F3: Bedrin leads AIX’s first ever 1-2 finish

Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Formula Motorsport Limited

Starting from second on the grid, AIX’s Nikita Bedrin fended off a hard-charging Beganovic to take his maiden Formula 3 victory. It was the Russian’s third podium finish in F3 – his second at the Hungaroring.

As it unfolded

From pole, Dino Beganovic got away well, but slightly better was Bedrin, who dived down the inside to secure the lead out of Turn 2. 

The AIX driver held onto the lead until the first interruption came on Lap 2. After the Turn 6 and 7 chicane, Jenzer’s Matías Zagazeta collided with Mari Boya, resulting in a puncture for the Peruvian that left him stranded on the sidelines.

As racing resumed, the drivers behind the top two – Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, Callum Voisin, and Tim Tramnitz – joined the battle for the lead into a DRS train.

They were locked in this train until Lap 10, when Beganovic tried a move in Turn 2. However, he went too deep on the brakes, clipped the grass, and sent his car sideways. Though he kept the car together without spinning, he was forced to concede one spot to Inthraphuvasak behind.

Through all of this, Bedrin was able to pull away and secure his first ever FIA F3 victory. Inthraphuvasak followed behind – capping off a historic day for AIX Racing. Beganovic still held onto the podium in third. Tim Tramnitz fought off the aggressive Mansell and Voisin to take fourth. 

Provisional Classification:

1. Nikita Bedrin (AIX Racing)

2. Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak (AIX Racing)

3. Dino Beganovic (Prema Racing)

4. Tim Tramnitz (MP Motorsport)

5. Christian Mansell (ART Grand Prix)

6. Callum Voisin (Rodin Motorsport)

7. Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident)

8. Luke Browning (Hitech GP)

9. Laurens van Hoepen (ART Grand Prix)

10. Sami Meguetounif (Trident)

11. Oliver Goethe (Campos Racing)

12. Noel León (Van Amersfoort Racing)

13. Martinius Stenshorne (Hitech GP)

14. Gabriele Minì (Prema Racing)

15. Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing)

16. Max Esterson (Jenzer Motorsport)

17. Charlie Wurz (Jenzer Motorsport)

18. Mari Boya (Campos Racing)

19. Sebastian Montoya (Campos Racing)

20. Alex Dunne (MP Motorsport)

21. Cian Shields (Hitech GP)

22. Joshua Dufek (AIX Racing)

23. Sophia Floersch (Van Amersfoort Racing)

24. Piotr Wiśnicki (Rodin Motorsport)

25. Tommy Smith (Van Amersfoort Racing)

26. Joseph Loake (Rodin Motorsport) [FL]

27. Kacper Sztuka (MP Motorsport)

28. Santiago Ramos (Trident)

29. Nikola Tsolov (ART Grand Prix)

30. Matías Zagazeta (Jenzer Motorsport) [DNF]