Jun 4

Jun 4 Triumphant Pepe Marti wins Formula 3 feature race at home in Barcelona

Pepe Martí led from pole to take victory at home in the FIA Formula 3 feature race in Barcelona.

Pepe Marti celebrates on the podium in Barcelona. *(David Ramos /Getty Images)*

The Spaniard held off the chasing pack through a safety car restart and pulled a gap in the final stages of the race to take his third victory of the F3 season and move to second overall in the championship standings.

“Thank you all so much for the support,” began Martí in Spanish to the local crowd.

“So happy. The race was not easy. I had Taylor [Barnard] at the beginning pushing and then from one lap to the next I had Franco behind me. I just tried to keep a similar pace to him and try to not damage my tyres too much so at the end it was a little bit better than him, and it turned out to be just the right thing.”

“So yeah, just so happy. So happy to win at home. I can’t comprehend the feeling. I honestly cannot express it. I’m just so happy.”

Pepe Marti celebrates with Fernando Alonso in Barcelona. *(David Ramos / Getty Images)*

Martí was congratulated by Fernando Alonso as he got out of his Campos.

“First of all, he’s my idol. He’s the person I look up to. I think he’s everyone here’s idol.”

“He’s just a role model to follow and all his experience, all his knowledge, everything he brings and helps is just so valuable to me.”

“To be fair, I may have looked at most of his starts from here last night.”

The local hero led away from pole ahead of Taylor Barnard and Franco Colapinto, with the race neutralised on the opening lap after a collision between Luke Browning and Leonardo Fornaroli.

Racing resumed on lap seven with Barnard immediately challenging for the lead by held off by Martí. The push appeared to take the life out of the Jenzer driver’s tyres, as he began to fall through the field.

Further back, Hunter Yeany attempted a move past Rafael Villagómez around the outside of turn one, with the American running wide and returning to the track in the path of the Mexican.

Colapinto was the first past Barnard on lap 11, with Dino Beganovic into third followed by Gabriel Bortoleto and Paul Aron.

Colapinto and Beganovic set about chasing down Martí but the Campos driver had life saved in his tyres, taking victory by 4.4 seconds.

Franco Colapinto, Pepe Marti, and Dino Beganovic on the podium in Barcelona. *(Formula Motorsport Limited)*

Christian Mansell finished tenth in a slight redemption after being taken out in a collision with Gabriele Minì in Saturday’s sprint race.

Mansell came out on top of a battle with teammate and fellow Aussie Hugh Barter after holding off familiar rival Minì.

With Oliver Goethe taking a ten-second penalty for clipping Grégoire Saucy and leaving the Swiss driver with a puncture, Mansell was promoted to tenth at the line for his third points finish of the season.

Barter finished 13th and Aussie Tommy Smith was 23rd, after both copped five-second penalties for track limits.

Gabriel Bortoleto holds the lead of the championship on 92 points after finishing fourth, with Martí up to second on 68 points after victory in Barcelona.

The FIA Formula 3 Championship takes a break, returning 30 June in Spielberg for the Austrian Grand Prix.

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2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship - Round 5 Spain Feature Race