F3: Beganovic wins, Minì extends championship lead in Spa sprint race

Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Prema Racing

In a damp race, it was a Prema 1-2 with Dino Beganovic taking victory ahead of teammate Gabriele Minì. It was the Swede’s second win of the season – his first since the Australia feature race.

As it unfolded

Off the line, pole sitter Dino Beganovic struggled for traction, allowing teammate Gabriele Minì to snatch the lead away. 

Going up Radillon on the opening lap, the first crash of the race occurred, with Max Esterson losing control and hitting the inside wall. He retired from the race, and the safety car came out.

The race restarted on Lap 4, and Beganovic wasted no time in taking the lead back – pulling off the move in Les Combes. With the aid of DRS, though, Minì was able to stay with the leading Swede for many laps.

On Lap 10, Tim Tramnitz tried to attack Minì ahead unsuccessfully. However, it allowed Beganovic to briefly break DRS. 

But Beganovic was able to hold on to take his second victory of the season. Minì kept second to take crucial points for his championship fight. Noel León fought by Tramnitz at the end to take his second consecutive podium.

It is worth noting that all Prema drivers (Minì, Beganovic, and Lindblad) and Tim Tramnitz were to be investigated post-race for a pit infringement.

Provisional Results:

1. Dino Beganovic (Prema Racing)

2. Gabriele Minì (Prema Racing)

3. Noel León (Van Amersfoort Racing) [FL]

4. Tim Tramnitz (MP Motorsport)

5. Santiago Ramos (Trident)

6. Luke Browning (Hitech GP)

7. Sebastian Montoya (Campos Racing)

8. Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident)

9. Oliver Goethe (Campos Racing)

10. Callum Voisin (Rodin Motorsport)

11. Laurens van Hoepen (ART Grand Prix)

12. Joseph Loake (Rodin Motorsport)

13. Nikita Bedrin (AIX Racing)

14. Alex Dunne (MP Motorsport)

15. Martinius Stenshorne (Hitech GP)

16. Tuukka Taponen (ART Grand Prix)

17. Arvid Lindblad (Prema Racing)

18. Tommy Smith (Van Amersfoort Racing)

19. Christian Mansell (ART Grand Prix)

20. Matías Zagazeta (Jenzer Motorsport)

21. Mari Boya (Campos Racing)

22. Sophia Floersch (Van Amersfoort Racing)

23. Kacper Sztuka (MP Motorsport)

24. Piotr Wiśnicki (Rodin Motorsport)

25. Cian Shields (Hitech GP)

26. Charlie Wurz (Jenzer Motorsport)

27. Joshua Dufek (AIX Racing)

28. Sami Meguetounif (Trident)

29. Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak (AIX Racing)

30. Max Esterson (Jenzer Motorsport) [DNF]