States Max Esterson United Kingdom Callum Voisin Carlin
R8 29 May United States Max Esterson United States Max Esterson United States Max Esterson Douglas Motorsport
R9 Brazil Roberto Faria United States Bryce Aron Hitech Grand Prix
4 R10 Snetterton Circuit
(300 Circuit, Norfolk)
25 June United Kingdom Callum Voisin Brazil Roberto Faria United Kingdom Callum Voisin Carlin
R11 26 June United Kingdom Luke Browning Spain Javier Sagrera United Kingdom Luke Browning Hitech Grand Prix
R12 Brazil Roberto Faria Denmark Mikkel Grundtvig Fortec Motorsports
5 R13 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
(Spa, Belgium)
23 July United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning Hitech Grand Prix
R14 United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Luke Browning Hitech Grand Prix
R15 24 July United Kingdom Callum Voisin Australia Tommy Smith Douglas Motorsport
6 R16 Silverstone Circuit
(Grand Prix Circuit, Northamptonshire)
30 July United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Callum Voisin Sweden Joel Granfors Fortec Motorsports
R17 31 July United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Tom Lebbon Elite Motorsport
R18 Canada Nico Christodoulou Australia Marcos Flack Douglas Motorsport
7 R19 Brands Hatch
(Grand Prix Circuit, Kent)
10 September United Kingdom Matthew Rees United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Matthew Rees JHR Developments
R20 11 September United Kingdom Tom Lebbon United Kingdom Matthew Rees United Kingdom Tom Lebbon Elite Motorsport
R21 United Kingdom Luke Browning United Kingdom Branden Lee Oxley Chris Dittmann Racing
8 R22 Donington Park
(Grand Prix Circuit, Leicestershire)
15 October United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Tom Lebbon United Kingdom Callum Voisin Carlin
R23 16 October United Kingdom Callum Voisin United Kingdom Matthew Rees United Kingdom Tom Lebbon Elite Motorsport
R24 Canada Nico Christodoulou Canada Nick Gilkes Hillspeed

Season report

First half

The 2022 GB3 Championship began over the traditional Easter Weekend at Oulton Park with a double pole for Luke Browning. He was unchallenged in the first race and won ahead of Roberto Faria and Matthew Rees, who also retained their starting spots. Incidents behind them ended Javier Sagrera's race. The second race offered much the same picture, with Browning converting his second pole into another comfortable victory. Faria meanwhile had to overtake Joel Granfors at the start to get another second place, with Granfors then coming third. The reverse-grid race three saw Mikkel Grundtvig start from pole, resisting attacks from Tommy Smith behind him to win the race. David Morales completed the podium. Browning retired after contact, but his two wins still meant he led the championship after round one, ten points ahead of Faria.[5][6][7]

Next up was the first visit to Silverstone Circuit, and this time it was two poles for Granfors. Browning took second from Tom Lebbon at the start of race one and started to go after Granfors, but the latter was able to keep ahead and score his maiden GB3 win. In race two, roles were reversed, as this time Lebbon was the one making the move at the start, passing Granfors for the race lead into Maggotts. Browning came third this time around. Morales was the polesitter for race three, but dropped down to third at the start. The new leading duo of Cian Shields and Nick Gilkes battled all race, with Shields eventually coming out ahead to win. Bryce Aron also overtook Morales to complete the podium. Granfors' two podiums and eleven places gained in race three promoted him to the championship lead, three points ahead of Browning.[8][9][10]

The third round was held at Donington Park, where Granfors and Max Esterson shared poles. The first race started with chaos, as championship leader Granfors retired from contact and his closest rival also crashed while trying to avoid the stricken Granfors. Callum Voisin inherited the lead and held it until the end to win ahead of Faria and Esterson. Race two was not much calmer, with Esterson defending from Voisin who had to take to the grass to avoid contact, dropping behind Granfors and Browning in the process. The reversed-grid race was the most straightforward: Aron converted his pole into a win, while Branden Lee Oxley converted third to second by passing Grundvig at the start. With both championship leaders first retiring, then on the podium and having a similar race three, the gap at the top closed up to a single point.[11][12][13]

The first half of the season came to a close at Snetterton Circuit, with Voisin and Browning winning in qualifying. Voisin held the lead of race one as Granfors' poor start forced him to concede second to Browning. The latter then came close to gaining the lead several times, but could not do so. The second race began with a three-wide moment between Browning, Granfors and Rees. The latter had to back out and lost third to Sagrera. The top two battled all race, but Browning held on to win the race. Grundtvig was once again on reverse grid pole, next to Shields, who had an overheating issue that saw him drop back and retire. Zak Taylor took second, but also soon made a mistake fighting and dropped down. This promoted Marcos Flack and James Hedley to the podium. Browning beat Granfors in all three races and took the championship lead.[14][15][16]

