Preview – F3 Round 10 – Monza
Nine FIA Formula 3 Championship rounds down, one thrilling finale to come this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.
The series has traversed nine different venues in nine countries since the season began in Bahrain on March 2nd, and it all ends here, at ‘La Pista Magica’ in Monza.
It has been a banner year for Luke Browning, who staked an early claim on the championship lead with victory in the first Feature Race of the year at Sakhir from the front row of the grid. Momentum harnessed, he took fourth in the Sprint and two fastest laps in Australia.
As the championship headed to Europe, Luke collected fourth in the Imola Feature, and a podium on the streets of Monaco in the Feature, together with eighth in the Sprint there. After fifth place in the Barcelona Feature, his second victory came in Austria. Eighth place and increasingly decisive points at his home race at Silverstone were followed by another eighth place in the Budapest Sprint. Sixth in the Spa Sprint was a positive end to the summer campaign ahead of the long break from the intensity of the season.
Luke’s scorecard to date – two victories, three podiums, two pole positions, 10 points finishes, two fastest laps eligible for points. With such a competitive field in such a compelling season, Luke has been ‘there’ throughout and is now heading into the closing round just six points adrift of the leader. There’s still everything to play for, and Luke and the team will give it all they’ve got.
Speaking to Formula3.com, Luke said he was feeling “confident” going to Monza. “We were very strong last year in the race, came from 27th on the grid to P5 in the Sprint Race before I think some penalties happened, but our pace has been super strong, so it will be interesting.
“I think Qualifying now with the two groups makes it a little bit more consistent. I am only six points behind, there has been bigger swings than that each round this year, so we are well positioned for it.
“I think looking back I have been in this situation three times now, I have come out on top twice with British F4, GB3, so I am confident that I can come out on top again.”
Martinius Stenshorne collected the win in the Melbourne Sprint and has since enjoyed fourth and a second-place podium finish in the Barcelona and Spielberg Sprints.
Cian Shields has been gathering momentum in the second half of the season and the Scottish driver and his Norwegian teammate will be looking to end their inaugural season on a high note.
The legendary Autodromo Nazionale Monza was the world’s third purpose-built racetrack. It featured a daunting series of banked curves, and while they are no longer in use (but well worth a visit), much of the ‘outfield’ section is still in use today. It’s a high-speed track that sees drivers on full throttle for 80% of the lap, hitting their Vmax on the 1.1km start-finish straight. From there, they roar into the historic park section, where a series of big stops into the tight chicanes give the brakes a good workout.
It promises to be a grandstand fight to the finish of a spectacular season that has produced 10 different race winners. Fans will be perched on the edge of their seats as follows:
Friday 30 August
09:35 Free Practice
15:00 Qualifying session – Group A
15.21 Qualifying session – Group B
Saturday 31 August
09:30 Sprint Race (18 Laps)
Sunday 1 September
08:35 Feature Race (22 Laps)
Grid set by reversing Top 12 of Qualifying Results
All times local
