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Formula 3 returns for the fifth round of the 2024 season, taking to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya track in Spain.
The 30 drivers head to Spain. Photo credits: Formula 3 via XGabriel Mini leads the standings with 72 points, a heartbreaking end to his Sprint race saw the young Italian retire in the final stint of the race. A tight battle behind sees Leonardo Fornaroli bring the gap down to three points, Browning lurks behind by just four points could a new championship leader emerge?
The weekend so far has seen an eighth winner crowed with hometown hero, Mari Boya securing his maiden F3 win. Friday’s qualifying saw Christian Mansell clocking in a 1:28.463, securing pole position for Sunday’s Feature race. Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov rounded out the top three for the race.
How we line up for race 100! ?
Who are you cheering for? ?#F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/StyZugZ3ua
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 23, 2024
Could a ninth winner be crowned in Barcelona? Let’s see how the race unfolded.
Lights out
LIGHTS OUT! ?
The top four get away well and hold position going into the first turn #F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/CqRqP6NHzT
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 23, 2024
25 thrilling laps await and as the final driver lined up to the grid, the five lights went out. Mansell had an excellent start off the line, shooting ahead and leading the pack into Turn 1. As he approached the line to begin lap two he was already out of DRS range from Lindblad, an incredible start for
The dark clouds started looming above with drivers beginning to report drops of rain, could this shake things up?
Lindblad makes a move on Mansell, taking the lead of the race. Unable to fight back, Mansell drops down to seventh tenths behind the Briton, now under pressure from Luke Browning in third, who just clocked in the fastest lap of the race.
On Lap 12, Lindblad pulled away and built a steady gap of 1.685s to Mansell. Down the pack, Laurens Van Hoepen was fighting to keep his position in sixth with a looming Oliver Goethe running alongside him. Goethe was able to complete the move and move up the ranks.
Championship leader, Mini was struggling around the circuit, running in 16th unable to make any moves, a disappointing weekend for the Italian.
With five laps remaining, Lindblad was leading the race, with over a four seconds gap splitting him and Mansell apart. This was a stark contrast to his teammate, Mini who dropped down to 21st, a weekend to forget for one driver is a celebration for another.
Bedrin was hit and ran onto the gravel after a collision with Kacper Sztuka, despite being hit, the incident wasn’t race ending. Browning was under pressure from a hungry Fornaroli, with two laps remaining, the Briton was holding onto the last podium position.
Van Hoepen suffered from a puncture on the penultimate lap, after colliding with Stenshorne. However, a lap later, Stenshorne was limping around the circuit after also having a puncture.
Fornaroli makes the move against Browning, snatching the last podium position and securing crucial points in the championship, taking the lead. The rain pours down as Lindblad crosses the line over five seconds ahead of Mansell, securing his second victory of the season, an incredible performance from the Briton who remained calm under the pressure.
The top 10
1 – Lindblad
2 – Mansell
3 – Fornaroli
4 – Goethe
5 – Browning
6 – Tsolov
7 – Dunne
8 – Boya
9 – Beganovic
10 – Leon
Featured image credits: Formula 3 via X