Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine

PAUL ARON CELEBRATES HIS THIRD WIN OF THE SEASON AT ZANDVOORT

The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine fired up its engines at Zandvoort, where the fifth double round of the season took place. The historic Dutch circuit held the first race of the weekend, providing quite a show and filling the numerous spectators on the stands and in the paddock with excitement.

The crowd’s applause went to Paul Aron, who led the race from start to finish. After starting from pole position obtained this morning, the standard bearer of Prema Racing was able to hold the repeated attacks of Hadrien David back, who tried to threaten the Estonian driver until the last lap. The driver for R-ace GP finished second, but faced a 10-second penalty when some checks on his car revealed an incorrect use of the push to pass after the safety car, entered the track with less than five minutes to go to the end of the race, following Keith Donegan‘s (RPM) car going off-track.

“It was a light to flag victory, but it was not easy,” Aron said. “I was able to keep everything under control and to handle the race well. Zandvoort is a very technical track that puts a strain on the tires, we had to deal with it during the race. We had a good pace and used the push to pass well after the safety car. I am happy with the result.”

PAUL ARON SCORES A DOUBLE WIN AT ZANDVOORT IN THE FORMULA REGIONAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP BY ALPINE

Paul Aron celebrated his second consecutive victory, coming out of the Dutch circuit with two pole positions and two gold medals. The driver for Prema Racing team showed a blistering pace that allowed him to take his fourth win of the season in Race 2, where he also set the fastest lap. Behind the Estonian driver, Gabriele Minì (ART Grand Prix) finished the race in second place. After starting from the fifth slot of the grid, the Italian driver immediately gained two positions, moving up to third behind Dino Beganovic (Prema Racing), with whom he engaged in a thrilling duel for the place of honor. The Swedish man was passed by Minì, author of a great overtaking move in the final stages of the race, and ended the race on the third step of the podium.

“It was a fun race,” Aron said, “I made a good start and I managed to keep a good lead. After the red flag I managed to get a good start when the safety car left, and I managed to keep the lead lap after lap. We already knew from qualifying that we had a very good pace, thanks to a fast and perfect car.”

The Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine will be back on track in three weeks, at the Hungaroring circuit on the weekend of 8-10 July.

Formula 4 Italy

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS TURNS PREMA RED, RACE 1 TO ANTONELLI

The Third Round of the Italian F4 Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, had Prema Racing signature on the first race day. In the morning, the amazing work in qualifying gave the Italian team the most advanced positions, then in race 1 the performance was crowned on podium. A third victory for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, followed on the podium by Rafael Camara, the Championship leader who took P2 after briefly leading the race in the early stages. Third was James Wharton, author of a good battle for P1 at Les Combes with Antonelli at the start of the race, which helped Camara, making the two slip back. The duo was then able to regain positions on a track that certainly favours the show, leaving room for fast overtaking. An all Prema podium, with 3 Rookie drivers, two of which being from the Ferrari Driver Academy (Camara and Wharton) and one from Junior Mercedes (Antonelli).

Andrea Kimi Antonelli: “the start was difficulty, the tow here is really strong. After the long straight I lost a lot of positions after an aggressive move by teammate. That’s racing, it was fine. At the end the pace was really good, I managed to take back the lead and then win the race. I’m really happy for it, we’ll see what we can do tomorrow!”

A GREAT SHOW IN RACE 2 AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS: ANTONELLI WINS AGAIN, DUNNE AND BEDRIN ON THE PODIUM

Many battles on track, with four Prema Racing drivers at the start in the first two rows. The arrival order then sees Andrea Kimi Antonelli pass under the chequered flag first, followed by the Irishman of US Racing, Alexander Dunne and Nikita Bedrin, PHM Racing, third.

ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI, HAT TRICK AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS

In the last race of the Italian F4 Championship at Spa Francorchamps, Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed a perfect weekend, 3 victories and 2 pole positions. Second step of the podium in race 3 was for Conrad Laursen, the Dane of Prema Racing who found the pace and ended the race P2. Third was Rafael Camara after a thrilling comeback. The Brazilian started on pole position but was forced to climb the entire classification after stalling on the grid. Charlie Wurz, P4 in the race, not only completed Prema's second poker of the weekend, but also climbed onto the third step of the Rookie podium with teammates Antonelli and Camara.

Antonelli: “a great weekend, finally 3 out of 3. It’s amazing to win all 3 races, also because in Misano we missed in race 3. I’m really happy about it, I got really close in the Championship. We will see in Vallelunga, it’s not going to be easy, but I think we can have a great weekend.”

Standings after round 3: 1. Camara, 147pt; 2. Antonelli, 144pt; 3. Dunne, 108pt; 4. Wharton, 79pt; 5. Wurz, 72pt; 6. Amand, 67 pt; 7. Sztuka, 64pt; 8. Bedrin, 52pt; 9. Stenshorne, 48pt; 10. Laursen, 48 pt.

The next appointment will be back in Italy, at Autodromo Piero Taruffi in Vallelunga, in the ACI Racing Weekend on 3 July.