Friday’s Qualifying session at the Hungaroring saw track limit violations, affecting the Championship leader especially. This saw him caught out, and allowed his teammate to secure pole position for Sunday’s Feature Race, with Fornaroli stuck with P2.
Today’s Sprint Race took part under the reverse grid format, meaning P10 qualifier, Pepe Marti set off from pole position. Lined up beside him was McLaren Junior, Alex Dunne. The top ten spots on the starting were rounded out by Arvid Lindblad, Victor Martins, Oliver Goethe, Joshua Durksen, Luke Browning, Jak Crawford, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Sunday’s Pole Sitter, Roman Stanek.
Lights out!
As the lights went out, it was Marti who led into turn 1. Dunne lost his P2 to Lindblad, who dove through turn 1, attempting to snatch the lead also. Joshua Durksen briefly stopped on the starting grid, resulting in him dropping from P6 to P12 off of the start. Mini attempted a move on Stanek, unable to get passed, making himself vulnerable to Durksen. The three came together when Mini clipped the near of Stanek. Stanek spun while Mini and Durksen continued forward. This resulted in a 10s penalty for Gabriele Mini.
As lap two began, Goethe attempted to take P7 from Fornaroli, although his P8 was then taking but his teammate Verschoor. In an attempt to recover from his incident, Stanek attempted to move up on Esterson, eventually making his way past.
Fornaroli made a lunge around Browning, taking P6 from him, Browning regaining his position moments later. At the conclusion on lap 3, Lindblad had created a 1.2s gap from Dunne behind him. Stanek made his move on Shields to claim P19.
A Campos Racing battle for the lead
As lap 6 began, the top three – Marti, Lindblad, and Dunne – broke away slightly from the rest of the pack, just over a second separated them from Martins in P4. Marti’s lead on Lindblad slowly closed up, Lindblad quickly on his rear, looking to snatch the lead. He made his move into turn 1 of lap 8, Marti fought back instantly, and regained his lead. The two Campos drivers fought through a few turns, brushing the edge of the dirt, before giving up the fight, with Marti leading once again.
Race Control noted both Bennett and Montoya for forcing another driver off of the track. This resulted in Bennett receiving a 5s penalty. Heading into turn 1 of lap 10, Lindblad sat right on the rear of Marti yet again. Not quite close enough to overtake, he watched and waited for his next opportunity.
Dunne looked to line up an overtake on Lindblad, seemingly not close enough to lunge.
14 laps completed, 14 laps to go
As lap 15 commenced, the top ten running order stood as follows: Marti, Lindblad, Dunne, Martins, Crawford, Browning, Fornaroli, Verschoor, Goethe, and finally Beganovic in 10th. By the mid-point of the Sprint Race, Montoya had climbed from P21 to P14. A yellow flag waved mid lap 16, after contact between Cordeel and Villagomez, and remaining debris, quickly returning to green flag running.
Maini took his chance and overtook Cordeel shortly after. The incident between Cordeel and Villagomez was noted by Race Control, resulting in no further investigation. Mini took his Prema Racing machinery to the pit lane in order to serve his penalty, while gaining advantage from fresh tyres.
Dunne continued to gain time on Lindblad, becoming increasingly closer to the rear of Lindblad. Dunne made a late dive into turn 1 on Lindblad, catching him off guard and snatching P2. Shortly after his overtake, Dunne had created a 1s gap on Lindblad. Martins looked to repeat the the lap before, attempting to make a turn 1 move on Lindblad.
A short battle between Lindblad and Martins saw Crawford able to make his move on Martins, snatching P4. Crawford rode the rear of Lindblad down the main straight, looking as though he would make it around Lindblad through turn 1. Unable to get through, Crawford fought Lindblad for the following corners to come, not winning P3 in the end.
A late race Safety Car
A Safety Car was released as Montoya parked up against the wall down the front straight. He quickly exited his car. The pit lane entry was announced to be closed, not allowing any drivers to pit for fresh tyres. The Safety Car retreated to the pit lane at the conclusion of lap 25—a mere three laps of racing remained.
Marti was in control of the restart, and got a great restart. Browning and Martins fought for P5, Browning coming out of top. Crawford attempted a move around Lindblad, unable to get by, but remaining right on his tail through the chicane. Race Control noted Shields for a potential Safety Car infringement. This resulted in a 5s penalty.
Lindblad and Crawford went side by side through turn 1, Lindblad narrowly remaining ahead. Fornaroli locked up into turn 1, getting away cleanly. Race Control finally noted a lap 20 incident between Lindblad and Martins, and will be investigated after the race.
As the final lap of the race began, Crawford finally made it around the outside of Lindblad through turn 1, securing P3. Dunne is noted by Race Control for a yellow flag infringement, which will also be noted after the race. Dunne and Marti battled side by side through the final corner, Dunne running into the dirt. Marti crossed the line first, taking the win, narrowly ahead of Dunne. Crawford followed behind to secure a hard fought P3.
Results
1 | J. Marti
2 | A. Dunne
3 | J. Crawford
4 | A. Lindblad
5 | L. Browning
6 | V. Martins
7 | L. Fornaroli
8 | R. Verschoor
9 | O. Goethe
10 | D. Beganovic
11 | K. Maini
12 | J. Durksen
13 | R. Stanek
14 | G. Mini
15 | R. Miyata
16 | A. Cordeel
17 | S. Meguetounif
18 | R. Villagomez
19 | M. Esterson
20 | J. Bennett
21 | C. Shields
22 | DNF S. Montoya
