F3 | Qualifying | Imola GP | Câmara's qualifying dominance continues - Motorsport

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After Rafael Câmara topped Free Practice earlier today, the third F3 Qualifying session of the year got underway at the Imola GP as he claimed his third consecutive pole position of the year, full report and results below.

Drivers head out for first push laps

30 minutes ticked down as the green lights went out at the end of the pit lane. Headed out on track, drivers were seen fighting for track position—as they hoped to place themselves in a position to benefit from a tow from cars in front of them. Santiago Ramos was the first across the line for the first push lap of the session. A 1:33.439 from Ramos on his first lap slotted him to the top. However, it was not long before Rafael Câmara claimed his position at the top with a 1:32.909—two tenths ahead of Brando Badoer (1:33.142) and Tim Trammnitz (1:33.318) who completed their laps shortly after.

Cameras showed Laurens van Hoepen who momentarily take a trip into the gravel trap at Turn 18, which resulted in a lap time deletion. On his second push lap, Tramnitz looked to be fast and improving from his first lap. However, the MP driver backed off at the last corner and pitted for a fresh set of tyres.

Replays showed Nikola Tsolov bottoming out at the penultimate corner as he prepped for a flying lap, but quickly decided to pit as all cars headed into the pits for new tyres for their last runs of Qualifying.

Fifteen minutes left on the clock

With fifteen minutes left, the track was busy once again. However, Callum Voisin was one of two drivers who were yet to put a representative lap time on the board. Ramos looked to have started his next flying lap, but backed off once again for another preparation lap. Meanwhile, Martinius Stenshorne’s lap—with a purple last sector— momentarily slotted himself to the front row with a 1:32.928.

Red Flag for Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak in Turn 11

A late red flag in the session was for Inthraphuvasak, who found the gravel at Turn 11. Home-hero Badoer lucked out as the Italian made it across the line just in time to put himself on provisional pole with a 1:32.894—less than a tenth ahead of Câmara and Stenshorne. It did not take long for the session to resume. The majority of the grid rushed out of the pits, hoping to get going again. However, unlike the rest, all three Tridents—alongside Callum Voisin—stayed in the pits.

Last flying laps of the session

The track evolution continued to heavily improve all lap times. Ramos’ next lap catapulted him to the top with a 1:32.442. Next across the line, Tuukka Taponen’s storming lap slotted him into P2 with a 1:32.533. Improvements kept coming, Roman Bilinski went P3 with a 1:32.579 but was quickly replaced by his teammate, Louis Sharp, with a 1:32.565.

However, all eyes were on Câmara, who sat in P14 after waiting in the pits. A sensational lap from the Brazilian driver—which consisted of a purple second sector—allowed him to reclaim his position at the top with a 1:32.206. Meanwhile, the replay showed Van Hoepen, who spun on his lap whilst Noah Strømsted was on his flyer. Luckily enough, Strømsted improved with a 1:32.442 which had put him into P3.

Securing his third consecutive pole position of the year, Câmara‘s pace on track was clear of the field once again. As Qualifying at the Imola GP concluded, the stewards noted both Mari Boya and Câmara for impeding. However, the outcome of that still awaits.

With the Top 12 reversed for the Sprint Race, Bruno Del Pino and Tim Tramnitz will start on the front row tomorrow.