May 27

May 27 Monaco brings second Formula 3 victory for Pepe Marti

Pepe Martí was untouchable from pole in the FIA Formula 3 sprint race on the streets of Monaco to take his second victory of the season.

Pepe Marti celebrates victory in Monaco. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

The Spaniard was faultless at the front, through a safety car restart, to take the chequered flag with a lead of more than eight seconds.

“It was a great race,” said Martí.

“Obviously, I had Leonardo pushing behind me right at the beginning so I was just trying to manage the gap, see where he was faster, where he was slower, trying to see what I could do to be quicker. When he started dropping off, I had my tyres a little bit better, so I just kept that pace and slowly built a gap.”

“Extremely happy to win in Monaco, my first-ever race here and it was a great experience driving around here, so really special.”

Leonardo Fornaroli, Pepe Marti, and Gregoire Saucy on the podium in Monaco. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

The Campos driver held off Leonardo Fornaroli from the line, breaking away from the pack as the Trident driver himself had to defend from Taylor Barnard and Grégoire Saucy.

Fornaroli held second through turn one and up the hill to Casino Square, but it was Saucy who made the move into the final podium position on the opening lap before the safety car neutralised the field after contact further back in the pack.

The order at the top was unchanged at the restart as feature race pole-sitter Gabriele Minì pressured Paul Aron for 11th, despite claiming after qualifying that the battle for tenth was barely worth the risk compared to the front-row start for the second race Sunday.

Martí took the top step of the podium ahead of Fornaroli and Saucy.

Pepe Marti leads Leonardo Fornaroli around the streets of Monaco. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

Despite attempts throughout the field, most were defeated by the tight confines of the Monaco circuit, although Tommy Smith fell from 18th to 21st after a series of daring moves went against him.

Fellow Aussie Christian Mansell was 20th, with Hugh Barter in 25th.

Gabriel Bortoleto holds the lead of the championship standings after finishing sixth, 17 points clear of Grégoire Saucy in second. The race victory brings Pepe Martí to third on 35 points, ahead of Minì and Fornaroli.

The FIA Formula 3 field returns for the feature race at 4.00pm Sunday (AEST).

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2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship - Round 4 Monaco Sprint Race