Race Report

Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana 2020
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: Barcelona (E), Length 4.655 km, 14^th – 16^th August 2020, Rounds 11 & 12
www.circuitcat.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2020:
Calan Williams (AUS), Federico Malvestiti (ITA) and Matteo Nannini (ITA)

Nannini with pole and podium in Barcelona

The FIA F3 Championship moved from Silverstone to Barcelona in order to compete in the F1 program of the Gran Premio de Espana 2020 on the demanding circuit of Barcelona. It was very obvious just how close the competition is within this highly competitive 30 car-strong field.

Race One Qualifying

Friday, 14/08/20, 14.05 – 14.35, Weather: Sunny, 31°C

Free practice started early on Friday morning. Our drivers positioned themselves very positively, Matteo was 16^th, Calan 18^th and Federico 19^th.
The qualifying began not much later, again in very hot temperatures. Now Matteo managed the best lap time, he achieved a very good 13^th place on the grid. Calan was 25^th and Federico 27^th. After the session, some drivers received penalties and Matteo moved up to 11^th on the grid.

FIA F3 Championship

Race One (40 Minutes)

Saturday, 15/08/20, 10.25, Weather: Sunny, 29°C

The race started on time and the huge field made it’s way through the first corners. Viscaal landed in the gravel trap, which meant that the safety car had to be deployed. Matteo had managed to make up a place at the start and was 10^th, Federico. 25^th and Calan was 27^th. At the restart, Matteo held his position and kept Fernadez well behind him. Calan and Federico also held their positions. A few laps later, Calan had worked his way up and overtook Federico. A little later, when restarting after a safety car phase due to an incident with Vesti, Matteo managed to keep 10^th place. Calan was now 25^th and Federico 26^th. In this race the deterioration of the tires was particularly noticeable. From the middle of the race everyone tried to take care of the tires. At the very end there should be movement in the field again. Fernandez, who wanted to attack Matteo, fell back. After a flawless drive, Matteo managed to bring home 10^th place and thus the first point in this championship. This also meant the pole position for the Sunday race. Calan finished in 25^th position, with Federico right behind him in 26^th.

The grid for the second race of the weekend was set by reversing the order of the first ten finishers in the first race, with the rest of the places set according to finishing order in the first race.

FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (40 Minutes)

Sunday, 16/08/20, 09.35, Weather: Sunny, 27°C

Matteo was on pole for the first time in this category and did not get off quite as well as he had wished. A little wheelspin was enough and the following drivers shot forward. Matteo managed to defend 2^nd place against Peroni, but Piastri had also shot forward and taken the lead. For long laps Matteo kept Peroni behind him and countered when the Australian overtook him. Then there was a safety car phase and at the restart Peroni managed to get past Matteo on the straight with the help of the DRS. Matteo managed to keep his 3^rd place and also to handle his tires in such a way that they lasted to the finish. Calan got off to a good start and managed to make up several positions on the first lap. Now he was 17^th. In the second half of the race he managed to overtake first Das, then Zendeli, and on the very last lap also Doohan. After an excellent race he reached the finish line in a good 14^th position. Federico got underway a little less well and was 26^th after the first lap. He managed to move up to 24^th place and now had Flörsch in his sights. He had already passed when he was surprised by a flat tire and could not avoid a trip into the gravel bed. The tire was probably damaged in an earlier contact. Unfortunately, that ended Federico's race. Until his car was recovered, the safety car had been deployed again. Matteo succeeded in restarting well also this time and after shining in a great race he would not let go 3^rd place in the final laps. He proudly climbed onto the podium in this category for the first time.

We are looking forward to the next race which will take place after a short break on the weekend of 30^th August in Spa-Francorchamps (B).

Championship standings after 12 out of 18 races:

1^st Logan Sargeant (USA), 131 points; 2^nd Oscar Piastri (AUS), 130 points; 3^rd Liam Lawson (AUS), 99 points; 4^th David Beckmann (D), 94.5 points; 5^th Theo Pourchaire (F), 80 points; 6^th Frederik Vesti (DK), 70.5 points; 16^th Matteo Nannini (I), 11 points

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2020 FIA F3 Championship – New Calendar

For more information:

• www.fiaformula3.com
• www.italiaracing.net