– Swede leads the rookie charts twice in qualifying
– Mixed emotions following Race 2 clash while in P4
Dino Beganovic displayed some rapid pace on his Formula Regional European Championship debut this weekend at Imola, leading the rookie charts in qualifying and running in podium contention outright for much of Sunday’s F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix precursor.
In P7 and P6 respectively, Beganovic was the leading series newcomer in both qualifying sessions at the Italian track, which saw an impressive grid of 30 cars for the season-opener.
The opening race on Saturday did not get off to the best of starts for the Swedish Ferrari Driver Academy member, who was shoved off the track exiting Tamburello, dropping him to ninth.
With overtaking notoriously difficult at Imola, Beganovic was left with little opportunity to battle back, although he did make up one position following a safety car restart and finished eighth – and second among the rookies.
In the concluding race on Sunday, Beganovic got off to a brilliant start, shooting from seventh on the grid straight into fifth and then picking up fourth later around the opening lap.
Unfortunately, contact with Race 1 runner-up Alex Quinn later put Beganovic out of contention with a damaged front wing, necessitating a pit stop for repairs. He resumed in 26th and ultimately finished 20th after a series of late overtaking moves.
“It’s mixed emotions after this weekend, but overall I have to take away the positives,” says Dino Beganovic. “Right now I’m disappointed with the clash in Race 2, which was just one of those things, and without that we would have left here on top of the rookie standings.
“Still, I’m pleased with qualifying and the progress I made between the first race and the second. There is clearly potential. We still have some work to do to catch up the experienced guys at the front, but I’m confident we will get there.”
Round two of the Formula Regional European Championship takes place in Barcelona on May 7-9, with the field once again forming part of the Formula 1 support paddock at the Spanish Grand Prix.
RESULTS
Formula Regional European Championship
Rd. 1 – Imola (ITA)
RACE 1 (full results)
1: D. Vidales (ESP), Prema Powerteam
2: A. Quinn (GBR), Arden
3: H. David (FRA), R-Ace GP
4: P. Aron (EST), Prema Powerteam
5: G. Saucy (SUI), ART Grand Prix
—
8: D. Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
RACE 2 (full results)
1: G. Saucy (SUI), ART Grand Prix
2: P. Aron (EST), Prema Powerteam
3: Z. Maloney (BRB), R-Ace GP
4: H. David (FRA), R-Ace GP
5: W. Alatalo (FIN), Arden
—
19: D. Beganovic (SWE), Prema Powerteam
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Formula Regional European Championship
After 1/10 rounds
Overall (full standings)
1: G. Saucy (SUI), 35 p.
2: D. Vidales (ESP), 31 p.
3: P. Aron (EST), 30 p.
4: H. David (FRA), 27 p.
5: A. Quinn (GBR), 18 p.
—
11: Dino Beganovic (SWE), 4 p.
Rookies (full standings)
1: G. Minì (ITA), 8 p.
2: I. Hadjar (FRA), 6 p.
3: M. Boya (ESP), 5 p.
4: Dino Beganovic (SWE), 4 p.
5: G. Bortoleto (BRA), 2 p.
