PATRICK HEUZENROEDER CROWNED VICE CHAMPION IN THRILLING GB3 CHAMPS

MEDIA RELEASE/Patrick Heuzenroeder – Photos: supplied

Australian racing talent Patrick Heuzenroeder delivered in a dramatic final round of the 2025 GB3 Championship at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza, securing the Vice Champion title after a weekend of intense competition, and high-stakes and high speed racing.

Heading into the season finale at the famous Temple of Speed, Heuzenroeder held a 33 point lead over 3^rd placed competitor meaning it was all to play for on his first visit to the famous circuit at Monza having had his lead dramatically narrowed following two unfortunate DNFs in which he was an innocent victim in the prior two rounds. 

After strong official practice performances on Friday, Heuzenroeder held provisional pole in Qualifying 1 until the final lap, narrowly missing out on pole position by only 0.003 seconds – an incredibly close margin across the 5km plus track. Qualifying 2 saw some traffic but another strong performance with P3, again only 0.002 seconds off P2 – a testament to his technical precision and pace around the high speed Monza track. 

In Race 1, Heuzenroeder started from P2 and immediately began applying pressure on the race leader which he continued to apply throughout the race.  But with passing being so difficult as the cars reached maximum speed on the long Monza straights, despite his fast pace, he could only cross the line in second place, extending his lead in the championship points to 38.

Sunday morning’s Race 2 proved more challenging. Starting from P3, Heuzenroeder’s hopes were yet again to take a hit, dashed on the opening lap after a yet another racing incident forced him into a third DNF in three rounds, intensifying the fight for the runner-up spot in the championship between three drivers heading into the final race, his lead reduced to a 14 point gap between 2nd and 4th in the Championship standings. 

With everything on the line, the reverse-grid Race 3 set the stage for one of the most exciting drives of the season. Lining up P10, and with both championship contenders starting ahead of him, Heuzenroeder needed a P5 to be sure of securing Vice Champion for 2025. A less than ideal get away and some first corner action saw Heuzenroeder pushed wide and dropping briefly to P14 after just two laps, whilst his championship rivals each took their turn leading the race. Undeterred, Patrick launched a stunning comeback, carving his way through the field with impressive overtakes, particularly the high speed passes in the famous and daunting 2nd Lesmo and Ascari curves. Setting multiple fastest laps along the way, he made up an amazing 9 places, ultimately to cross the line in P5. 

With his rivals only able to secure P2 and P3 respectively in the race, Heuzenroeder secured enough points to be officially crowned the 2025 GB3 Vice Champion – a remarkable achievement after a year of impressive consistency and hard work.  The achievement is all the more impressive given his team, Xcel Motorsport, is a brand new team to the Championship, able to take it to Championship rivals who between them have won every GB3 Championship over the past 6 years, and securing a P3 in the Teams’ Championship fight. 

“It was an absolutely rollercoaster weekend,” said Heuzenroeder. “Qualifying was insanely close, and Race 1 felt great to be fighting at the front with real pace and a solid drive for P2. Race 2 was really tough to take, but I knew I had to get back up and give everything in the final race. My drive back up to P5 following the difficult first laps in Race 3 is one of the most rewarding races of my career – I delivered under pressure and am very happy with that performance. Such huge thanks to my team, my mentor David Brabham, my family and everyone who’s supported me this season.”

Heuzenroeder ends the 2025 GB3 season with a win and 4 podiums to his name, demonstrating consistency and impressive race craft, and earning a reputation for being a fierce competitor – he is one to watch.

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