The 2025 Eurocup-3 championship reached a decisive stage as the field travelled to the Netherlands for Round 4 at the TT Circuit Assen. Known globally as “The Cathedral of Speed” for its legendary motorcycle racing heritage, the Dutch venue welcomed Eurocup-3 for the first time, providing a fresh and technical challenge for the grid. Its fast, sweeping corners, narrow racing lines, and punishing final chicane demanded precision from the drivers, while changeable winds and strict track-limit enforcement added further complexity.
The event came just one week after a dramatic weekend at Monza, where the slipstream battles and high attrition reshaped the standings. Ernesto Rivera had arrived in Italy as the championship leader but left only four points clear of Mattia Colnaghi, who secured his third victory of the season in Race 2. Valerio Rinicella also underlined his growing form by scoring back-to-back podiums, pushing himself into contention. Meanwhile, Kacper Sztuka endured a mixed weekend, slipping from first to fourth in the points.
Assen represented not only a new circuit for the drivers but also an opportunity for momentum shifts in both the drivers’ and teams’ battles. MP Motorsport entered their home round with a commanding lead in the team standings, while Campos Racing and Griffin Core by Campos trailed but remained within striking distance. With fans filling the grandstands and free global coverage available via the official Eurocup-3 YouTube channel, the stage was set for a pivotal weekend.
By Sunday afternoon, it became clear that Assen would be remembered for MP Motorsport’s dominance, Colnaghi’s redemption, and Rinicella’s long-awaited maiden victory.
Qualifying 1: Colnaghi claims pole in MP Motorsport lockout
Saturday morning opened with the first qualifying session of the weekend, and it was immediately clear that MP Motorsport intended to make its home advantage count. Mattia Colnaghi delivered a near-perfect lap to secure pole position with a time of 1:30.576, demonstrating his precision through the fast, flowing corners that characterise Assen. His teammate, Valerio Rinicella, was just 0.188 seconds behind, ensuring an all-MP Motorsport front row.
The surprise of the session came from Allay Racing’s Michael Belov. Making his first Eurocup-3 appearance, the experienced Formula Regional competitor adapted quickly to the car and the circuit. He qualified third, just 0.245 seconds off Colnaghi’s benchmark, instantly putting pressure on the MP duo. This performance represented a breakthrough for his team, who had yet to score points in the series.
Behind the leading trio, Alexander Abkhazava placed fourth, once again showing consistency after his podium earlier in the year at Portimão. Ernesto Rivera, the championship leader heading into Assen, could only manage twelfth on the grid. His struggles in finding balance and rhythm at the narrow Dutch circuit raised concerns about whether he could protect his advantage in the standings.
The tightly packed grid promised a fiercely competitive Race 1. MP Motorsport had locked out the front row, but with Belov and Abkhazava close behind, and a highly motivated Rivera fighting from the midfield, the stage was set for drama. The cathedral-like TT Circuit, with its sweeping corners and last-chicane drama, looked certain to play its part in shaping the outcome of the opening contest.
Race 1: Rinicella inherits first victory after Colnaghi penalty
The first race of the weekend began with all eyes on the front row. Colnaghi launched cleanly from pole and quickly established a rhythm, appearing set to dominate the 21-lap contest. Rinicella slotted in behind, while Belov pressured both MP drivers in the opening laps. For much of the race, the order at the front seemed fixed, with Colnaghi pulling a comfortable margin. However, a post-race steward investigation completely altered the result.
Officials determined that Colnaghi had been incorrectly positioned in his grid box at the start. The penalty, a 10-second time addition, relegated him from first to third at the chequered flag. This promoted Rinicella to victory, handing the Roman his first win in Eurocup-3 after five prior podiums. The result rewarded his consistency throughout the season and injected fresh momentum into his title challenge.
Belov inherited second, delivering Allay Racing their maiden podium and first-ever points in the series. It was a historic achievement for the Swedish outfit and confirmed the pace Belov had shown in qualifying. Colnaghi, despite the penalty, salvaged third place, a result that kept him in the championship fight.
