Hillspeed trio end GB3 weekend on high with top ten finish at Red Bull Ring

The trio saved their best performances for last in the third and final race at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, with all three drivers finishing inside the top ten.

Vinci and Nobels each matched their season best results of sixth and eighth in round 12 on Sunday afternoon, while teammate Bouzinelos rounded-out his weekend with ninth position to bring a positive conclusion to an event which did have its on-track challenges.

In round 10 on Saturday afternoon Vinci was the only finisher for the Markham Vale squad in 12th place, as Nobels and Bouzinelos both fell victim to contact and subsequent retirement. In the first of Sunday’s two races, round 11, Vinci took 11th place, Nobels 12th and Bouzinelos 16th position.

Hillspeed’s trio delivered very strong and competitive performances during the two practice days at the Red Bull Ring, with Vinci securing the fourth fastest time on Friday.

Hopes were justifiably high ahead of qualifying on Saturday morning, but the sessions for the round 10 and 11 grids didn’t quite go to plan.

Vinci finished Race One in 12th but his teammates were both pulled from the race. Nobels’ involvement came to an end in the pits at the end of the opening lap after being hit from behind into the first corner, while Bouzinelos ended up in a tangle with Arden Motorsport’s Lewis Gilbert.

Race Two saw Vinci bumped up to 11th following a slew of penalties to several drivers. Nobels moved up into 12th while Bouzinelos slipped to 16th as a result of time penalties.

Round 12 was much more fruitful for the Hillspeed trio, who all pushed for a top ten finish. Vinci and Nobels matched their season bests with sixth and eighth place finishes respectively, while Bouzinelos rounded things off by finishing in ninth spot. “We ended the weekend how we had hoped to start it, all three cars inside the top 10. Testing was very strong again from the outset, although qualifying didn’t quite go to plan, and then circumstances in races one and two meant we didn’t meet our potential,” Hillspeed Team Principal Richard Ollerenshaw said. “There were strong positives to take from our first visit to the Red Bull Ring, Dante, Aurelia and Peter produced some good pace and made progress which is always good to see – and the whole team worked incredibly hard as always. Now we’re looking forward to being back in the UK as we head into the second half of the GB3 season.”

Rounds 13, 14 and 15 of the GB3 Championship will take place across the weekend 1st/2nd August at Silverstone GP Circuit.