Official F1 Journal Formula 3 Sprint Race Round Up- Australia

Sprint Race 

Stenshorne had a god look at Van Hoepen at the first corner but didn't get a move into turn 1, Mansell locked up into the 1st turn as all 30 cars made their way through the 1st chicane safely. Browning got past Boya to gain a position, Fornarolli made a mega move around the outside of turn 9 to go past Tsolov and the battle between Browning and Boya continued with Boya reclaiming 6th.     .
Esterson was in trouble as Megatounif came past him and left him a sitting duck to the 2 Redbull liveried cars running behind him and as the DRS was activated on lap 2 Beganovic was straight on to the back of Tsolov and past as he started his push forward. 
Van Hoepen was trying to pull out a gap at the front but Stenshorne was closing on him rapidly and on lap 3 he almost passed the ART round the outside of turn 4  but he just couldn't get it done till again he tried around the outside of turn 9 and got the job done and was into the lead. Mansell in 3rd was also under pressure from Goethe who was attempting the same move on Mansell as Stenshorne was trying on Van Hoepen ahead but unfortunately he stayed in 4th. 

The battle for the front was not over as into turn 12 Van Hoepen was attacking and defending at the same time, bringing Mansell into the battle and as Van Hoepen over cooked the brakes into turn 12 he got back ahead of Stenshorne while Mansell could not stop the car and hit Stenshorne nose to rear almost taking them both out of the race. Lindblad, Geothe and Boya all now right on the back the 3 car battle for the lead. 
As lap 4 started Stenshorne again made a move into turn 1 taking the lead and this time keeping it for just half a lap before Van Hoepen again came back at the HiTech driver and was back up to 1st.
Fornarolli had made it up to 9th after a tough start from 12th, Montoya was on the move climbing to 11th from 15th. 

Lap 5 Stenshorne makes the move on Van Hoepen for the lead as Browning was in the pits with an issue. Geothe had a go on Lindblad but couldn't get it done and pushed himself back into the battle between Boya, Bedrin and Mini. 
Lindblad passed Mansell after he locked up into turn 13 and lost momentum down the start finish straight and the move was done by the 1st turn. Goethe, Boya and Bedrin were still in a dog fight with Bedrin finding the edge of the gravel trap as the 3 tried to pass each other. 
The cars from 2nd-9th were all within half a second of the car in front allowing the front 2 cars to put a gap between themselves and the following pack. 
Fornroli ran wide and found the gravel trap which dropped him from 8th to 15th as Boya and Goethe passed Mansell who had now dropped from 3rd to 6th. Beganovic tried to take advantage of Bedrin struggles but thought better of the move. ​

Lap 14 a Safety car was needed after Inthraphuvasak and local boy Tommy Smith came together when the Thai driver pulled in front of Smith in the corner, cancelling out his aerodynamic grip and causing him to hit the PHM car of Inthraphuvasak leaving him stuck in the gravel trap, out of the race and in need of recovery.   

Lap 17 the track went green Stenshourne went early managing to pull out a gap to Lindblad before they crossed the line to start racing again, Goethe and Mini battling round the lap, Beganovic put a great move on Wurz putting him off line and dropping him into the path of Bedrin, Dunne, Fornaroli and Mansell who all got past him dropping him back from 8th to 13th(a shame after he did such a good job before the restart). 
Lindblad was within a second of Stenshourne in front but just couldn't find a way to pass as Mini was right on the back of Goethe frustrated he couldn't pass. 
Lap 19 Boya tried around the outside of turn 10 but couldn't make the move almost dropping him back but he managed to stay ahead of Goethe and Mini behind. Beganovic had caught Montoya and tried round the outside of turn 4, taking 7th from the young Columbian. 
The last lap was a battle from front to back Lindblad was still desperately trying to pass Stenshourne for the lead, Boya was having a look at Van Hoepen, Mini and Goethe were still going tyre to tyre every corner and Bedrin was looking at Montoya for 8th. Montoya went wide and let Bedrin and Dunne through dropping to 10th as they all crossed the line for the final time. 

What a race, action from front to back, overtakes round the inside out outside of every corner and a grid of pure talent showing close racing does not mean big crashes!!!
Stenshourne did a mega job to get to and keep the lead from and advancing Lindblad who fought his way forward to finish on the podium. Despite his last lap drama Montoya had a brilliant race and deserved Driver of the Day if there was one in Formula 3. 
​

Sprint race Result

1 STE                   2 LIN +1.673
3 VAN + 1.958      4 BOY +3.165
5 GOE +4.152      6 BEG +4.735
7 MIN +5.158       8 BED +5.474
9 DUN +6.485     10 MON +7.122
11 FOR +7.311    12 MAN +7.747
13 WUR +8.234   14 TRA +8.628
15 LOA +10.834   16 ZAG +11.288
17 MEG +13.233  18 VOI +13.744
19 EST +14.095    20 FLO + 14.623
21 TSO +15.214    22 DUF +15.640
23 WIS +16.893    24 SZT +16.967
25 SMI +17.347    26 RAM +17.443
27 SHI +18.250    28 BRO +1Lap
29 INT DNF         30 LEO DN

Joanna Blackmore 
Writer @f1journal.co.uk