Eurocup-3 | 2025 Round 1 | Red Bull Ring | Colnaghi and Gładysz share the spoils in Austria - Motorsport

Spread the love

The 2025 Eurocup-3 season opened with two intense races at Austria’s iconic Red Bull Ring. The championship welcomed an impressive 27-car grid and delivered a thrilling weekend of racing, marked by dominant performances, dramatic comebacks, and several penalties that shaped the final results.

Racing in the Styrian Hills

The Red Bull Ring, nestled in the Styrian hills, provided the stage for the first round of the Eurocup-3 Championship. Known for its blend of long straights and technical corners, the 4.318-kilometre circuit challenged drivers with elevation changes and heavy braking zones, particularly into Turns 1 and 3. Weather conditions remained stable throughout the weekend, but strict track limits enforcement became a recurring theme during qualifying and both races.

The weekend schedule featured three testing sessions on Friday, followed by official free practice and the first qualifying session on Saturday morning. Race 1 took place later that afternoon, while Sunday hosted the second qualifying session and Race 2.

Qualifying drama see Colnaghi and Caranta secure pole

Saturday’s Qualifying 1 produced an intense battle for the first BRM Chronographes Pole Position of the season. MP Motorsport’s Mattia Colnaghi secured pole with a lap time of 1:24.917, narrowly edging Kacper Sztuka by 0.017 seconds. Belgian driver Yani Stevenheydens impressed in third place, only 0.073 seconds behind the leader.

However, the session was not without controversy. Track limits violations led to the deletion of all lap times for five drivers, including Eurocup-3 Winter Series champion Maciej Gładysz and rookie Juan Cota. As a result, they were placed on the grid based on free practice times, forcing Gładysz to start 25th and Cota 26th. These penalties would set the stage for a dramatic charge through the field.

Sunday’s Qualifying 2 saw Jules Caranta claim his maiden pole position with a 1:24.913. Colnaghi secured second, while Gładysz rebounded strongly to take third after his Saturday setback.

Race 1: Colnaghi dominates from start to finish

Race 1 on Saturday afternoon showcased a commanding performance from Colnaghi, the reigning Spanish F4 Champion. After an aborted start caused by Caranta stalling on the grid, the race was shortened by two minutes. Caranta later received a 25-second penalty, converted from a drive-through, for causing the aborted start and failing to restart from the back as required.

Once the lights went out for the second attempt, Colnaghi launched cleanly from pole and immediately built a gap to Sztuka in second. The MP Motorsport driver maintained a relentless pace, setting the fastest lap of the race on his way to a lights-to-flag victory. Despite Sztuka’s efforts to close the gap in the final laps, he had to settle for second, just 0.620 seconds behind.

Ernesto Rivera delivered a consistent drive to secure third place, completing the podium. Behind them, Stevenheydens initially crossed the line in fourth but dropped to seventh after receiving a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

Further down the field, Gładysz staged an extraordinary recovery. The Polish driver gained nine positions on the opening lap and climbed 14 places in total to finish 11th on the road. However, a 10-second penalty for overtaking Lorenzo Castillo off-track at Turn 1 relegated him to 13th. Cota, making his series debut, advanced to 12th after penalties were applied.

From pole to P1. #MattiaColnaghi opens the season with a statement win. 🙌🏼

First round at the #RedBullRing and he’s already setting the pace for the season. 🏎️🔥#Eurocup3 pic.twitter.com/TUaeDmQV8d
— EuroCup-3 (@Eurocup_3) May 17, 2025

Eurocup-3 Red Bull Ring Race 1 Results

Mattia Colnaghi (Pole, Fastest Lap)
Kacper Sztuka
Ernesto Rivera
Garrett Berry
James Egozi
Valerio Rinicella
Yani Stevenheydens
Andrés Cárdenas
Enzo Tarnvanichkul
Oscar Wurz

Race 2: Gładysz Strikes Back

Sunday’s second race provided redemption for Gładysz and produced one of the weekend’s most compelling narratives. Caranta started from pole but stalled at the previous day’s start, adding extra pressure to his getaway. This time, he launched cleanly, but a fierce battle with Colnaghi into Turn 1 allowed Gładysz, starting third, to seize the opportunity.

The Polish driver executed a bold move at Turn 3, diving past both Caranta and Colnaghi to take the lead. From that moment, he controlled the race with precision, gradually extending his advantage. Colnaghi remained in close pursuit during the opening laps but was unable to mount a serious challenge as Gładysz consistently delivered strong lap times. The MP Motorsport driver ultimately settled for second, banking valuable points for the championship.

Caranta, despite losing the lead early, maintained composure to finish third and celebrate his first podium in Eurocup-3. Behind the top three, MP Motorsport’s Valerio Rinicella climbed to fourth, while Red Bull Junior Kacper Sztuka fought back on the final lap to snatch fifth from Rivera after an audacious move at Turn 3.

Several penalties again influenced the final classification. Enzo Tarnvanichkul, who had climbed to seventh on the road, received a 10-second penalty for an off-track overtake on Rivera, dropping him to 14th.

Wrapping up Round 1 at #RedBullRing @MaciejGladysz17 took control lights to flag in #Eurocup3 Race 2! 🏁🔥

A powerful way to end the weekend—who’s ready for the next one? pic.twitter.com/pNujeTNj95
— EuroCup-3 (@Eurocup_3) May 18, 2025

Eurocup-3 Red Bull Ring Race 1 Results

Maciej Gładysz
Mattia Colnaghi (Fastest Lap)
Jules Caranta
Valerio Rinicella
Kacper Sztuka
Ernesto Rivera
Jesse Carrasquedo Jr
Garrett Berry
Yani Stevenheydes
James Egozi

Winter Series rivalry renewed

The weekend reinforced a storyline that promises to define the season: the rivalry between Colnaghi and Gładysz. The pair dominated the Eurocup-3 Spanish Winter Championship earlier in the year, and their performances in Austria suggest a similar battle lies ahead in the main campaign. Colnaghi demonstrated raw pace and consistency, while Gładysz showcased resilience and racecraft under pressure. With both drivers representing leading teams and already trading blows, the championship narrative appears set for an enthralling duel.

Key takeaways and looking ahead

Round 1 at the Red Bull Ring delivered a clear message: Eurocup-3 continues to thrive as a proving ground for emerging talent. The level of competition across the grid, combined with strict enforcement of track limits, ensured that no margin for error existed. Penalties shaped results, underlining the importance of discipline as well as speed.

MP Motorsport left Austria as the benchmark team, but Campos Racing and Griffin Core by Campos also displayed strong potential. Further down the order, drivers such as Stevenheydens and Tarnvanichkul hinted at pace that could translate into podiums later in the season.

The championship now moves to its next venue with a highly competitive field and storylines already forming. Colnaghi holds the early advantage, but Gładysz and Sztuka remain within striking distance, setting the stage for an intense battle as the season unfolds.