Mercedes and Ferrari juniors win in Italy
FORMULA REGIONAL EUROPEAN MONZA (ITA) 23-24 APRIL ROUND 1/10
Formula 1 juniors and Prema Powerteam stablemates Dino Beganovic and Paul Aron took a win apiece as each began their second season in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in changeable Monza weather.
Swedish Ferrari protege Beganovic set the fastest time overall in qualifying for race one, while R-ace Gp-run Balearic Islander Lorenzo Fluxa topped the other group to join him on the front row.
Gabriele Mini was just pipped to the top of the group by Fluxa, but the Sicilian ART Grand Prix ace wasted no time in moving straight into second place at the start of the race, which was held in wet conditions. An early safety car – Eduardo Barrichello had been nerfed into a spin at the Rettifilo chicane amid the numerous incidents – presaged disaster for Mini. As they prepared to restart, he hit Beganovic at Parabolica, and was forced into the pits with damage to his front wing. Michael Belov (MP Motorsport) passed Fluxa into the Roggia chicane for second, but an incident further back resulted in another safety car.
This was followed by yet another caution, leaving time for one lap of racing. Belov’s squirm at the restart gave Beganovic breathing space, while Fluxa took third from team-mate Hadrien David, who somehow kept the place despite straightlining the Rettifilo to his advantage on the final lap.
Aron pitted for a new nose in that race, but the Estonian Mercedes F1 protege grabbed pole on Sunday morning from Beganovic after the duo towed each other around; Mini topped the other group.
Mini stayed ahead of Beganovic at the start, but the Prema driver looked to benefit from the new push-to-pass as he surged into second at the start of lap two. This time, on a dry track, there were just the two safety car periods. Aron mastered everything to defeat Beganovic and Mini. Belov was once again on the move, passing Mari Boya (ART) for fifth, but unable to prise fourth from the Van Amersfoort Racing car of Kas Haverkort.