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As the 2024 F3 season enters its fifth weekend, eight different drivers have claimed victories so far, reflecting the closely matched field. Who took pole for the Spanish Grand Prix weekend?
The car of Matias Zagazeta of Peru and Jenzer Motorsport (19) is pictured in the Paddock prior to qualifying ahead of Round 5 Barcelona of the Formula 3 Championship at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on June 21, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Image Credit: James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images)Gabriele Minì leads the standings, with Luke Browning, Dino Beganovic, Arvid Lindblad, Oliver Goethe, Sami Meguetounif, Nikola Tsolov, and Martinius Stenshorne all taking wins.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya often sees new winners, including David Vidales in 2022. This weekend, Leonardo Fornaroli, currently third in the standings, seeks his first win after a near-miss at Imola. Tim Tramnitz of MP Motorsport, a standout rookie with three podiums, and ART Grand Prix’s Christian Mansell, twice a runner-up, are also strong contenders for their maiden victories. The upcoming qualifying session promises fierce competition for pole position.
What happened in Practice at the Spanish circuit?
Martinius Stenshorne led the way in the Barcelona Free Practice session, setting the fastest lap time of 1:28.774 for Hitech Pulse-Eight. He topped the timesheets ahead of Campos Racing’s Oliver Goethe and PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì.
The session started quietly, with Minì initially setting the pace with a 1:28.847 lap. Goethe then briefly led with a 1:28.810 before Stenshorne secured the top spot.
A late-session incident involving Campos’ Mari Boya brought out the red flags, halting the session and solidifying the final standings with Stenshorne first, followed by Goethe and Minì.
Green light at the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya
GREEN LIGHT! ?#F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/yA6tc207E6
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 21, 2024
Drivers had been out on their tyre preparation laps, vying for ideal track positions ahead of the first proper fast laps.
Laurens van Hoepen then went to the top, setting a 1:29.187 for ART Grand Prix.
Meanwhile, Dino Beganovic encountered some traffic at the end of his first lap, and his time was soon beaten by teammates Gabriele Minì and Arvid Lindblad.
The drivers returned to the pitlane after the first run, characterised by some impeding incidents among the thirty racers.
With 18 minutes left on the clock, the drivers returned to the track – were the teams planning a third run in this qualifying session?
The second run
The drivers put on new tyres, and Luke Browning used them immediately.
After two warm-up laps, he moved up to first position with a 1:28.888, but home hero Mari Boya was right behind Browning with a lap time of +0.006 seconds.
Luke Browning sends his @HitechGP to the top of the times with a 1:28.888 ?#F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/pb9jqdzurD
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 21, 2024
Mansell also finished his fast lap but ended up in third place, +0.015 seconds behind Browning.
The entire field was covered by one second with Tommy Smith sitting in P30 and a time of 1:29.975.
The last run
With 8 minutes left on the clock, the young drivers actually went out again, but most of them used worn tyres on the Spanish track.
Luke Browning improved his time to 1:28.519, but Arvid Lindblad went quickest and put in a 1:28.499.
Nikola Tsolov improved as well and shot up the order to P2, just +0.003 seconds behind Lindblad.
But then Christian Mansell finished his flying lap and clocked in at 1:28.463, getting the pole position for Sunday’s race.
Final results
- Mansell
- Lindblad
- Tsolov
- Browning
- Goethe
- Fornaroli
- Stenshore
- Van Hoepen
- Dunne
- Montoya
- Boya
- Meguetounif
- Ramos
- Leon
- Beganovic
- Mini
- Tramnitz
- Voisin
- Loake
- Shields
- Bedrin
- Zagazeta
- Wurz
- Inthraphuvasak
- Floersch
- Esterson
- Sztuka
- Dufek
- Smith
- Wisnicki
Feature Image Credit: James Sutton – Formula 1/Formula Motorsport Limited via Getty Images