No time to rest: FIA F3 is back in Jerez for the post-season tests
- Cristina Mazzotti
- Sep 27, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 10, 2022
It already feels like long ago when FIA F3 championship ended in Monza, but guess what, only 2 weeks after that eventful race F3 was back in Jerez for its end of the season tests.
Back in Jerez as per every year for the post season tests, where teams, new drivers and remaining ones have the chance to see where they’re at.
These tests are very important as well to be able to secure a place in F3 or to try and get one by showing what you have to offer to the team.
During the tests we saw new faces in the category: Dino Beganovic, Nikola Tsolov, Taylor Barnard and Gabriele Minì, but also a few known ones like, Zak O’Sullivan, Pepe Martì and Franco Colapinto.
O’Sullivan who raced with Carlin in the 2022 season, and surely impressed us quite a few times, tested with the Italian team Prema:
“The tests went pretty well, as a team we ran through everything we intended to prior to the test. Of course it’s a new environment for me, so having 3 days was a good chance to settle into the team and learn any new procedures”
The three days test saw in between 36 drivers and each day someone new topped the standings; overall the results were pretty consistent from everyone.
Certainly one of the fastest drivers has been Gabriel Bortoleto, who topped off Day 2 with the overall fastest lap out of the 3 days of testing:
“It was very good and very different then what I am used to drive, but for a first time driving, the feeling was amazing. The team worked very hard and helped me to improve quite a lot in these days! Overall the tests were amazing, I managed to set the fastest lap time of the 3 days, and I improved quite a lot during this first event!” Gabriel told us.
The brilliant performance by the Brazilian might’ve been the reason why Trident’s team manager Giacomo Ricci wanted to sign the young driver right away.
Amongst other drivers coming from FRECA we saw the two championship contenders: Dino Beganovic with Prema and Gabriele Minì with Hitech. The Italian, who already knew the team from the previous experience in FRAC, didn’t fail to impress, as he topped the ranking in the first morning of the tests, crashing into the barriers soon after: that didn’t stop the Sicilian to show his great pace anyway.
Beganovic, who was testing with his current FRECA team, Prema, had a positive come out of the three days, as working with a team you already are familiar with makes everything easier:
“It’s been a great experience” says Dino “the car is so much fun to drive, and so different to what I’m used to in Formula Regional. There is a lot more grip, but also a lot more power so it’s a quicker car all-round. I’m really happy with the pace, both over a single lap but also during the race runs we’ve done.”
Some of the new drivers debuting in the category actually came from F4: Nikola Tsolov, who tested with ART, Nikita Bedrin and Taylor Barnard, at the wheel of Jenzer Motorsport's car.
This surely was a big jump for these youngsters who managed to hold up to the car’s weight and speed difference brilliantly.
This was what the Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov, currently leader of the Spanish Formula 4, had to say about his testing: “It was a great experience and a big jump from F4: its around 15 sec faster, so I had to get used to it quickly , even if I was struggling a bit. Long runs were looking really strong, around top 3, so we keep looking forward and working hard for what’s ahead.”
Taylor Barnard, who’s been talked about since his karting days for his talent, had quite a positive come out from this experience: “As a rookie jumping directly from F4 to F3 was a big step in every aspect. The feeling was amazing, the speed and downforce was incredible. I enjoyed every second!” Taylor told us. “The tests went well, the speed looked good but still always room for improvement. The feeling with the team was great, I couldn't ask for a better welcoming into F3.” said the British driver, while thanking both his F4 and F3 team for the opportunity.
But let’s bring the focus also to some of the drivers that decided to stay for the F3 tests even after their season: O’Sullivan, who we already discussed about, Franco Colapinto and Pepe Martí were incredibly fast as well.
Colapinto decided to switch teams for the tests, as he raced for the Dutch team VAR during this year, but completed his test days with the other Dutch team, MP Motorsport, 2022 FIA F2 champions with Felipe Drugovich. He tops day 3 with 1:29.617, very close to the event record of Bortoleto.
Martí was one of the few drivers who tested with the same team he raced for, might be because the team and driver are Spanish or the 2 years spent together that built a solid base for both to work on; in fact, Martì tops the afternoon of day 2:
“Very positive tests! I made a lot of steps forward and the team as well, I think we still need to improve a lot but we are definitely working in the right direction. " Pepe told us. "The car felt quite good, especially through the first two days where we made a lot of changes to the set up: some worked better and some didn't. We moved forwards although there is still a lot of room for improvement."
“It's no mystery that I feel good with Campos after working together for 2 years already. Although I know nothing yet for 2023.” Pepe revealed.
2023 season is still a mystery to us, but from what we’ve seen so far it looks like it’s not going to disappoint, as for the first time in F3 history they’ll race overseas, as well as a lot of new comers will enter the category.
Race Diary is impatient to see who’s going to jump in the car next season, but meanwhile, we wish the best to all the drivers that tested in Jerez and hope to see them all in next year’s grid.
Catch you soon!
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