- Swede on the podium once again on mixed weekend at Brands Hatch
- Title-decider to play out in tense season-finale next month
Joel Granfors will find himself at the centre of a captivating title climax in next month’s GB3 Championship finale, after another weekend of close-fought action across the penultimate round of the season at Brands Hatch.
Granfors took a slender lead into this weekend’s races, but lost ground to title nemesis Luke Browning around the Brands Hatch GP loop – with the duo now separated by virtually nothing in the standings.
Fortec driver Granfors opened the event with his 11th podium of the season, taking third in Race 1 on Saturday, and followed it up with fourth in Race 2.
In the concluding reverse-grid Race 3, the 17-year-old then made up a full six places on the opening lap alone, going from 18th to 12th and appearing primed for an important result as he ran well ahead of Browning.
Granfors continued to haul himself into the top ten as the race resumed following a red flag, only to see it all come undone when picking up front wing damage and vaulting down the order as the pack blazed through. He ultimately pitted for repairs, rejoined, and finished 19th.
Browning, meanwhile, lined up a P2, P2, P9 string that enabled him to take over the championship lead – the 20-year-old Briton edging 15.5 points clear to set up a thrilling showdown with just one round remaining and more than 100 points up for grabs.
“We’ve had good pace for much of the weekend, but unfortunately we didn’t bring the points home to show for it,” says Joel Granfors. “It was especially frustrating to lose out on the points in Race 3, where I’d made such a good start. It’s going to be an interesting finale, for sure, and I’m already looking forward to it.”
The GB3 Championship finale takes place at Donington Park on October 15-16. It will feature a straight two-way shootout for the title between Granfors and Browning.
RESULTS
GB3 Championship
Rd. 7 | Brands Hatch
STANDINGS
GB3 Championship
After 7/8 rounds
1: Luke Browning (GBR), 430 p.
2: Joel Granfors (SWE), 414.5 p.
3: Callum Voisin (GBR), 312 p.
4: Roberto Faria (BRA), 305.5 p.
5: Tom Lebbon (GBR), 294.5 p.