Dino Beganovic scored a maiden single-seater podium at the first round of trying as the Italian Formula 4 Championship kicked off this weekend at Misano.
The Swedish karting graduate, progressing into car racing this year with Prema Powerteam and the Ferrari Driver Academy, finished third in the concluding race of F4’s triple-header opener on the outskirts of Rimini.
“I’m thrilled to be on the podium already on my first weekend in single-seaters,” says Dino Beganovic. “It is nice to have that out of the way, sort of, and to see that we’re capable of running at the front of the field. I have learned so much this weekend – from starts to how the racing itself unfolds in F4, and I’m taking a very good feeling away from here.”
Beganovic launched his debut weekend with a strong drive to fifth in the first race of the meeting, fighting his way back up the field after dropping down to ninth on the opening lap. He again featured among the early frontrunners in the subsequent Race 2, but made contact with a rival driver and dropped out of contention with a broken front wing.
In Race 3, Beganovic formed part of a trio of breakaway drivers at the head of the pack, putting pressure on Race 1-winning team-mate Gabriele Minì for second but being unable to pass the Italian.
“That’s another thing I really learned this weekend, the effects of aerodynamics on the car and how difficult it is to follow someone closely,” Beganovic points out. “The three of us were very equal on pace and I couldn’t quite find a way past. Still, I’m very happy with this weekend overall.”
Round 2 of the Italian F4 Championship takes place at Imola on August 28-30.
RESULTS
Formula 4 Italian Championship
Round 1 – Misano (top five)
RACE 1 (download full results)
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1: Gabriele Minì (ITA), Prema Powerteam
2: Francesco Pizzi (ITA), Van Amersfoort Racing
3: Filip Ugran (ROU), Jenzer Motorsport
4: Leonardo Fornaroli (ITA), Iron Lynx
5: Dino Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
RACE 2 (download full results)
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1: Andrea Rosso (ITA), Cram Motorsport
2: Filip Ugran (ROU), Jenzer Motorsport
3: Francesco Pizzi (ITA), Van Amersfoort Racing
4: Gabriele Minì (ITA), Prema Powerteam
5: Sebastian Montoya (COL), Prema Powerteam
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19: Dino Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
RACE 3 (download full results)
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1: Francesco Pizzi (ITA), Van Amersfoort Racing
2: Gabriele Minì (ITA), Prema Powerteam
3: Dino Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
4: Filip Ugran (ROU), Jenzer Motorsport
5: Sebastian Montoya (COL), Prema Powerteam
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Formula 4 Italian Championship
After 3/21 races (top five)
1: Francesco Pizzi (ITA), 58 p.
2: Gabriele Minì (ITA), 55 p.
3: Filip Ugran (ROU), 45 p.
4: Andrea Rosso (ITA), 29 p.
5: Dino Beganovic (SWE), 25 p.
