Maiden GB3 Win For Fluxa On Hillspeed Debut And First GB4 Victory For Juncos
Lucas Fluxa delivered a sensational lights-to-flag victory in round 21 of the GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC at Donington Park Grand Prix Circuit on Sunday, 5th October – the Spaniard’s first weekend as a Hillspeed driver and his maiden podium in the UK’s premier single-seater category.
In the sister GB4 Championship partnered by the BRDC, the Markham Vale squad also enjoyed success with a fantastic one-two finish in the last race of the season, Leandro Juncos heading home team-mate Dan Guinchard to claim his first win in the series.
Guinchard, who went into the event leading the GB4 standings, did all he could in the last race but second wasn’t enough to take the championship. He ends the campaign third, tied on points with second, while Juncos finishes the year fifth. In the Teams’ Championship, Hillspeed concludes the season as the Vice-Champion squad – impressive having run the bulk of the year as a two-car entry.
Deserved first GB4 win for Juncos as Guinchard battles valiantly to the end
Guinchard was quick straight out of the box in rain-hit GB4 qualifying on Saturday, 4th October, and ended up with second on the grid for rounds 19 and 20. Juncos was quick as well, concluding with fifth on the grid for round 19 and fourth for round 20, while Airikkala posted a pair of eleventh row starts.
Round 19 on Saturday evening couldn’t have begun much more explosively. Guinchard made a good start and looked to challenge pole-starting title rival Isaac Phelps straight away on the outside at Redgate. Glued together, Guinchard committed to the inside at the Old Hairpin but contact was made.
Dropping to 21st having run through the gravel, after an early Safety Car racing resumed on lap four. Juncos, who had been edged back to seventh on the first lap, fought his way into sixth with a good drive while Guinchard charged through superbly to take 12th, and Airikkala impressed to race to 16th spot.
For round 20 on Sunday, Guinchard started an amended fifth as a result of a three place grid penalty from race one’s incident. Juncos started well from an elevated third and the action in the lead group was intense. Ary Bansal took third on lap nine and Juncos looked to strike back, but at Melbourne Hairpin the next time around Guinchard grabbed fourth from Juncos and almost took third as well.
On the 12th and final lap Guinchard was all over Bansal out of the Old Hairpin but as his rival jinked across on the exit, the Hillspeed car ended up on the grass. Guinchard got back on track safely but lost places to seventh while Juncos finished third. Post-race, however, both Hillspeeds were impacted by retrospective track limits penalties with Juncos dropped to 10th and Guinchard a devastating 21st.
Airikkala enjoyed another productive race from 22nd on the grid. Into the top 20 after a couple of laps, she was edged back one place on lap four but soon moved back and by lap 10 Airikkala was into 18th position where she remained to the flag – before being elevated to 16th due to penalties for others.
Guinchard had slipped to third in the standings – seven points shy of the lead – and he lined-up 11th for round 21, with Juncos in eighth and Airikkala 22nd. Juncos started strongly and was in the fight for sixth but ended the first lap eighth, while Guinchard was 11th and Airikkala had broken into the top 20.
Juncos leapt into fourth on lap three and Guinchard climbed to seventh but by the start of lap five Juncos was fifth again with Guinchard right behind. They traded places on lap six, and the race was then red flagged on lap 10. On countback to lap eight, Guinchard was fifth, Juncos sixth and Airikkala 19th.
Race four of the weekend, the rescheduled round 18 from Brands Hatch, began with Juncos third on the grid, Guinchard ninth and Airikkala in 19th spot. Juncos made a great launch to instantly take second and then boldly went to the outside of the leader at McLeans and Coppice, before taking first into Fogarty’s. Guinchard too delivered a sensational first lap, scything into fifth to keep his title hopes alive.
Prior to the appearance of the Safety Car on lap three Guinchard had moved into the podium placings, and after the re-start on the fifth tour he grabbed second at Goddards a lap later. Running first and second to the finish on lap 10, Juncos revelled in a brilliant first victory while second was bittersweet for Guinchard having missed the crown by just 11 points. Airikkala raced strongly once more to 17th place.
