- Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy youngster battles up front at Imola
- Strong weekend highlighted by maiden F2 pole position
Dino Beganovic returned to form in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with his second podium of the season as the European leg of the campaign kicked off in positive style at Imola this weekend.
The Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy member proved a force to be reckoned with throughout his “home” event, storming to a maiden F2 pole position in front of the Italian tifosi.
Becoming the first Swedish driver to qualify on pole in the modern FIA Formula 2 era, it marked the latest chapter in Beganovic’s Imola love affair, the Italian circuit having previously netted him his first-ever car racing pole and victory back in 2020.
“Very happy to get the pole here in Imola,” says Dino Beganovic. “The pace has been strong here this weekend and I’ve been happy with the car. I said I would treat this like a second start to the championship and it’s certainly been a positive one.”
The pace-setting lap in qualifying meant Beganovic lined up tenth for Saturday’s sprint race, which features a partially reversed grid. The Hitech driver finished the sprint in 12th after a small mistake on the exit of Variante Alta cost him mid-race momentum.
The real opportunity, however, came in Sunday’s main event – the feature race – where Beganovic duly lined up at the head of the 22-car field. Maintaining his lead at the start, Beganovic ran up front until making his mandatory pit stop on lap six.
While the stop itself was well-executed by the Hitech mechanics, on-coming traffic in fast lane meant Beganovic had to be held for an additional two seconds in his pit box, circling back out in second once the leading group had all pitted.
As Beganovic then fought to reclaim the lead out on track, he was run out of room on the exit of Tosa, dropping down to third. He eventually came home in the same position, scoring his second podium of the F2 campaign having also finished third in Bahrain.
“Both happy and not happy about the race today,” Beganovic said. “The pace was really good, the pit stop was too, but then it was just one of those things with traffic keeping us in the box for a little too long. I lost the lead, tried to get it back, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. Still, P3 is a solid result today and a good points haul.
“I take a lot of positives from this weekend with improved pace and our best performance of the season so far.”
With Imola marking the first round in a triple-header of Formula 2 events, racing resumes in just a few days’ time on the legendary streets of Monaco.
RESULTS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
Rd. 4 – Imola (ITA)
Race 1 (Sprint Race)
1: J. Crawford (USA), DAMS Lucas Oil
2: A. Lindblad (GBR), Campos Racing
3: L. Browning (GBR), Hitech
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12: D. Beganovic (SWE), Hitech
Race 2 (Feature Race)
1: A. Dunne (IRE), Rodin Motorsport
2: L. Browning (GBR), Hitech
3: D. Beganovic (SWE), Hitech
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
FIA Formula 2 Championship
After 4/14 rounds
1: A. Dunne (IRE), Rodin Motorsport, 64 p.
2: L. Browning (GBR), Hitech, 58 p.
3: R. Verschoor (NED), MP Motorsport, 55 p.
4: L. Fornaroli (ITA), Invicta Racing, 52 p.
5: A. Lindblad (GBR), Campos Racing, 45 p.
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9: D. Beganovic (SWE), Hitech, 29 p.
