Dino Beganovic takes first ever Formula 3 victory at Australian Grand Prix
Dino Beganovic established himself as a contender in his second year of FIA Formula 3 with his maiden victory in the feature race at the Australian Grand Prix.
Dino Beganovic on the podium after his maiden FIA Formula 3 race win. (PREMA Racing/Supplied)
It was a reversal of fortunes for the Italian, who had qualified on pole in the season opener at Bahrain but was distraught after stalling on the start line.
On grand prix Sunday in Melbourne, the PREMA Racing driver stalked polesitter Leonardo Fornaroli through the opening stages of the race before taking the lead on lap 14 and managing the gap to the chequered flag.
“Winning in Melbourne, it feels great to bounce back like this after Bahrain,” said the Swedish driver.
“Very good points in the bag, so very happy with the race today which was about management and the fastest lap as well if I’m not wrong.”
“So, very good feeling heading into the little break.”
Dino Beganovic celebrates his maiden FIA Formula 3 victory in Melbourne. (PREMA Racing/Supplied)
Dino Beganovic celebrates in Melbourne. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Fornaroli held the lead of the pack away from pole, with teammates Gabriele Minì and Beganovic keeping him in sight as a tightly-contested race broke out behind them.
In the midfield, Tim Tramnitz had a puncture after a collision with Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak, whose race then ended after further contact with Sophia Floersch.
Australian Tommy Smith was squeezed between two cars at turn 11 and collided with Joseph Loake, with both drivers stranded in the gravel and bringing out an early safety car.
Fornaroli led away well at the restart and pulled a gap of more than a second over Minì, with the Alpine junior challenged by his Swedish teammate for second.
Australian Christian Mansell looked to be on a charge into the points in his ART Grand Prix car, but a battle with Charlie Wurz and Mansell’s close friend Sebastian Montoya saw him out of the points.
Beganovic, fresh off a new fastest lap, took second place from Minì and made his way to challenging for the lead.
As the rear of the field struggled with tyre wear, Fornaroli was managing the pace at the front, with Beganovic in his mirrors followed by championship leader Luke Browning, who had also dispatched Minì.
Beganovic made his move for the lead at turn 9, with Minì re-passing Browning for the final podium position in the final stages for his first podium of the year.
Leonardo Fornaroli, Dino Beganovic, and Gabriele Minì on the podium in Melbourne. (Formula Motorsport Limited/Supplied)
Lead Aussie Mansell recovered after his midfield battles to take the final championship point in tenth.
Browning was fourth and maintains the lead of the drivers’ standings, but the strong showing from Fornaroli brings the Italian level on points at the top of the table.
Minì is third just five points behind the lead duo, with Beganovic in fourth, his 25 points for the race victory propelling him upwards in the standings.
Mansell leaves his home grand prix in seventh, after adding his one point to a podium in the feature race at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The FIA Formula 3 field takes a break before in-season testing in Barcelona from 17-19 April before racing resumes at Imola from 17-19 May.
Watch every race of the FIA Formula 3 season on Kayo Sports.
