International Aussies: Ninovic and Hughes show speed
Another weekend in the British GB3 Championship and another round of multiple Aussie winners, as the field took on its third straight intercontinental round at the Hungaroring.
Heading into the round, Rodin’s young Aussie Alex Ninovic held the title lead over compatriot Patrick Heuzenroeder, extending that advantage to 34 points after taking a pole and winning Race 2, as well as giving Rodin Motorsport its second win of the weekend.
But it was another Aussie in teammate Gianmarco Pradel that took first blood in Hungary, as he stormed into third in the title race with a maiden Race 1 victory and a podium in the second outing.
After taking his maiden win with an early pass, Pradel was beaming to take out a tough outing.
“After the first corner we got it done quick, and then it was a long race … I wanted the chequered flag to go from Lap 2,” Pradel said in pit lane.
Gianmarco Pradel enjoyed his moment in the sun. Image: Rodin
“From my side, really happy with the steps that I’ve made and to show my consistency. The heat got me more than the car, my neck hurts but the adrenaline is too fast for me to feel.”
“No celebrating too hard with the weekend ahead.”
As for Ninovic in Race 2, another lights-to-flag win gave him his third for the season, and mad hit a win in his third straight round through Zandvoort, Spa, and Hungary.
“It was a nice race from the start, we took it into Turn 1 and managed the gap from there,” he said.
“Defiantly good to gather these points and keep putting them onto the championship lead. Thanks for all the support back home, it’s much appreciated.”
With four Aussies in the F3-spec series, they all remain within the top five, with all four of them hanging in the top ten all weekend barring one race.
Whilst Heuzenroeder didn’t add to his podium tally, finishes of 5th/8th/6th see him hold an 18-point gap over Pradel, whilst Noah Lisle took 8th/4th/11th to be 14 points in arrears of fourth-placed Briton youngster Deagen Fairclough.
Next up is a return to the UK for a Silverstone outing on August 2-3.
Lochie Hughes showed more speed in Indy Nxt. Image: Penkse Entertainment
Indy NXT Aussie Lochie Hughes has continued his streak of podiums in the second-tier Road to Indy series at Mid-Ohio but slightly lost some more ground to his teammate Dennis Hauger in the championship race.
Hughes has only missed the podium on one occasion this season but has his back slightly up against the wall to the experience of the Norwegian who is fresh out of the FIA Formula 2.
After topping the earlier practice session, there was no doubt that Hughes would be up there again, with a qualifying lap that saw him start from third come race day.
In a race where Hughes’ semi-teammates Ricardo Escotto and Sebastian Murray came together for a big crash on Lap 5, the shortened race meant that the Aussie would run out of space to chase down Brazilian Caio Collet, who remains 36 points behind the Aussie in third, whilst Hughes now has 47 points to make up on Hauger (50 for a race win).
“A tough race out there today with the heat and the red flag delay, but glad to see both Seb and Ricardo walk away from that incident,” Hughes noted.
“We had good pace and I was closing in on Collet towards the end, but just ran out of time to make a move. Still, it’s great to be on the podium again and score some solid points.”
It was the seventh podium in what is becoming a fantastic debut season for Hughes, who won two of the Road to Indy Series’ to make it into the second tier.
A fifth place at Detroit is his lowest finish of the year.
The next round at Iowa Speedway on July 12 will have Hughes a slight favourite over Hauger, as the Aussie has a bit more experience on the ovals, with Hughes also having won at Gateway in Illinois – the first oval outing of the season.
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