Second half

The only continental round of the season at Spa-Francorchamps came next, and Browning took both pole positions. He lost the lead to Granfors down the Kemmel straight, but a safety car for a three-car crash was called straight away. Browning retook the lead at the restart and never looked back, with Granfors in second. Shields came third, before a penalty gave that podium to Oxley. Race two saw Browning drop again, this time to third behind Oxley and Granfors. The latter then went for the lead, forcing Oxley out into the gravel, before Browning repeated his move for the win once again. Race three was disrupted by a red flag following a hefty crash by Morales. Only three racing laps were completed. Half points were awarded for the race won by Voisin ahead of Smith and Faria. Browning's two wins extended his championship gap to 25.5 points.[17][18][19]

The second Silverstone event began with Browning getting excluded from qualifying for a technical infringement. Voisin started race one from pole, before losing out to Granfors and Sagrera. He re-passed Sagrera later, but it was too late to close up to Granfors, as Faria then got by Sagrera for third. Race two saw Voisin drop from pole to fourth, behind Lebbon, Granfors and Sagrera. Voisin spent the rest of the race trying to make up for his start, climbing up to second place. Lebbon was later disqualified, but this decision was overturned in the end. Debutant Ayrton Ori started race three from pole, but could not hold on to the lead. A tumultuous race saw multiple drivers rise up the grid, with Flack winning in the end. Brownings exclusion meant he could not fight at the front, while Granfors' three podiums saw him take the championship lead.[20][21][22]

Brands Hatch hosted the penultimate round of the year, and Rees and Lebbon shared honors in qualifying. Rees led the first race from start to finish, while behind him Granfors slipped back to fourth, behind Browning and John Bennett. He later repassed Bennett, but was not able to match Browning. Race two saw Lebbon defend from Rees at the start. Slight contact between the two saw Rees drop behind Browning, who had overtaken Granfors for third earlier on. Race three saw a red flag when Voisin and Esterson hit the barriers. Oxley restarted from pole as Flack was sent to the back for a jump start, and won ahead of Shields and Faria. The championship lead changed hands once again after the round, with Browning once again beating his rival in all three races and coming out 15.5 points ahead.[23][24][25]

The season finale was held at Donington Park. Voisin picked up two poles in qualifying and led the first race from start to finish. Behind him, Browning started fifth and was able to climb to third, before Lebbon in second got a penalty that promoted Browning and Bennett up a place. Race two started on a slightly damp track, with the field split on tire choice. Voisin had a bad start and dropped to third, letting Granfors into the lead, before the latter got dispatched by Lebbon. When the track got drier, Granfors lost pace and dropped down the field. Aron was the big winner, running on dry tires and climbing up to third place at the end, behind Browning, whose second place earned him the championship title. Race three saw Gilkes take his maiden victory in a lights-to-flag run ahead of Shields and Connor, while Hitech passed Carlin to win the teams' title.[26][27][28]

Championship standings

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top 20 classified finishers in races one and two, with the third race awarding points to only the top 15. Race three, which had its grid formed by reversing the qualifying order, awarded extra points for positions gained from the drivers' respective starting positions.

Races Position, points per race
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th
Races 1 & 2 35 29 24 21 19 17 15 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Race 3 20 17 15 13 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Notes
  • 1 2 3 refers to positions gained and thus extra points earned during race three.

