The 2026 Eurocup-3 season resumes this weekend as the championship visits the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola for the first time.
Imola hosts Round 3 following a month-long break after Portimão, where James Egozi strengthened his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. The Palou Motorsport driver has won three of the opening five races and now arrives in Italy as the clear early benchmark.
However, Keanu Al Azhari, René Lammers, Ean Eyckmans and Heitor Dall’Agnol remain firmly involved in the developing title contest. With three races scheduled across the weekend, the championship order could shift considerably before Eurocup-3 leaves Italy.
Egozi carries dominant 2026 Eurocup-3 form into Imola
Egozi has established himself as the driver to beat during the opening phase of the campaign.
The American combined outright pace with consistent execution during the first two rounds before delivering a perfect weekend at Portimão. He claimed both main-race victories in Portugal and extended his championship advantage after controlling the event from the front.
Those results took Egozi to three victories from five races and strengthened Palou Motorsport’s position in both championships.
Nevertheless, Imola will present a different challenge. Its narrow layout, aggressive kerbs and limited run-off leave little margin for mistakes, while the short qualifying sessions will place additional pressure on every push lap.
Egozi must therefore reproduce the precision that supported his Portimão success. A poor grid position could leave him trapped in traffic, particularly during the main races when overtaking may prove more difficult than at the Algarve circuit.
Al Azhari leads the chasing group
Al Azhari enters Round 3 as Egozi’s closest championship challenger.
The MP Motorsport driver has remained within reach through consistent scoring and now has another opportunity to reduce the gap. Imola’s combination of heavy braking zones and fast directional changes should reward drivers who can quickly build confidence in the car.
However, Al Azhari does not face Egozi alone. Lammers, Eyckmans and Dall’Agnol complete a closely matched leading group, with each driver showing enough pace during the opening rounds to influence the title fight.
Lammers has continued to build on his junior single-seater experience, while Eyckmans has combined speed with a steady points return. Meanwhile, Dall’Agnol remains close enough to capitalise if the leading two encounter trouble.
The three-race format also creates several opportunities to gain or lose ground. Strong qualifying performances can support both main races, while the Sprint Race gives drivers another chance to recover points during the middle of the weekend.
Palou Motorsport holds early Teams’ Championship advantage
Egozi’s results have also placed Palou Motorsport at the top of the Teams’ Championship.
The team left Portimão with a stronger advantage after converting its pace into victories, but its rivals remain close enough to respond immediately at Imola.
MP Motorsport carries the strongest immediate challenge through Al Azhari and Lammers. The Dutch squad has regularly placed cars near the front and needs another balanced weekend from its full line-up to reduce Palou Motorsport’s lead.
Hitech GP and Griffin Core by Campos also remain firmly involved. Both teams have demonstrated competitive pace during the opening rounds, although they must now turn that speed into larger collective points totals.
With three races available, team depth could prove decisive. A squad that places several cars inside the top 10 may gain more ground than one that relies entirely on a single victory contender.
Eurocup-3 makes first visit to Imola in 2026
This weekend marks Eurocup-3’s first appearance at one of Europe’s most historic circuits.
The 4.909-kilometre Imola layout features 19 corners and runs anti-clockwise, placing different physical demands on the drivers compared with most venues on the calendar. Its elevation changes, high kerbs and narrow track surface require commitment, but they also punish small errors.
Drivers begin the lap with the Tamburello chicane, where they must attack the kerbs without unsettling the car. They then approach Villeneuve before braking heavily for Tosa, one of the clearest overtaking opportunities around the circuit.
From there, the lap climbs towards Piratella before dropping through Acque Minerali. That sequence tests balance and confidence as drivers combine elevation changes with fast direction changes.
Variante Alta introduces another aggressive kerb challenge before the final descent towards Rivazza. A strong exit from the double-apex left-hander then becomes essential because it determines speed onto the main straight.
Qualifying carries additional importance
Imola’s narrow profile will place significant value on Friday’s two qualifying sessions.
Although Tosa offers a clear passing opportunity, drivers may struggle to follow closely through the faster sections. Turbulent air can reduce front-end grip, while the circuit’s limited width restricts alternative lines.
As a result, competitors who start near the front can control their races more effectively. Those further back may need to rely on starts, strategic positioning or mistakes from rivals to make progress.
The short 20-minute qualifying sessions will also create pressure. Drivers must bring their tyres into the correct operating window, find clear track among a large field and complete a clean lap before time expires.
Track limits and yellow flags could add further complications. One interruption during the closing minutes may prevent several drivers from completing their final attempts.
Imola demands precision throughout the 2026 Eurocup-3 weekend
The circuit will challenge more than outright speed.
Drivers must manage the kerbs carefully, particularly at Tamburello and Variante Alta. An aggressive approach can produce lap time, but it can also destabilise the car or cause damage.
The elevation changes will further test braking confidence and traction. Acque Minerali requires drivers to control the car while the track rises and falls, while Rivazza rewards patience before the long run back towards the start-finish line.
Race execution will matter just as much. A small mistake can quickly lead to contact with the gravel or barriers, and any Safety Car period could transform the order.
Teams must therefore find a set-up that combines qualifying performance with stability across longer runs.
Eurocup-3 returns to the ELMS support package
Imola also hosts Eurocup-3’s second appearance alongside the European Le Mans Series this season.
The championship first joined the ELMS programme at Circuit Paul Ricard during the opening round. It now returns to the endurance racing support package at another major European venue.
The shared event gives Eurocup-3 drivers greater international exposure while placing them in front of a large endurance racing audience. It also strengthens the championship’s position on high-profile motorsport weekends.
Sunday’s final race will take place before the European Le Mans Series’ four-hour contest, giving the Eurocup-3 field another opportunity to race in front of the Imola crowd.
Friday qualifying follows two test sessions
The weekend begins with two Official Previous Test sessions on Friday.
The opening session runs from 09:00 to 09:40, before the field returns between 12:35 and 13:15. Those sessions will give teams their first opportunity to learn how the Eurocup-3 car responds to Imola’s kerbs, elevation changes and braking zones.
Qualifying then follows later in the afternoon.
Qualifying Session 1 begins at 15:40, while Qualifying Session 2 starts at 16:10. Each session lasts 20 minutes and will establish the starting orders for the weekend’s main races.
The compressed schedule gives teams limited time to analyse testing before the first competitive laps begin.
Three races shape the Italian round
Race 1 begins at 10:00 on Saturday, giving drivers their first opportunity to convert qualifying pace into championship points.
The Sprint Race follows at 16:50. Its different grid format should create another competitive contest and may give drivers who struggled during qualifying an opportunity to recover.
The weekend concludes with Race 2 at 08:45 on Sunday. The early start will bring cooler track conditions than the previous afternoon and may alter tyre preparation and car balance.
With all three races taking place within less than 24 hours, teams must respond quickly to any setbacks. Damage, penalties or poor results in one contest could influence the remainder of the weekend.
Imola could reshape developing title fight
Egozi enters Round 3 with the strongest form, but Imola introduces several factors that could challenge his early control.
Al Azhari remains his closest rival, while Lammers, Eyckmans and Dall’Agnol have stayed within the leading championship group. Meanwhile, MP Motorsport, Hitech GP and Griffin Core by Campos continue to pursue Palou Motorsport in the Teams’ standings.
The circuit’s narrow layout and demanding qualifying format may reward drivers who execute cleanly from the opening session. Three races then provide several opportunities for the championship picture to change.
Egozi will aim to continue the momentum from his Portimão sweep. However, Eurocup-3’s first Imola weekend gives his rivals a new opportunity to interrupt his dominant start and bring the title battle closer together.
