VRD Racing by Arden’s James Hedley posted the fastest GB3 lap of the two day test at Oulton Park, in the final Friday session in Cheshire.
Inside the concluding five minutes, in which Tymek Kucharczyk and Louis Sharp took turns at the top with their best times of the week, Hedley stole the initiative on his antepenultimate tour to set a 1m29.794s.
That was enough to put him 0.040s ahead of Rodin’s Sharp, while Elite’s McKenzy Cresswell jumped up the order late on too, going third quickest and just 0.023s further back.
Kucharczyk ended up two tenths further back for Hitech Pulse-Eight in fourth place, 0.060s clear of teammate Will Macintyre, who brought the session to an early end with an off onto the grass at Cascades with a couple of minutes to go.
Elite’s Jarrod Waberski completed the top-six, which was covered by 0.346s.
McLaren junior Ugo Ugochukwu was seventh fastest for Rodin, a tenth clear of VRD Racing by Arden’s Noah Ping, with JHR’s John Bennett and Hitech’s Gerrard Xie completing the top-10, which was covered by just 0.635s.
The top-13 drivers were within a second of the outright pace, with qualifying next up tomorrow at 11.10.
All drivers, with the exception of Flynn Jackes, set their best times in the final session. Jackes’ session one topper was enough to put the Filipino-Australian 17th on the combined time sheets.
"It's been a really good few days" said Hedley, who is only confirmed for the first two rounds of the season. "We're looking strong. In previous years, even in Ginettas and F4, I've had success here. I like the track and the car is really fast as well, so it's a perfect match at the moment.
"Last year we were fighting for a seat in GB3 for the full season, if that can happen again this year, then great, but obviously I do also want to graduate. The season is just starting, but these are probably my last two rounds in this championship and I just want to enjoy them.
"Obviously I need to carry this into tomorrow and get pole and the win, that's always the aim. That's why I'm here, I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't aiming to deliver that. I'll just do the best I can and see where that ends up."
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Oulton Park Friday session two top-10:
1. James Hedley, VRD Racing by Arden, 1m29.794s
2. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, +0.040s
3. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, +0.063s
4. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.263s
5. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.323s
6. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +0.346s
7. Ugo Ugochukwu, Rodin Motorsport, +0.402s
8. Noah Ping, VRD Racing by Arden, +0.538s
9. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.578s
10. Gerrard Xie, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.635s
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GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Oulton Park Friday combined times:
1. James Hedley, VRD Racing by Arden, 1m29.794s (session one)
2. Louis Sharp, Rodin Motorsport, +0.040s (session one)
3. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, +0.063s (session one)
4. Tymek Kucharczyk, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.263s (session one)
5. Will Macintyre, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.323s (session one)
6. Jarrod Waberski, Elite Motorsport, +0.346s (session one)
7. Ugo Ugochukwu, Rodin Motorsport, +0.402s (session one)
8. Noah Ping, VRD Racing by Arden, +0.538s (session one)
9. John Bennett, JHR Developments, +0.578s (session one)
10. Gerrard Xie, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +0.635s (session one)
11. Nikita Johnson, VRD Racing by Arden, +0.765s (session one)
12. Shawn Rashid, VRD Racing by Arden, +0.909s (session one)
13. Josh Irfan, JHR Developments, +0.964s (session one)
14. Patrick Heuzenroeder, JHR Developments, +1.159s (session one)
15. Seb Murray, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.167s (session one)
16. Arthur Rogeon, Rodin Motorsport, +1.178s (session one)
17. Flynn Jackes, Chris Dittmann Racing, +1.437s (session two)
18. Hugo Schwarze, Elite Motorsport, +1.530s (session one)
19. Colin Queen, Fortec Motorsport, +1.584s (session one)
20. Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport, +1.752s (session one)
21. Adi Kulkarni, Hillspeed, +2.403s (session one)
22. Rishab Jain, Chris Dittmann Racing, +3.590s (session one)