Starting the first GB3 encounter from 17th on the grid, Gilkes ended lap one in 18th before moving up into 16th on the second tour when Mikkel Grundtvig and Javier Sagrera dropped back – the latter retiring. Grundtvig hit back on lap three but Gilkes stayed in touch, queued up behind Bryce Aron.
With Aron defending heavily, ultimately being penalised for track limits infringements, it meant Gilkes fell into the clutches of Cian Shields and he slipped to 18th place on lap seven. David Morales then moved ahead on the 10th and final lap, but Gilkes retook the position with a terrific pass into Brooklands and crossed the line in 18th spot. Due to Aron’s penalty, Gilkes finished in 17th place.
Lining-up 18th on the grid for round five on Sunday morning, Gilkes gained a place initially but at Luffield he was edged to 18th and slipped to 19th at Copse behind Shields. Sticking with him, Gilkes moved back into 18th on lap five when a rival pitted with damage and his pressure on Shields finally told on lap seven when he moved through to take 17th where he stayed to the flag on lap 10.
Round six was the absolute highlight, not just of the weekend but his season so far. Starting the ‘reverse grid’ encounter fourth on the grid, Gilkes made an outstanding getaway and rocketed into second before reaching the first corner, Copse. Only 0.4 seconds behind race leader Shields as they headed into lap two, Gilkes circulated closely in his rival’s wheeltracks and gapped the rest.
Setting the fastest lap halfway through the 10-lap race, Gilkes was just 0.3 seconds adrift at that point and into lap seven he’d closed further to be within a mere 0.188 seconds. In contention for his first victory, Gilkes ultimately had to settle for a nonetheless superb second place and his maiden GB3 podium 0.4 seconds shy. Gilkes’ best lap of 1m54.540s was only 0.2 seconds shy of the fastest.