In Round 6 of the 2024 Formula 3 season in Spielberg, Austria, Charlie Wurz topped the practice session. Amid significant changes to the Red Bull Ring track to address past track limits issues, Wurz set the fastest time on soft tyres with a 1:21.182, nearly half a second ahead of Leonardo Fornaroli. Santiago Ramos followed closely in second, just 0.054s off Wurz’s pace.
It’s time for Round 6 of the 2024 Formula 3 season in Spielberg, Austria, starting with the sole practice session for the drivers.
This weekend, significant changes to the Red Bull Ring track aimed to address previous track limits issues. Last year, 1,200 infringements, multiple penalties, and an Aston Martin protest delayed the race result by five hours.
To prevent a repeat, officials added a 2.5 meter wide gravel strip behind the kerb at the exits of Turns 9 and 10. They also moved the white line in Turns 1, 3, 4, and 6. This reduced the distance to the gravel to less than two meters.
The practice session of the weekend began as the lights turned green.
Several drivers took to the track for Free Practice, aiming to get up to speed ahead of Qualifying later today.
Half of the grid ventured onto the track, while the other half stayed in the pit lane.
The first times on the Hard tyres appeared, with AIX Racing’s Joshua Dufek initially setting the fastest time at 1:22.962.
A big snap! 😳
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 28, 2024
Noel León runs wide of the exit of turn 9 and dips his rear left into the gravel#F3 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/ACzBHhUPRl
Laurens van Hoepen then took the lead with a 1:22.409, followed by his ART Grand Prix teammates Nikola Tsolov and Christian Mansell.
Championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli recorded his first time, placing himself in sixth.
Luke Browning went wide on his first real push lap and dropped to seventh as Van Amersfoort Racing’s Noel León clocked the fastest time with a 1:22.387.
Trident’s Sami Meguetounif then set the quickest time with a 1:22.325.
PREMA Racing’s Gabriele Minì, looking to recover after not scoring in Barcelona, went just 0.040s off the pace before eventually clocking the fastest time with a 1:22.066, closely followed by Campos Racing’s Oliver Goethe at 0.025s behind.
Hitech Pulse-Eight saw a one-two with Luke Browning leading Martinius Stenshorne.
Fornaroli then set the fastest time, completing a 1:21.663 to lead Browning by over a tenth.
The championship leader goes quickest with a brilliant final sector! 💨#F3 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/tBSMVHZt42
— Formula 3 (@Formula3) June 28, 2024
Charlie Wurz first ventured out on the Soft tyre.
As more drivers returned to the track, a mix of Hards and Softs were used.
Wurz set the fastest time on his soft tyres with a 1:21.470, featuring purple sectors.
He improved further to a 1:21.182, nearly half a second clear of Fornaroli in second.
Fornaroli’s Trident teammate Santiago Ramos also switched to softs, going second, just 0.054s off Wurz.
When the chequered flag fell, VAR’s Tommy Smith moved up to fifth, and Meguetounif settled into ninth.
Featured Image: FIA Formula 3 | X