After a long pause, the Formula 3 returns with the wheels to the asphalt for the first time this weekend during the Free Practice of the Imola GP. Red flags and penalties assigned before the start of the session: this is what happened on this day back to the office.
Heavy penalty imposed on two drivers
The weekend has yet to begin, but i twists they seem to have already reached the paddock. In fact, communication has arrived that Martinus Stenshorne e Nikola Tsolov will have to give up one match following a penalty imposed by the FIA. By regulation, drivers must not compete with other categories on circuits where they will subsequently compete in an F3 race. The Norwegian took part in a GB3 race Silverstone, so he will miss the English stage, while the ART GP driver will have to give up the Spa-Francorchamps weekend.
I traffic lights turn green and the F3 drivers can enter the track for the Free Practice of the Imola GP. The first to mark the time is Arvid Lindblad with 1:33.784, while Tsolov ends up in the gravel when his teammate, Mansell, takes the ART GP car to second position.
Goethe the fastest in the F3 Free Practice of the Imola GP
All High variant, 23 minutes before the end of the session, Sebastian montoya cuts too much on the curb and impacts the barriers causing first red flag of the weekend. At the restart Charlie Wurz proves to be the fastest, but the track is getting rubber and times lowering.
Luke browning marks a fantastic time of 1:32.367, but the Campos Racing driver Oliver Goethe comes dangerously close to the Englishman's time, placing second. 5 minutes after the end of the session, Goethe flies and takes the lead of the group with 1:32.047. A Rodin's single-seater but it has an impact in the barriers, causing a second red flag.
The car is that of Piotr Wisnicki, who found himself in the Piratella wall after a passage too inside the curb. Because of the accident – similar to Montoya's – the session ends with a few minutesadvance. Appointment 15pm for qualifications, who will be able to conquer the pole position in Imola?
