Strømsted takes sixth place and third place in the championship standings
The FIA Formula 3 Championship is back on the Imola circuit. Being at home has brought Trident Motorsport a lot of good, as Rafael Câmara dominated the qualifying session. The Brazilian confirmed his speed skills by taking his third pole of the season. Noah Strømsted set an excellent third fastest time, while Charlie Wurz found himself stuck in traffic on his last attempt, finishing twenty-eighth.
With the top twelve qualifying positions reversed on the starting grid for the Sprint Race, Strømsted and Câmara started from tenth and twelfth respectively in the shorter race of the weekend. Despite the race being interrupted by two safety cars, Strømsted managed to make his way up the standings. The 17-year-old Dane was extremely responsive in the final restart, finishing the Sprint Race in sixth place and also taking the fastest lap. The Mercedes junior driver moved up to third place in the championship standings thanks to the six points earned.
Rafael Câmara drove an orderly race, in which he preferred not to take too many risks. The 19-year-old Brazilian completed a solid race, avoiding dangerous duels. Eleventh under the checkered flag, Câmara retains the lead in the overall FIA Formula 3 Championship standings. The Brazilian will have the opportunity to put what he learned today to good use in view of tomorrow's Feature Race, which will see him start from pole position.
Forced to start from the twenty-eighth spot on the starting grid, Charlie Wurz drove a solid race. Despite the two neutralizations not working in his favor, the son of the former F.1 driver managed to recover several positions, finishing the Sprint Race twenty-third. With Saturday's race now over, the Trident Motorsport drivers will analyse the data collected today with the technical staff in the usual preparation work for the Feature Race, scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30.
Giacomo Ricci, Team Manager: "Today we witnessed a Sprint Race marked by the intervention, on two occasions, of the safety car, which affected the dynamics of the race. Thanks to sixth place, Noah Strømsted climbed to third place in the standings, while Rafael Câmara almost reached the points zone at the end of an orderly race. Charlie Wurz was disadvantaged by the result of the qualifying session, which forced him to a difficult recovery race. Now every resource will be dedicated to preparing for tomorrow's Feature Race".