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Formula 3 heads to Barcelona to resume its 2024 season, who prevailed around the circuit?
F3 returns for its fifth round of the season, this time taking to the historic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Heading into the weekend, Gabriel Miní leads the standings with 72 points after becoming victorious around the streets of Monaco, Luke Browning lurks behind the young Italian with a four point difference.
The beginning of the weekend saw a new face claim pole around the 2.894-mile-long track. Christian Mansell clocked in a 1:28.463, snatching pole from Lindblad, Nikola Tsolov improved his time and slotted into third.
How we start the Sprint ?
Who are you backing? ?#F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/5qMO2QwJi1
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 22, 2024
For the Sprint race, the top 12 are reversed meaning Sergio Ramos would be starting on reverse pole position with Sami Meguetounif and Mari Boya rounding out the top three. The feeder series has seen a different winner is every one of its race’s this season, could a ninth be added to the tally today? Let’s see how the Formula 3 race unfolded.
As it happened
The 30 drivers lined up and as the five lights went out, Ramos had an excellent launch off the line. However, Meguetounif just behind wasn’t letting the Mexican get away, running alongside the Trident. Despite the pressure from his teammate, Ramos stayed ahead.
The rest of the grid got away cleanly, as the cars approached the line to begin the second lap, Browning, Miní, Voision and Mansell were running four wide heading into Turn 1 with the latter being the victor in that battle and moving up into 13th, an incredible overtake from the Australian.
LAP 3 / 21
THE TRIDENT'S COLLIDE! ?
Sami Meguetounif tries to go up the inside of Santiago Ramos into T1 but the pair make contact.
Sami is out and Ramos pits with a puncture, rejoining in 27th #F3 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/2XwfLJEzol
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 22, 2024
Up at the front, Meguetounif was gaining on his teammate, as he got close to Ramos, he ran onto the grass and collided into the other Trident causing a puncture, meaning the pair to dropped down the standings and had to retreat to the pits.
Sebastian Montoya was having a brilliant race, after having his time deleted and dropped to 27th, the Spaniard had made up 12 positions in the first six laps of the race.
A close fight for victory
Hometown hero, Mari Boya was leading the race at the end of the safety car, the Spaniard shot off on Lap 8 with Alex Dunne running in second.
When the safety car ended, battles were happening up and down the track, Van Hoepen and Stenshorne were closely scraping around the track on Lap 10 in the fight for fourth with Stenshorne being victorious in the battle.
The fight for the trophy at the top of the field was heating up with Boya running under pressure from Dunne who was sticking closely and running within DRS range. With four laps remaining, Oliver Goethe running in third was slowly dropping out of the DRS range between himself and Dunne, whilst the Irishman wasn’t letting the Campos Racing driver out of his sight.
After an incredible race from Montoya, claiming over 14 positions, however, he had contact with Miní causing the pair to retire on Lap 18th. A heartbreaking end to the race from Montoya.
The safety car was brought out with three laps remaining, however, it was brought in with only two corners to go, working in Boya’s favour to cross the line and secure his first victory of the season in his home race. Dunne crosses the line in second, claiming his first podium of the season with Goethe rounding out the top three.
The top 12
1 – Mari Boya
2 – Alex Dunne
3 – Oliver Goethe
4 – Martinus Stenshorne
5 – Laurens Van Hoepen
6 – Noel Leon
7 – Leonardo Fornaroli
8 – Dino Beganovic
9 – Arvid Lindblad
10 – Tim Tramnitz
11 – Christian Mansell
12 – Luke Browning
Featured image credits: Formula 3 on X