Fabulous Fluxa stars on Hillspeed debut in GB3
Fluxa had to settle for the 14th fastest time in round 19 GB3 qualifying on Saturday morning, a session which was impacted by a late red flag stoppage, and then 12th quickest in the rainy session two. Several drivers, though, were disqualified and as a result Fluxa lined-up an elevated 12th for race one. Making a good start, he climbed to 11th spot and charged into ninth before the Safety Car appeared on lap three.
Racing resumed on the sixth tour and a lap later the Spaniard sliced into seventh past two rivals at the Old Hairpin. Out of the Fogarty Esses on lap 10 he smartly grabbed sixth and although edged back again into Goddards, the Hillspeed racer retook the place brilliantly at Redgate. On lap 11 he then moved up into fifth prior to the race ending under caution after a second Safety Car.
Lining-up 10th on the grid for round 20 on Sunday, Fluxa was actually an effective eighth as a couple of rivals hit trouble on the formation lap. Launching swiftly, he took seventh on the outside at Redgate and the Safety Car then appeared on lap five. After the resumption Fluxa took sixth on lap 11 and then fifth on lap 14 with a great pass. In terms of pace, he was just 0.2 seconds shy of podium performance.
Starting on pole for round 21 he led away well and controlled things from the front, but a multi-car tangle at Fogarty’s triggered the Safety Car. At the resumption on lap six Fluxa timed his getaway to perfection and led by 0.9 seconds over the line, then the Safety Car was required again on lap 10.
Making another great re-start on lap 11, Fluxa was 0.7 seconds clear across the line and didn’t put a wheel wrong on his way to a magnificent first GB3 victory – only missing fastest lap by 0.086 seconds.
Lucas Fluxa:
“I’m really happy. We showed good pace in practice, we couldn’t really show it in qualifying, but across the races we made up some places with really good moves. We knew we had the pace coming into this one [round 21], so it was just get my head down, get a good start, be first by T1 and then manage it and focus on going forward. I’m really happy with the team, so I think together we can get more in Monza.”
Daniel Guinchard:
“We led the whole year, it’s a shame to lose it right at the end but, overall, I’m still really happy. I’m really pleased for Leandro, he’s had a tough year but he showed really great pace and to end with a win is great for him. Hopefully we can be back next year in GB3, that’s the aim but it’s all about budget as always. I did my best, I showed what I can do so we’ll see what the future brings.”
Leandro Juncos:
“It’s great [to win], it’s a relief to be honest as we’ve been close so many times – a lot of effort has been put in by my family, the team, and to finally get it is just a relief to be honest. Starting P3 I think we had a good chance, to put it all together is very good. We’ve had a lot of bad luck, what could’ve been with wins and podiums, but to end the season like this is good. Thank you to Hillspeed for all they’ve done.”
Richard Ollerenshaw – Hillspeed Team Principal:
“We’re delighted to finish the GB4 season with a one-two at our home circuit, and exceptionally pleased for Leandro to finally get the win he deserved. Obviously, we’re disappointed with the outcome of the championship, and the situation with retrospective track limits penalties. Dan deserved the title and has performed superbly all season. Flame raced very well again and continues to make significant progress.
“Lucas had a great first weekend as a Hillspeed driver in GB3, with only one test day he raced through to take a pair of top fives and then a fantastic win in the last race. It was a challenging race to win, two Safety Car interruptions, but he was faultless. We can confirm he will be joined by at least one other driver at Monza, and we have a third seat remaining, should any drivers be interested in joining us.”
The final three races of the GB3 Championship will take place on 18th/19th October at Monza in Italy.
Final GB4 Championship Driver Standings
3rd Daniel Guinchard, 391pts; 5th Leandro Juncos, 269pts; 28th Flame Airikkala, 34pts
Final GB4 Championship Team Standings
2nd Hillspeed, 671pts
GB3 Championship Driver Standings (after Rd21)
9th Lucas Fluxa, 229pts; 10th Freddie Slater, 203pts; 14th Kanato Le, 145pts; 17th Yuanpu Cui, 122pts;
18th Hiyu Yamakoshi, 121pts; 23rd Michael Shin, 40pts
GB3 Championship Team Standings (after Rd21)
3rd Hillspeed, 528pts