Drivers' championship

Pos Driver OUL SIL1 DON1 SNE SPA SIL2 BRH DON2 Pts
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3[lower-alpha 1] R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1 United Kingdom Luke Browning 1 1 Ret 2 3 171 Ret 2 97 2 1 146 1 1 184 10 11 515 2 2 97 2 2 79 507
2 Sweden Joel Granfors 6 3 153 1 2 911 Ret 3 1011 3 2 156 2 4 165 1 3 315 3 4 19 5 13 58 460.5
3 United Kingdom Tom Lebbon 14 6 DSQ 3 1 136 5 8 13 5 5 19 6 Ret 121 6 1 133 6 1 18 4 1 127 363.5
4 United Kingdom Callum Voisin 20 9 132 10 5 83 1 7 613 1 Ret 175 8 10 23 2 2 415 9 13 Ret 1 9 Ret 359
5 Brazil Roberto Faria 2 2 143 7 6 Ret 2 5 20 4 7 135 11 Ret 4 3 5 211 18 9 31 Ret 14 15 316.5
6 United Kingdom Matthew Rees 3 4 16 12 8 Ret 8 6 713 Ret 4 127 DSQ 7 15 8 6 66 1 3 132 17 6 96 310.5
7 United States Max Esterson 19 11 81 4 4 105 3 1 117 10 10 75 4 2 173 9 10 Ret 10 18 Ret 11 8 18 292.5
8 United Kingdom John Bennett 5 5 92 6 9 112 17 13 43 6 11 16 17 5 11 5 8 Ret 4 6 14 3 Ret 161 262.5
9 Spain Javier Sagrera Ret 8 111 Ret 11 55 Ret 10 18 7 3 95 5 8 87 4 4 116 Ret 8 52 7 16 113 257.5
10 United Kingdom Alex Connor 15 13 182 11 10 71 4 9 89 8 6 115 19 12 63 13 9 Ret 7 5 8 10 18 32 252.5
11 United Kingdom McKenzy Cresswell 4 7 103 9 Ret 66 7 12 16 9 16 54 18 3 20 11 Ret DNS 16 12 7 Ret 4 81 221
12 United States Bryce Aron 12 15 174 19 12 33 12 19 1 11 13 DSQ 9 14 21 16 Ret 147 8 7 101 6 3 135 215
13 United Kingdom Cian Shields 11 Ret 7 16 18 11 14 15 19 14 19 Ret 7 9 136 17 15 157 21 19 2 12 5 21 186.5
14 Canada Nick Gilkes 16 18 4 17 17 22 Ret 18 1210 DNS 12 18 12 11 52 14 12 16 19 17 6 13 15 1 165.5
15 United Kingdom Branden Lee Oxley 8 Ret 52 8 14 14 10 20 21 12 9 Ret 3 Ret 19 12 DSQ 12 15 22 1 163
16 Canada Nico Christodoulou Ret 11 15 13 8 103 Ret 15 10 7 7 18 5 10 112 9 7 44 163
17 United Kingdom James Hedley 13 10 12 5 7 18 6 4 14 16 14 32 Ret 13 14 15 DSQ Ret 11 16 Ret WD WD WD 156
18 United Kingdom Zak Taylor 7 12 6 13 15 16 9 16 DSQ Ret 17 6 16 18 3 19 Ret 10 14 15 4 8 10 14 154.5
19 Australia Tommy Smith 17 17 2 14 16 12 13 21 5 Ret 18 42 14 19 11 21 16 7 13 11 17 14 Ret 17 136.5
20 Australia Marcos Flack 9 14 19 11 14 17 15 15 22 10 6 9 22 13 15 17 20 163 136.5
21 Denmark Mikkel Grundtvig 18 19 1 15 13 15 16 17 3 17 20 1 15 17 7 20 17 8 20 21 153 15 17 19 135.5
22 United States David Morales 10 16 31 18 19 4 15 22 Ret Ret 21 8 13 16 Ret 18 14 9 12 14 12 Ret 11 10 130
23 Japan Ayato Iwasaki 16 12 6 24
24 United States Ayrton Ori 23 18 17 3
Pos Driver R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3[lower-alpha 1] R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 Pts
OUL SIL1 DON1 SNE SPA SIL2 BRH DON2
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints finish
BlueNon-points finish
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
Blank Did not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole

Italics – Fastest Lap

Teams' championship

Each team counted its two best results of every race.

