Luke regains points lead with Snetterton success

Rising star Luke Browning sits back on top of the 2022 GB3 Championship powered by the BRDC standings after returning to the top step of the podium at Snetterton.

Luke went into the weekend sitting second in the standings having grabbed a fifth podium finish of the year at Donington Park in the previous meeting, with his focus on trying to make it back onto the top step of the podium for the first time since the Oulton Park season opener.

Pre-event testing showed Luke was right on the pace, with his time in the final session on Friday proving to be the fastest set across five sessions held over two days.

Having qualified third on the grid for the opening race, Luke made a great start when the lights went out to draw alongside Joel Granfors on the run to turn one, and was able to make it through into second spot despite his rival trying to close the gap.

From there, Luke would run on the tail of leader Callum Voisin before crossing the line in second spot for a result that moved him back into the points lead.

Luke’s second best time in qualifying would be good enough to earn pole for race two, with the Hitech racer taking up his place at the head of the pack ready for the start.

Despite the best efforts of Granfors to beat him off the line, Luke held firm at the front on the run to Riches to retain his lead and then fought hard throughout a tense 12 lap encounter to record his third win of the campaign.

“It was a good race, Joel was really quick, as expected coming into the weekend,” he said. “Obviously it’s difficult to overtake around here and I was just keeping my head down and looking forward. It might not have been the cleanest race, but it’s a win.

“He was maybe quicker at the start but we went for longevity and my tyres didn’t clean as quickly as we’d thought. But either way the pace is something we need to look at back in the awning later on to see if we can find a couple of tenths here or there, but I’m sure between my driving and the guys back there we can find it.

With the full grid reversal for race three, the main aim was to stay out of trouble and make up as much ground as possible, with Luke crossing the line in 14th place, meaning he would finish ahead of Granfors for the fifth successive race.

As a result, Luke now holds an eleven point lead in the standings ahead of the next meeting at the famous Spa circuit in Belgium in a month’s time.