Race Report

Formula 1 Rolex Gran Premio dell’ Emilia Romagna 2024
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: Imola (I), Length 4.909, 17^th – 19^th May 2024, Rounds 5 + 6
www.autodromoimola.it

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2024:
Charlie Wurz (A), Max Esterson (USA), Matias Zagazeta (PER)

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Missed chance in Imola

The FIA F3 Championship competed in its third event in the F1 program at the Gran Premio dell’ Emilia Romagna on the demanding race track in Imola (I). After the two overseas racing events in Bahrain and Melbourne, everyone was eagerly waiting to continue the racing season in Europe.

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Race One Qualifying

Friday, 17/05/24, 15.05 – 14.35, Weather: Sunny, 21°C

The weekend program began on Friday morning with free practice. It was important to learn as much as possible before going straight into qualifying after just this one session. Since the session was interrupted twice with the red flag, it wasn't easy to find a good rhythm. In the end, Charlie was 6th, Matias 9th and Max 12th. With these great positions the team as well as our three drivers were looking confidently forward to qualifying.

Just a few hours later, the qualifying began in beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures. With 20 minutes remaining there was a red flag stoppage. At this point, Charlie was 13^th, Max 17^th and Matias 25^th. Equipped with new tires, we entered the last, hard-fought 10 minutes of the session. Our drivers didn't seem to find an optimal lap and were unable to further improve their lap times and thus their positions. Charlie and Max even recorded some off track moments during their fastest laps. In the end, Matias was 17^th, Charlie 19^th and Max 24^th. After the session, several drivers were handed some time penalties, and our drivers moved up in the order as follows: Matias 15, Charlie 18 and Max 21. Unfortunately, they did not repeat the great performance from free practice.

This season, two FIA F3 races will be held per race weekend. The starting grid for race 1 (sprint race, 40 minutes) is based on the reversed 12 first positions of the qualifying session. Race 2 on Sunday (feature race, 45 minutes) takes place according to the exact result in qualifying. These constellations promise exciting races!

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FIA F3 Championship

Race One (Sprint-Race, 40 Minutes)

Saturday, 18/05/24, 10.05, Weather: Cloudy, 18°C

The first race of the weekend started in bright sunshine. The first lap wasn't over yet when the safety car had to move out because a vehicle was stuck in the graveltrap. At the time, Matias was 16^th, Charlie 19^th. Max had fallen back to 27^th place. A next short safety car phase followed directly after the restart. Now it was Matias who lost a few places. Charlie collided with Voisin and Voisin subsequently spun off the track. The safety car had to be deployed until the track was cleared. Charlie was now 16^th, Matias 20^th and Max 23^rd. Everyone tried to gain an advantage and thus gain positions at the restarts, but it wasn't easy. Soon the safety car had to take over the field again for the fourth time. There wasn't much time left until the end of the race and more incidents were happening in the midfield. On the last lap there was a virtual safety car phase and then a sprint to the finish line. Charlie saw the checkered flag in 17^th place, but was immediately given a 10 second time penalty for causing the collision with Voisin. This meant he fell back to 23^rd place.
Other drivers received penalties, and this meant that Matias and Max moved up. In the end result, Matias was placed 17^th, and Max was right behind him in 18^th place.

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FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (Feature Race, 45 Minutes)

Sunday, 19/05/24, 08.30, Weather: Sunny, 18°C

Early on Sunday morning the large field set off for the main race. The start was good, and there were no major events during the entire race this time, and the safety car didn't have to be deployed once. Now it became apparent what had not been visible in the sprint race: the tyres began to wear out at a certain point. Matias held his postition during long laps. He managed to change positions a few times in the second half of the race and reached the finish line in a consistent 17^th place. Charlie moved up quickly at first, then lost a few places again, then moved up from 20^th to 17^th. After that, he experienced significant tyre degradation. Matias and Max both got past him. There was now a lot of movement going on throughout the field. Charlie came across the finish line in 24^th place. Max drove consistently throughout the race, sometimes winning a place, then again having to admit defeat to a competitor. He took the checkered flag in 21^st place.

The next event on the FIA F3 calendar is scheduled to be held in prestigeous Monaco, just one week after the event in Imola, on the weekend of May 26th.

Championship standings after 6 out of 18 races:

1^st Leonardo Fornaroli (I), 52 points; 2^nd Luke Browning (GB), 49 points; 3^rd Dino Beganovic (S), 45 points; 4^th Gabriele Mini (I), 45 points; 5^th Oliver Goethe (D), 41 points; 6^th Sami Meguetounif (F), 38 points; 15^th Charlie Wurz (A), 10 points; 21^st Max Esterson (USA), 5 points

Charlie Wurz (A)

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Max Esteron (USA)

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Matias Zagazeta (PER)

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2024 FIA F3 Meisterschaft

Read more:

• www.fiaformula3.com
• www.italiaracing.net