Gabriel Brotoleto showed strong pace to pip Oliver Bearman for FIA F2 feature race pole in Imola, Santiago Ramos led Trident 1-2-3 in F3.
F2:
Gabriel Bortoleto earned pole position in an action-packed Imola Qualifying, a session impacted by track limits violations. The Invicta Racing driver completed a lap of 1:27.056 to take top spot ahead of PREMA Racing’s Oliver Bearman and Campos Racing’s Isack Hadjar. With tyre preparation done, the early times started to filter through, and it was Bortoleto that led the way thanks to a lap of 1:28.044 edging out Hadjar by just 0.026s.
The Invicta Racing driver then lowered the time to beat on his next flying effort, completing a 1:27.739 on this occasion. Also improving was Zane Maloney, with the Rodin Motorsport driver moving up to second, albeit 0.271s off the leading time. After returning to the pitlane for a new set of the Pirelli Supersoft tyres, the drivers returned to the track with 12 minutes left and this time it was Bearman who rocketed to the top of the timesheets.
The PREMA driver’s 1:27.111 put him on top briefly pushing his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli down to second. Hadjar split the pair moments later as he went back up to P2. But then came Bortoleto on his final flying lap, and the Invicta rookie set a time of 1:27.056 to snatch pole position.
Bearman and Antonelli did have their final laps provisionally deleted for exceeding track limits, although the Stewards reinstated their times, along with several others, following the conclusion of the session. Joshua Duerksen put together a strong session to take P5 for AIX Racing ahead of Championship leader Maloney.
Roman Stanek finished P7 for Trident, ahead of Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Paul Aron in eighth. MP Motorsport’s Franco Colapinto qualified ninth ahead of the second Hitech car of Amaury Cordeel, meaning that the Belgian driver will start from reverse grid pole in tomorrow’s Sprint.
F3:
Santiago Ramos saved his best for last to lead teammates Leonardo Fornaroli and Sami Meguetounif in an exciting Imola Qualifying session. The Mexican’s 1:31.767 put him on pole in the final moments to top a Trident 1-2-3 result. With tyre preparation laps completed, PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì led the way on a 1:32.598 ahead of compatriot Fornaroli. ART Grand Prix rookie Laurens van Hoepen filtered through in third, 0.172s down on the top effort.
There was a Red Flag with 10 minutes gone after Rodin Motorsport’s Callum Voisin spun into the gravel at Turn 4. The session resumed and Oliver Goethe took over at the top. The Campos Racing driver carried on his form from Practice to pip Minì and to take provisional pole by 0.081s. Most drivers returned to the pits with just under half of the Qualifying session remaining, but Fornaroli stayed on track and put in his personal best to go 0.3s clear in P1 on a 1:32.159. MP Motorsport’s Alex Dunne followed suit and moved himself up to second, 0.141s behind with 12 minutes to go.
On fresh Pirelli Mediums once more, the track filled out again for the final attempts of the session. Dino Beganovic was the first to improve, just 0.003s quicker than Fornaroli’s earlier time. Teammate Arvid Lindblad then took over with a 1:32.109. Into the final two minutes and there were green and purple sectors throughout the field. Fornaroli restored himself onto provisional pole to go 0.2s quicker than Lindblad.
That was beaten by teammate Santiago Ramos by just 0.053s, as the Mexican rookie secured pole position in a Trident 1-2-3, with Meguetounif moving himself up to third on his final lap. Lindblad ended up as the highest-placed PREMA in fourth with Dunne fifth, Beganovic sixth ahead of Minì, Goethe, van Hoepen, Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Luke Browning, MP’s Tim Tramnitz and Noel León 12th for Van Amersfoort Racing, with the Mexican starting on reverse grid pole for the Sprint.
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[Note: The story is as per press release]