Race Report

Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Oesterreich 2023
FIA F3 CHAMPIONSHIP

Circuit: RedBull Ring (A), Length 4,326 km, 30^th June – 2^nd July 2023, Rounds 9 + 10
www.projekt-spielberg.com

JENZER MOTORSPORT 2023:
Nikita Bedrin (ITA), Taylor Barnard (GB), Alejandro Garcia (MEX)

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Track limit penalties at the RedBull Ring

The 2023 FIA F3 circus met up for the fifth event of the season as they ran as part of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Austria on the demanding circuit of the RedBull Ring. Although weather conditions were challenging during the event it was again very clear just how close the competition is within this highly competitive field.

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Qualifying

Friday, 30/06/23, 15.00 – 15.30, Weather: Cloudy, 28°C

Action started on Friday morning with the practice session. As soon as the lights went out, our drivers wasted no time and went out to get a first feeling of the track in the powerful F3 machines. When the field made its way out with a fresh set of tyres, lap times started improving. Taylor took a brilliant 2nd place, while Nikita was in 14^th position and Alejandro in 24^th. Not much later, in the middle of the afternoon, the qualifying got underway in hot conditions. With two sets of tyres, our drivers completed the first run with Taylor in 10^th position, followed by Nikita in 15^th place and Alejandro in 23^rd. Traffic during the session was very challenging, but Nikita managed a great lap which placed him in 5^th place! Unfortunately, his lap time was deleted due to track limits and Nikita dropped down to 22^nd position. Several lap times were deleted for the same reason throughout the field. In the end, Taylor was in 18^th place, while Alejandro was listed in 27^th position.

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© Dutch Photo Agency

FIA F3 Championship

Race One (Sprint-Race, 40 Minutes)

Saturday, 01/07/23, 10.00, Weather: Rain, 16°C

The rain was pouring down on Saturday morning when the cars made their way to the grid for the start of the Sprint Race. After two formation laps behind the Safety Car, the race director decided for a standing start. From 18^th place on the grid, unfortunately Taylor stalled and was pushed back in the pitlane by the Marshalls. He was then able to join the race from there, but was two laps down. Nevertheless he finished the race and reached the checkered lap in 27^th position. Alejandro was not very fortunate either as he was involved in a contact in the opening lap and had to pit and retire his car due to the damages. Nikita got off well at the start and was up to 17^th place soon. Conditions were very wet and there was a lot of spray, which made it not easy for the drivers. An incident brought out the Safety Car on lap 11. When the race restarted, Nikita made a stellar start and managed to overtake several cars. With this he was up in 13^th place. The battles were fierce despite the difficult conditions and sometimes wheel to wheel, Nikita fought hard until the checkered flag. He crossed the line in 17^th position. Following a 10 second time penalty for a contact in the race, Nikita dropped down the order in the results list to 25^th place.

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FIA F3 Championship

Race Two (Feature Race, 45 Minutes)

Sunday, 02/07/23, 08.25, Weather: Cloudy, 18°C

Early on Sunday morning the 30 drivers met for the feature race. Unfortunately, Nikita and Alejandro had to start from the pitlane as a technical issue prevented them to make their way to the grid in time. When the lights went out, Taylor got away well from 18^th place and moved up to 16^th position by the end of the opening lap. Nikita and Alejandro were catching up with the field. A Safety Car briefly neutralized the race, but unfortunately an infringement during this period meant Alejandro received a 10 second stop and go penalty and rejoined at the back of the field. After the race resumed, Taylor soon moved up to 15^th place, then lap after lap steadily up until he was in 12^th place, with the points clearly in his reach. Nikita was able to overtake cars as well. He made no mistakes and was progressing steadily and was soon up in 22^nd place. Nikita avoided all incidents and moved further up the order until he found himself in 16^th position, directly behind his teammate. Taylor had fallen back after some wide moment and was now running in 15^th place. Tyre degradation was a key factor in this race, as a lot of graining was affecting the drivers’ tyres. Behind him them Alejandro was trying to recover as many positions as possible. When the checkered flag waved, Taylor crossed the finish line in 15^th place followed closely by Nikita in 16^th position after a very well recovered race. Alejandro managed to take 24^th place.
After the race several time penalties were handed out and Floersch was disqualified because of a technical nonconformity. With that Taylor and Nikita moved up to positions 12 and 13 respectively and Alejandro was now 23^rd.

We are looking forward to the next race meeting which will be held in one weeks time, on the weekend of the 9^th July 2023 in Silverstone in Great Britain.

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Championship standings after 10 out of 18 races:

1^st Gabriel Bortoleto, (BRA), 111 points: 2^nd Dino Beganovic (S), 75 points; 3^rd Zak O’Sullivan (GB), 73 points; 4^th Josep Maria Marti (E), 73 points; 5^th Gabriele Mini (I)),65 points; 6^th Paul Aron (EST), 65 points; 14^th Taylor Barnard (GB), 16 points, 21^st Nikita Bedrin (I), 1 point

Nikita Bedrin (ITA)

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Taylor Barnard (GB)

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Alejandro Garcia (MEX)

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2023 FIA F3 Championship

¹⁾ Cancelled after heavy flooding in the region

For more information:

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