.png)
Final Practice Puts REMO British GT3 Drivers Through Their Paces Ahead of Brands Hatch
With Round 2 of the REMO British GT3 2026 league just around the corner, drivers took to the virtual Brands Hatch circuit for one final practice session and, rather fittingly, the weather had plenty to throw at them.
Designed to replicate the unpredictability that could await the field when the championship returns to Brands Hatch on September 14th, the session featured a constantly changing mix of sunshine and rain. Rather than simply chasing outright lap time, drivers were given the opportunity to prepare for the full range of conditions they could encounter when the lights go out for the main event.
And as the session progressed, it quickly became clear that adaptability would be just as important as outright pace.
Charlie O'Kane Sets the Early Benchmark
The session began under sunny skies, although a 26 kph crosswind down the main straight immediately provided an additional challenge for the drivers.
With the track at its most favourable early on, Charlie O'Kane was quick to take advantage. Getting out onto the circuit early, O'Kane laid down a 1:22.149, establishing the fastest lap of the session.
On paper, it was the benchmark that everyone else would be chasing. In reality, however, the significance of the time was limited. The dry conditions would not last long, and within 15 minutes the session had already taken a dramatic turn.
Light rain began to fall, forcing the field to put their dry-weather setups and braking references to one side and start learning what would become one of the most valuable parts of the test... how to operate in changing conditions.
The focus quickly shifted away from outright lap time and towards preparation for race day.
Rain Changes the Game
As the first rain arrived, drivers were also able to familiarise themselves with their pit-stop procedures and begin thinking about how they might approach strategy should conditions change during the main event.
O'Kane was among the first to discover just how quickly the circuit could bite once the grip disappeared, with Mark Bowskill also falling victim to the slippery surface.
While some drivers struggled to adapt to the sudden change, Sam Baird was immediately on the pace. Baird found a 1:35.700 in the wet conditions, almost a full second clear of the chasing pack. It was an impressive early indication of how quickly the conditions could separate the field. As the session continued, the gap began to close as more drivers got to grips with the wet circuit.
One of the biggest traps was Turn 3, Graham Hill Bend, where significant surface water began to gather around the apex. The corner quickly became a hotspot for mistakes as drivers searched for grip. With the usual racing line becoming increasingly treacherous, finding the right balance between commitment and caution became essential. It was precisely the kind of situation the session had been designed to create.
Three-Wide Into Paddock Hill
Despite the increasingly difficult conditions, the drivers weren't simply circulating and collecting data. Around the 30-minute mark, the session produced one of its more entertaining moments when Charlie O'Kane, Ethan Turner and Brad Picket found themselves almost three-wide heading into Paddock Hill Bend.
Three cars approaching one of Brands Hatch's most challenging corners is always likely to produce drama, and the moment demonstrated that even a testing session could provide plenty of proper racing.
For the drivers, though, every lap remained valuable. With the weather continuing to change, the test became as much about judgement and confidence as it was about raw speed.
Turner Continues to Build Momentum
One driver who emerged from the session looking particularly strong was Ethan Turner. Turner's form will be of particular interest heading into Round 2. Having taken the championship lead with 40 points following the opening round at Donington Park, he arrives at Brands Hatch with momentum firmly on his side.
The final test did little to suggest that he intends to surrender that advantage easily.
With conditions becoming progressively more difficult, Turner's ability to remain competitive and comfortable as the circuit changed provided another positive sign ahead of the championship's second round.
For the rest of the field, catching the championship leader will require more than simply finding speed in the dry. Brands Hatch could demand the ability to adapt instantly and the weather simulation provided a timely reminder of that.
A Brutal Final 30 Minutes
If the first half of the session had been about learning, the final 30 minutes became a genuine test of nerve. A huge downpour hit the circuit, creating some of the most challenging conditions of the entire session.
With standing water and significantly reduced grip making the circuit increasingly difficult to negotiate, several drivers elected not to tackle the worst of the conditions.
Those who remained on track were given perhaps the most valuable experience of the entire test.
The torrential rain provided an opportunity to understand just how dramatically Brands Hatch can change when the weather turns, while also giving drivers the chance to assess their own limits in conditions that could easily appear during the race itself.
Once again, Charlie O'Kane demonstrated his consistency, maintaining a very strong average lap pace despite the difficult conditions. While his 1:22.149 remained the fastest lap on the timing screens, it was his ability to maintain competitive pace as the circuit deteriorated that arguably told the bigger story.
Ready for Race Day
Ultimately, this was never a session about producing a definitive order.
O'Kanes dry-weather benchmark, Baird's early wet-weather pace and Turner's strong performance all provided talking points, but the most important result was the experience gained across the field.
The drivers have now had a taste of the full spectrum of conditions that could await them at Brands Hatch... sunshine, wind, light rain, standing water and torrential downpours. They've also had the opportunity to work through pit-stop procedures and begin considering how their strategies might change when the weather refuses to cooperate. And with the championship battle already beginning to take shape, there is plenty at stake.
Ethan Turner heads into Round 2 as championship leader following Donington Park, while the likes of Charlie O'Kane and the rest of the field will be looking to close the gap at Brands Hatch.
The final test may have been simulated, but the lessons were very real.
Come September 14th, there will be no more testing, no opportunity to reset the conditions and no second chance to learn the circuit.
The weather will do whatever it wants.
The question is... who will be ready for it?
Championship Standings
Want To Watch The REMO British GT3 2026?
Refined Motorsport will broadcast the main event live on Twitch, YouTube & TikTok, with on-demand replays from all of the sessions being published throughout the week on our REMO British GT3 2026 YouTube playlist.
Support the stream using your prime subscription or become a subscriber to watch the event ad-free!
Comments