Further down the order, Cárdenas finished fourth with a composed drive, while Sztuka recovered from a poor start to claim a valuable fifth place. Rivera endured a disastrous outing; a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits dropped him out of the points entirely, a major blow for his championship defence.
The final order read: Rinicella first, Belov second, Colnaghi third. It was a race that underlined MP Motorsport’s strength, yet also highlighted how a single mistake can completely reshape the championship narrative.
Eurocup-3 Assen Race 1 Results
- Valerio Rinicella (Fastest Lap)
- Michael Belov (Pole)
- Mattia Colnaghi
- Andrés Cárdenas
- Kacper Sztuka
- Jesse Carrasquedo Jr
- James Egozi
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr.
- Maciej Gładysz
- Enzo Tarnvanichkul
Qualifying 2: Colnaghi responds with blistering pole lap as Belov stuns again
On Sunday morning, the drivers returned to the track for the second qualifying session, with cooler conditions promising faster lap times. Once again, it was Colnaghi who emerged on top. Determined to atone for the penalty that had cost him victory the previous day, the Italian-Argentine driver produced a sensational lap of 1:30.256, securing his second pole position of the weekend.
Belov continued his remarkable debut form, qualifying just 0.014 seconds slower than Colnaghi. His pace demonstrated both his ability and the potential of Allay Racing, who had previously struggled to make an impression in the championship. By securing another front-row start, Belov ensured that MP Motorsport would not have an easy run in Race 2. Rinicella confirmed the team’s strength by qualifying third, only 0.142 seconds behind pole.
The margins at the top were exceptionally fine, with less than two-tenths of a second separating the top three. Abkhazava qualified in fifth, again placing himself in a position to challenge for a podium, while Rivera’s difficulties continued. The Mexican driver failed to find a clean lap and lined up well outside the top ten, leaving him with another uphill battle.
The results of the session set up a tantalising grid for Race 2. Colnaghi had proved his outright pace, Belov was poised to disrupt the MP stranglehold, and Rinicella looked determined to consolidate his championship challenge after his maiden victory. With several rookies also showing improved form, Sunday’s race promised to be a pivotal showdown in the fight for the title.
Race 2: Colnaghi redeems himself with commanding win
Race 2 delivered a commanding display from Colnaghi, who made no mistakes this time. Starting from pole, he launched cleanly and immediately began to control the race. Across 19 laps, he demonstrated both pace and composure, maintaining a gap at the front and setting the fastest lap to secure maximum points. The result marked his fourth victory of the season and a decisive response to the setbacks of the previous day.
Behind him, Abkhazava surged forward from fifth on the grid, overtaking Rinicella into Turn 1 with a bold move around the outside. The Georgian maintained his composure throughout the race, resisting pressure from his rivals to secure second place and his second podium of the year. Rinicella followed closely in third, ensuring another all-MP Motorsport podium and strengthening his title credentials with more consistent points.
Belov’s strong start to the weekend unravelled when he suffered issues at the getaway, forcing him into retirement after just one lap. Sztuka capitalised, finishing fourth and adding to his tally, while Rivera’s struggles continued. Starting deep in the midfield, he was unable to make progress and left Assen without scoring across both races, a disastrous blow to his championship campaign.
The final podium order—Colnaghi, Abkhazava, Rinicella—capped a perfect home weekend for MP Motorsport. With a clean sweep of wins and a rare 1-2-3 finish, the team tightened its grip on both the drivers’ and teams’ standings. Colnaghi now leads the championship on 177 points, twelve clear of Rinicella, while Rivera has slipped to third, 41 points behind.
Eurocup-3 Assen Race 2 Results
- Mattia Colnaghi (Pole, Fastest Lap)
- AlexanderAbkhazava
- Valerio Rinicella
- Kacper Sztuka
- Maciej Gładysz
- Jesse Carrasquedo Jr
- James Egozi
- Jules Caranta
- Francisco Macedo
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr.
