– Newly-crowned champion sprints to third in Mugello finale
– Scores 12th podium of superb Formula Regional campaign
Dino Beganovic has wrapped up his title-winning Formula Regional European Championship campaign in fitting style with a podium finish in Sunday’s season-ending race at Mugello.
Beganovic sewed up the championship early in the opening race of the weekend on Saturday, becoming the first Swede to clinch the hotly-contested single-seater series that sits on the official FIA pathway to Formula 1.
The Ferrari Driver Academy racer then added further reason to celebrate with another strong performance on Sunday, snatching P3 from fourth on the grid with a bold around-the-outside move on the opening lap in the final race of the season.
Beganovic held on to his position throughout the remainder of the race, the Prema Powerteam youngster bowing out with yet another trophy to add to his collection.
“It’s been a good weekend to round out the season,” says Dino Beganovic. “After taking fourth and winning the title yesterday, it’s really emotional to end this whole adventure on the podium today, celebrating with the team below. It was a good race and I’m pleased to end on a high like this.”
It marks a fitting culmination to Beganovic’s gold-clad season, which has seen the 18-year-old win four races – including the series’ blue-riband Monaco Grand Prix support event – and claim a total 12 podiums from 20 races en route to the title (13 if counting a currently disputed P2 finish at Paul Ricard in June).
“It’s been a fantastic season, an absolutely standout year,” Dino Beganovic concludes. “It’s my first single-seater title, I won Monaco, and we got the teams’ championship as well. We just could not have asked for more. This is the ultimate reward for all the hard work we put in away from the headlines during the winter months. That’s really where we laid the foundations.”
While Beganovic was alone in the car while out on track, he is well aware that his success in 2022 is very much the result of a collective effort.
“I will never forget this season and once again, I could not have done this without the team, the people around me, and my sponsors. It would not be possible to sum up a season like this without extending my gratitude to all of them. Now is the time to celebrate, and then we’ll be back to work to prepare for the next exciting challenge.”
Beganovic’s plans for the 2023 motor racing season will be announced shortly.
RESULTS
Formula Regional European Championship
Rd. 10 – Mugello (ITA)
RACE 1 (full results)
1: P. Aron (EST), Prema Powerteam
2: V. Bernier (FRA), FA Racing
3: J. Dufek (SUI), Van Amersfoort Racing
4: D. Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
5: L. Fornaroli (ITA), Trident
RACE 2 (full results)
1: G. Minì (ITA), ART Grand Prix
2: G. Bortoleto (BRA), R-ACE GP
3: D. Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
4: H. David (FRA), R-ACE GP
5: L. Fluxa (ESP), R-ACE GP
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Formula Regional European Championship
After 10/10 rounds (full standings)
1: D. Beganovic (SWE), 282 p.*
2: G. Minì (ITA), 242 p.
3: P. Aron (EST), 241 p.
4: H. David (FRA), 224 p.
5: K. Haverkort (NED), 186 p.
* Paul Ricard Race 2 podium under appeal. Beganovic originally finished second in the race, but was subsequently disqualified for an alleged technical irregularity. Prema have appealed the decision. With official confirmation pending, the current championship standings shown here denote zero points for Paul Ricard Race 2.