Pos Team OUL SIL1 DON1 SNE SPA SIL2 BRH DON2 Pts
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3[lower-alpha 1] R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1 Hitech Grand Prix 1 1 7 2 3 11 12 2 1 2 1 62 1 1 1111 10 9 515 2 2 2 2 2 21 805.5
11 15 174 16 12 33 14 15 106 11 13 155 7 9 153 16 12 147 8 7 97 6 3 79
2 Carlin 2 2 111 7 5 55 1 5 712 1 3 104 6 8 14 2 1 211 9 8 31 1 9 113 794.5
20 8 132 10 6 83 2 7 19 4 7 144 8 10 3 3 3 415 18 9 52 7 14 15
3 Elite Motorsport 5 5 92 3 1 136 5 4 43 5 5 32 5 5 13 5 6 133 4 1 14 3 1 6 697
13 6 12 5 7 112 6 8 14 6 11 17 18 Ret 17 6 DSQ Ret 6 6 18 4 12 127
4 Fortec Motorsport 6 3 1 1 2 911 8 3 3 3 2 1 2 4 4 1 2 315 3 4 153 5 13 58 648
7 12 6 13 13 15 16 16 1110 17 17 7 16 17 129 19 14 8 20 21 19 15 17 19
5 Douglas Motorsport 9 11 2 4 4 105 3 1 6 10 10 22 4 2 911 9 8 15 10 11 163 11 8 17 514
17 14 81 14 16 12 13 14 126 15 15 42 10 6 2 21 10 7 13 18 17 14 Ret 18
6 Arden Motorsport 10 13 31 11 10 4 4 9 98 8 6 124 14 12 63 7 5 9 5 5 8 10 7 32 493.5
15 16 191 18 19 71 15 11 16 13 8 9 20 15 19 13 7 18 7 10 112 Ret 11 44
7 Chris Dittmann Racing 4 7 52 8 14 66 7 12 21 9 9 54 3 3 106 11 15 12 14 12 1 8 4 81 423
8 Ret 103 9 Ret 14 10 20 17 12 16 Ret 19 Ret 161 12 Ret 17 15 15 4 Ret 10 14
8 JHR Developments 3 4 17 12 8 Ret 9 6 812 Ret 4 136 11 7 86 8 4 66 1 3 132 17 6 96 374.5
Ret 13 14 15 DSQ Ret 11 16 DNS WD WD WD
9 Hillspeed 16 18 4 17 17 22 Ret 18 139 DNS 12 18 12 11 52 14 12 16 19 17 6 13 15 1 165.5
Pos Team R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3[lower-alpha 1] R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 Pts
OUL SIL1 DON1 SNE SPA SIL2 BRH DON2

Notes

  1. Race three at Spa had only three racing laps completed. Half points were awarded.

References

  1. "British F3 rebranded as GB3 Championship". GB3 Championship. 2 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021.
  2. "GB3 - GB3 Championship confirms major Tatuus car upgrades for 2022". GB3 Championship. 2021-08-15. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. "GB3 - 2022 calendar announced for GB3 Championship". GB3 Championship. 2021-10-25. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  4. "GB3 - 2022 Teams". GB3 Championship. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. Whitfield, Steve (2022-04-16). "Browning takes lights-to-flag win in GB3 season opener". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  6. Whitfield, Steve (2022-04-18). "Browning dominates again in GB3's second Oulton Park race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  7. Whitfield, Steve (2022-04-18). "Grundtvig wins GB3 race three at Oulton as Browning retires". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  8. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-07). "Granfors beats Browning in opening GB3 contest at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  9. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-08). "Elite's Lebbon beats Granfors to GB3 victory in race two at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  10. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-08). "Hitech rookie Shields wins reversed-grid GB3 race at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  11. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-28). "Voisin leads Carlin one-two at Donington as GB3 title contenders crash". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  12. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-29). "Esterson takes maiden GB3 win in race two at Donington". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  13. Whitfield, Steve (2022-05-29). "Aron takes first GB3 win with Hitech in Donington reversed-grid race". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  14. Whitfield, Steve (2022-06-25). "Voisin wins at Snetterton as Browning takes over GB3 points lead". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  15. Whitfield, Steve (2022-06-26). "Browning beats Granfors in fierce GB3 fight at Snetterton". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  16. Whitfield, Steve (2022-06-26). "Grundtvig takes lights-to-flag win in final GB3 race at Snetterton". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  17. Wood, Ida (2022-07-23). "Browning shakes off early battle for brilliant GB3 Spa win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  18. Whitfield, Steve (2022-07-23). "Browning wins again in GB3 race two at Spa". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  19. Whitfield, Steve (2022-07-24). "Voisin triumphs in heavily disrupted half-points GB3 race at Spa". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  20. Whitfield, Steve (2022-07-30). "Granfors boosts GB3 title hopes with dominant Silverstone win". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  21. Whitfield, Steve (2022-07-31). "Lebbon holds off Voisin for dramatic second GB3 win at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  22. Whitfield, Steve (2022-07-31). "Flack wins wild reversed-grid GB3 contest at Silverstone". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  23. Whitfield, Steve (2022-09-10). "Rees takes maiden victory in GB3's Brands Hatch opener". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  24. Whitfield, Steve (2022-09-11). "Lebbon wins Brands Hatch race two as Browning claims GB3 lead". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  25. Whitfield, Steve (2022-09-11). "CDR's Oxley wins restarted GB3 race three at Brands Hatch". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  26. Whitfield, Steve (2022-10-15). "Voisin wins at Donington as Browning extends GB3 points lead". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  27. Whitfield, Steve (2022-10-16). "Browning clinches GB3 title as Lebbon wins Donington race two". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  28. Whitfield, Steve (2022-10-16). "Gilkes takes maiden win as GB3 season draws to a close". Formula Scout. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
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