F1 Journal FIA Formula 3 Saturday Sprint Round Up

Friday Qualifying- 

Friday Qualifying was wet for the FIA Formula 3 boys. Lots of drivers exploring the none conventional lines round the circuit but as the track started to dry as the clock was running down the laps came thick and definitely FAST. Marti took a magnificant pole in changeable conditions and will start 1st for Sundays Feature Race.
Championship leader Bortoleto only managed to qualify 15th and with his 2 championship rival is 1st & 6th on Sunday and start the Reverse top 12 Saturday Sprint 12th & 7th he had a lot of work to do in both Races to win the Championship here at Spa.

Sunday Feature Race Grid-
1- MAR          2- FOR
3- MIN            4- COL
5-TSO            6-OSU
7-BEG            8- EDG
9- COL           10-BAR
11- ARO         12- HBA
13- BRO         14- BOY
15-BOR(CL)   16-SAU
17- FRE          18- BED
19- FRE          20-SMI
21- MON         22-GAR
23- MAN         24- FLO
25- GRA          26- COH
27- GOE          28- SHI
​29-SIM            30-FAR

Championship standing prior to Saturday Reverse top 12 Sprint Race 
​© FIA Formula 3 

Sprint Race- 

WHAT A SPRINT RACE!!!
The race started on a dry track but with rain falling on the formation lap. Off the start Barnard, Barter and Collet fought hard the first half of the lap going 3 wide down the Kemmel Straight, behind them both ART's of Fredrik & Saucy went off at the first corner together being joined by one of the MP cars and an incident where Villagomez caused a collision with Sebastian Montoya brought out the safety car when Montoya could not continue, but luckily for Caio Collet he got the move done on Barnard before the Safety car was called and had the lead. 
By this time the 3 championship contenders had, had mixed fortunes, Bortoleto was up 3 to 12th, O'Sullivan was down 1 to 7th and Marti had gained a few places off the start. The safety car ended and Collet lead the drivers around to start lap 4, O'sullivan made up places off the restart moving up to 5th before an incident between Mini & Marti brought out double waves yellows.

Reverse Top 12 Sprint Grid 
1-HBA             2- ARO
3-BAR             4-COL
5-EDG             6- BEG
7-OSU             8-TSO
9-COL             10-MIN
11-FOR           12- MAR 
13th - 30th as Qualified for Feature.

Marti went to go around the outside of Mini when Mini out brakes himself and sent both drivers into a spin, this ended Mini's race but Marti managed to keep the car going, but when he tried to rejoin the track he did so into the path of a totally unsuspecting Cohen and the 2 collided HARD bringing out safety car number 2 and ending his championship chances. Thankfully both drivers where unhurt and Marti was very apologetic to the innocent Cohen . At the same time Goethe was hit from behind and suffered rear suspension damage and also retired. During the safety car period Villagomez was given a 10 second penalty for the incident with Montoya, championship contender O'Sullivan was under investigation for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and  Female driver Sophie Floersh was up to 14th from 24th. 
The safety car ended for the cars to start lap 8 and Collet went early and held his lead, Edgar in 4th out braked himself into turn 1 and handed the place to O'Sullivan and news came that Mansell was under investigation for a safety car infringement. Just 1 lap later Safety car  number 3 was brought out for championship leader Bortoleto's ailing car pulling over on the side of the start of the Kemmel Straight after being hit from behind by Beganovic going into turn 1 causing suspension damage that meant he could not continue and would score no points in his effort to win the F3 title this weekend at Spa. At the same time driver Shin in his MP motorsport car also spun at le Combes confirming the call for the 3rd safety car . 
The race ended under safety car conditions and Collet lead the grid home to win the Sprint Race at Spa, with Zak O'Sullivan the only title contender to score points  today  taking him closer to Bortoleto in the championship by 7 much needed points to keep the championship fight alive to Monza.  
UPDATE-
After the race several drivers were handed penalties 
O'Sullivan 5 second penalty meaning he drops from 4th -15th and no points 
Beganovic was handed a 10 second penalty moving him from 9th- 22nd
Mini took a 10 second penalty for the contact with Marti that was converted to a grid penalty for Sundays feature race.
Smith took a 10 second penalty dropping him from 20th to 24th 

Final Sprint Result 

1-COL        2- BAR
3-ARO       4-EDG
5-FCO       6-BAR
7-TSO        8-BRO
9-FOR       10-SAU
11-BED      12-FLO
13-FRE      14-SIM
15-OSU      16-BOY
17-FAR       18-GAR
19-MAN       20-GRA
21-SHI         22-BEG
23-VIL(+10 sec penalty)
​24-SMI 
DNF'S
BOT
MIN
MAR
GOE
COH
MON

​After such an exciting race we cant wait to watch the Feature race tomorrow morning.

Joanna Blackmore
​Writer @ F1 Journal