Title momentum shifts with Colnaghi on top
The Eurocup-3 drivers’ standings experienced a significant shake-up following the first-ever visit to Assen. Mattia Colnaghi now leads the way with 177 points, the reward for a near-perfect weekend that included pole positions in both qualifying sessions, a race win, and the fastest lap in Race 2. The Italian-Argentine driver has also strengthened his claim to be the season’s leading rookie, underlining his growing dominance at the championship’s halfway mark.
Close behind, Valerio Rinicella has climbed to second place on 165 points. The Roman finally claimed his long-awaited maiden Eurocup-3 victory in Race 1 after inheriting the win from Colnaghi’s penalty. His consistent podium record has kept him firmly in title contention, with just 12 points separating him from the lead.
By contrast, Ernesto Rivera endured a disastrous weekend, scoring no points across both races. Having led the championship after Monza on 136 points, the Mexican has now dropped to third, 41 points adrift of Colnaghi. His struggles highlight how quickly fortunes can change in such a competitive field.
Kacper Sztuka lies fourth on 128 points after salvaging solid results despite setbacks at the start of both races. Behind him, Jesse Carrasquedo Jr rounds out the top five with 86 points, continuing to collect valuable finishes even if podium results have proved elusive.
Further down the order, rookies Maciej Gładysz and James Egozi remain closely matched, while Michael Belov’s debut weekend for Allay Racing delivered an immediate impact, giving him 18 points and fifteenth in the standings.
MP Motorsport in control as Griffin Core and Campos battle for second
In the teams’ standings, MP Motorsport has extended its authority with a commanding total of 368 points. The Dutch squad achieved its most dominant performance of the season on home soil, taking both victories and securing a rare 1-2-3 finish in Race 2. With Colnaghi, Rinicella, and Abkhazava all scoring heavily, MP Motorsport’s advantage over the chasing pack now appears formidable.
The fight for second remains finely balanced. Griffin Core by Campos has moved ahead of Campos Racing with 225 points compared to 224, thanks largely to Rinicella’s victory and consistent scoring. Just a single point separates the two squads, ensuring that the battle for runner-up honours is set to intensify as the championship progresses.
Palou Motorsport holds fourth on 76 points, comfortably clear of the midfield contest. Behind them, the order remains tight, with KCL by MP Motorsport on 34 and Saintéloc Racing just one point further back on 33. Both teams continue to gather occasional points finishes but lack the firepower to challenge the front-runners.
Allay Racing’s breakthrough weekend deserves special mention. Michael Belov’s podium in Race 1 delivered the team its first-ever Eurocup-3 points, elevating them to seventh in the championship on 18 points. GRS Team and Drivex remain further down the order with 10 and 2 points respectively.
MP Motorsport’s dominance in Assen has widened the gulf at the top of the standings. While the fight for second and third remains open, the Dutch team now appears in complete control of the championship picture.
Drivers’ Championship Standings after Eurocup-3 Round 5 at Assen
- Mattia Colnaghi – 177 points
- Valerio Rinicella – 165 points
- Ernesto Rivera – 136 points
- Kacper Sztuka – 128 points
- Jesse Carrasquedo Jr – 86 points
- Maciej Gładysz – 77 points
- James Egozi – 75 points
- Jules Caranta – 65 points
- Andrés Cárdenas – 51 points
- Enzo Tarnvanichkul – 45 points
- Garrett Berry – 33 points
- Alexander Abkhazava – 29 points
- Emerson Fittipaldi Jr – 26 points
- Francisco Macedo – 23 points
- Michael Belov – 18 points
- Yani Stevenheydens – 10 points
- Kai Daryanani – 3 points
- Juan Cota – 2 points
- Oscar Wurz – 2 points
- Isaac Barashi – 1 point
Teams’ Championship Standings after Eurocup-3 Round 5 at Assen
- MP Motorsport – 368 points
- Griffin Core by Campos – 225 points
- Campos Racing – 224 points
- Palou Motorsport – 76 points
- KCL by MP Motorsport – 34 points
- Saintéloc Racing – 33 points
- Allay Racing – 18 points
- GRS Team – 10 points
- Drivex – 2 points
