Arden VRD’s James Hedley claimed his second GB3 Championship win of the year in the first race of the weekend at Snetterton.
The British driver started fourth on the grid, but blasted past his rivals at the start, taking the lead from Matthew Rees around the outside of Riches on the first lap.
He then rebuffed several challenges from Rees to take the flag just 0.3 seconds clear of the Welshman, who took his third podium of the season, while Callum Voisin in third reclaimed the championship lead.
Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Alex Dunne challenged Voisin for the final podium step early on but settled for fourth ahead of Douglas Motorsport’s Tymek Kucharczyk, who passed JHR’s Joseph Loake on lap seven, with Loake relinquishing the championship lead.
Noah Ping completed a strong race for Arden VRD with seventh place, while Hitech Pulse Eight's Souta Arao claimed his second top-10 result of the season with eighth.
McKenzy Cresswell went from 11th on the grid to ninth, finishing a second clear of Rodin Carlin's John Bennett who gained four places on his way to completing the top-10.
Rees got a good start from pole position, but Hedley enjoyed an even stronger one as he blasted past Dunne and Voisin ahead of him, before launching his move around the outside of Rees at Riches.
But Rees kept him honest throughout the contest, with the duo never separated by more than half a second except for the end of the first tour. Rees' one big chance to claim the lead came on lap three, as Rees attempted to mirror Hedley's move at Riches, while behind, Dunne tried to slip past Voisin a corner later at Wilson.
Hedley kept his head though, and despite having Rees hovering in his mirrors throughout, held on to claim his second race win of the season, and his Arden VRD's team's third triumph in 2023.
The second GB3 race of the weekend at Snetterton is due to commence at 10.05 on Sunday morning.
GB3 Championship, partnered by the BRDC, Snetterton provisional race one result:
1. James Hedley, Arden VRD, 12 laps
2. Matthew Rees, JHR Developments, +0.353
3. Callum Voisin, Rodin Carlin, +2.292
4. Alex Dunne, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +2.864
5. Tymek Kucharczyk, Douglas Motorsport, +3.885
6. Joseph Loake, JHR Developments, +4.228
7. Noah Ping, Arden VRD, +6.011
8. Souta Arao, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +9.522
9. McKenzy Cresswell, Elite Motorsport, +10.407
10. John Bennett, Rodin Carlin, +11.763
11. Zak Taylor, Chris Dittmann Racing, +12.067
12. Michael Shin, Hitech Pulse-Eight, +17.827
13. Oliver Stewart, Elite Motorsport, +19.918
14. David Morales, JHR Developments, +22.717
15. Jarrod Waberski, Fortec Motorsport, +23.382
16. Arthur Rogeon, Chris Dittmann Racing, +24.211
17. Gerrard Xie, Hillspeed, +24.625
18. Edward Pearson, Fortec Motorsport, +25.369
19. Ayato Iwasaki, Elite Motorsport, +26.162
20. Max Esterson, Fortec Motorsport, +26.320
21. Costa Toparis, Rodin Carlin, +26.878
22. Lucas Staico, Douglas Motorsport, +28.121
23. Shawn Rashid, Douglas Motorsport, +31.168
24. Daniel Mavlyutov, Hillspeed, +31.324
DNF. Nico Christodoulou, Arden VRD