Apr 1

Apr 1 Franco Colapinto wins frantic Formula 3 sprint race at Australian Grand Prix

Franco Colapinto won an action-packed Formula 3 sprint race to open Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix.

Franco Colapinto celebrates his sprint race victory at the Australian Grand Prix. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

Colapinto started sixth on the grid and made a decisive move for the lead around Sebastian Montoya in turn nine.

The MP Motorsport driver took victory in the first ever FIA Formula 3 race around the Albert Park circuit ahead of Zak O'Sullivan for PREMA Racing and Sebastian Montoya for Hitech Pulse-Eight.

"The car was on fire. Me, I just had to take it to the flag," said Colapinto.

"It was quite tricky after yesterday in qualifying, but today we showed the pace of the car, so happy about that."

"Happy about how the car improved from Bahrain as well."

"We knew that this track was going to better suit our performance and it looks like it did, so we're looking forward to the next race."

"It's always really nice to take the first win for the team and to see them all happy after all the effort they all have done during the winter."

Franco Colapinto takes the chequered flag at Albert Park. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

It was Sebastian Montoya who began the race on reverse-grid pole position next to Oliver Goethe, leading well off the line as Goethe was caught up in the mid-pack into turn three.

Contact with Luke Browning left him with a puncture and he parked it in the gravel trap, bringing out the safety car.

Montoya led from Browning and Colapinto at the lap four restart, taking off well once again but under pressure from Browning by the end of the lap.

Browning attempted a move down the inside into turn nine on the following lap, aborting to the inside at the last second and going airborne after making contact with the curb.

Up to second, Colapinto attacked Montoya in the same corner on the next lap, taking the lead in a high-speed overtake through turn nine.

Ido Cohen was left stricken on the outside of turn nine after contact with Aussie Hugh Barter sent him into the wall, bringing out the safety car once again.

Colapinto managed the restart as Christian Mansell made his way back to 13th in the tight mid-field battle.

Franco Colapinto (second from left), Zak O’Sullivan, and Sebastian Montoya on the podium in Melbourne. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

Local Tommy Smith was pushing hard into the final corner when he clipped the outside wall, destroying the left rear of his #19 Van Amersfoort Racing car, and coming to a halt at turn one.

The safety car came out once again to neutralise the field, with Colapinto so far unchallenged at the front of the pack.

The track was clear with four laps remaining, with Colapinto leading ahead of Montoya and O'Sullivan at another restart.

Colapinto opened a massive gap to Montoya and O'Sullivan as the pair went wheel-to-wheel through the final section of the lap, with the PREMA driver gaining the position.

Fellow PREMA driver Paul Aron was past third teammate Dino Beganovic for fourth, with Gabriele Mini slipping through into sixth in the commotion.

Alejandro Garcia parked his #28 Jenzer Motorsport car into the wall to bring the race to a close behind the safety car.

Christian Mansell was the highest-placed Australian in 12th, with Hugh Barter in 22nd and Tommy Smith retiring with his significant damage.

The FIA Formula 3 field returns for the Australian feature race at 9.05am on Sunday (AEST).

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2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship Round 2 Australia - Sprint Race Result