Xcel Motorsport’s Patrick Heuzenroeder continued his excellent GB3 form at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, claiming second and third across the two Qualifying sessions. The Australian came agonisingly close to pole position in the first session, missing out by just 0.004 seconds to champion Alex Ninovic. Despite the narrow margin, his performance reinforced his front-running pace and his strong position in the battle for second in the championship standings.
Heuzenroeder shared his immediate reaction after the session, expressing a mix of satisfaction and slight frustration at how close he had come to topping the timesheets.
“Definitely a result I’m happy with, a real shame not to get pole, four thousandths around five and a half kilometres is not much is it?”
The Xcel driver reflected on the decisive moment that cost him those vital thousandths of a second, explaining that traffic played a role in the outcome.
“So I just couldn’t get it quite hooked up on that last push lap because I was a bit close to the car in front. But obviously it’s Monza and we can race from there, so it’s very positive.”
Confidence in race craft
Heading into the final weekend of the season, Heuzenroeder knows that strong race results will be key in maintaining his second place in the standings. His approach remains aggressive yet calculated, aware that Monza’s unique slipstreaming effect will produce tightly contested racing.
“Hopefully I can pip him off the line, and it’s going to be a whole train the whole race, so eyes forward and I’ll always be trying to overtake or look at opportunities, and maximise the slipstream.”
At Monza, staying close and timing overtakes is crucial, and Heuzenroeder has shown throughout the season that he thrives in these scenarios.
Focus on the Championship
Beyond the individual Qualifying sessions, the broader context of the championship was not lost on Heuzenroeder. With his sights set firmly on securing second overall in the standings, he emphasised that his approach to Monza remains consistent with the professionalism he has shown all year.
“The whole championship has been leading to this point but it doesn’t mean you behave differently to the other rounds. You’re always trying to do the best you can to maximise the points because why would you not really?”
He concluded by acknowledging that this final weekend carries added weight, yet he remains calm and confident that his preparation will pay off.
“It’s definitely a factor coming into this weekend to maintain P2 [in the standings] but I think a strong qualifying has set us up well.”
His pragmatic approach reflects a driver fully focused on the bigger picture. By staying composed and avoiding unnecessary risks, Heuzenroeder has consistently demonstrated maturity and control, traits that have made him one of the standout performers of 2024.
