- Back-to-back events await Formula 2 fraternity in Spa and Budapest
- Swede eager to return to podium contention
Dino Beganovic is eyeing a return to frontrunning form as the FIA Formula 2 Championship stages a final double-header of events before the annual summer break.
With a visit to Belgium’s legendary Spa-Francorchamps this weekend running back-to-back with Budapest’s Hungaroring round just a week later, there is action aplenty for Beganovic and his F2 rivals before the turn of the month.
The field will then enjoy a well-earned six-week summer break before racing resumes at Monza in early September.
For Beganovic, the up-coming two weekends thus mark an important opportunity to claw back the kind of early-season form that saw the DAMS Lucas Oil driver snatch pole position in Melbourne and a brace of podiums in Miami and Montreal.
“I’m excited to go racing again,” says Dino Beganovic. “It’s only been a week or so off since Silverstone, but it was a needed micro-break for us to reset after a few difficult races. We have discussed how to approach these final two weekends before the summer break, going back to how we operated earlier in the year and making sure we focus on the small things that can make a big difference.”
Heading into Round 8 of the campaign at Spa-Francorchamps, Beganovic travels to the Belgian Ardennes with a backpack full of positive history. The Swede is already a two-time winner at the 7.004 km track, taking victories in both Formula Regional and Formula 3, and finished seventh in the Formula 2 feature race last year.
“Spa is a track I really, really like, as do most drivers,” says Dino Beganovic. “It’s got such a nice flow, it’s fast and challenging, and it’s got good overtaking opportunities. It’s a place steeped in history and on top of that, you never know what the weather throws up. Anything really can happen at Spa. We have a good feeling heading there.”
Formula 2 action in Belgium begins on Friday with practice and qualifying. The sprint race is contested over 18 laps on Saturday, followed by the 25-lap feature race on Sunday morning.
TIME TABLE
FIA Formula 2 Championship
Rd. 8 – Spa-Francorchamps (BEL)
All times local (CEST)
Friday July 17
Free Practice: 11.05-11.50
Qualifying: 15.55-16.25
Saturday July 18
Sprint Race (18 laps): 14.15-15.05
Sunday July 19
Feature Race (25 laps): 10.00-11.00
LIVE TIMING / RESULTS
www.fiaformula2.com
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
After 7/14 rounds
1: N. Tsolov (BUL), Campos Racing, 141 p.
2: G. Minì (ITA), MP Motorsport, 124 p.
3: R. Câmara (BRA), Invicta Racing, 94 p.
4: A. Dunne (IRE), Rodin Motorsport, 92 p.
5: N. Léon (MEX), Campos Racing, 69 p.
—
7: D. Beganovic (SWE), DAMS Lucas Oil, 57 p.
