By RaceScene Publisher on Friday, 20 May 2022
Category: The Checkered Flag

Martins tops F3 Practice from early title rival Leclerc

Victor Martins went quickest around the reprofiled Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Free Practice as the FIA Formula 3 Championship arrived at the circuit for the first time since in-season testing in April.

Most of the optimal running came later in the day; Zak O’Sullivan‘s early 1:35.420 placed him in the lower reaches of the midfield by the time the flag fell.

Reece Ushijima was the first driver to go into the 1:34s, with David Vidales setting a 1:33.932 despite increasing temperatures as the 45-minute session progressed.

Oliver Rasmussen, Zane Maloney and Roman Stanek moved their Tridents to the top later on, occupying the top three at times as Stanek held top spot with a 1:33.304.

Joint-Championship leader Leclerc pipped Martins as the pair did battle on the timing sheets, going just 0.076s faster on what will be a quicker circuit than in previous visits, due to the re-designed, more open Turn 10-11 section.

ART Grand Prix‘s Martins ended Free Practice on top, with Leclerc four tenths ahead of Stanek who took third.

Jak Crawford, Stanek’s fellow Imola race-winner Franco Colapinto and Maloney finished fourth through sixth, with Oliver Bearman and Kaylen Frederick just behind.

Alexander Smolyar and Vidales rounded out the top ten.

FIA Formula 3 Barcelona Free Practice Results:

Pos.No.NameNat.TeamTime/Gap
17Victor MartinsFRAART Grand Prix1:32.796
24Arthur LeclercMONPrema Racing+0.076s
32Roman StanekCZETrident+0.508s
45Jak CrawfordUSAPrema Racing+0.536s
529Franco ColapintoARGVan Amersfoort Racing+0.543s
63Zane MaloneyBARTrident+0.569s
76Oliver BearmanGBRPrema Racing+0.762s
817Kaylen FrederickUSAHitech GP+0.841s
911Alexander SmolyarFIAMP Motorsport+0.861s
1020David VidalesSPACampos Racing+0.880s
1110Caio ColletBRAMP Motorsport+0.891s
121Oliver RasmussenDENTrident+0.950s
1322Josep Maria MartiSPACampos Racing+1.028s
148Gregoire SaucySUIART Grand Prix+1.057s
1512Kush MainiINDMP Motorsport+1.080s
169Juan Manuel CorreaUSAART Grand Prix+1.102s
1723Ido CohenISRJenzer Motorsport+1.170s
1830Rafael VillagomezMEXVan Amersfoort Racing+1.604s
1918Isack HadjarFRAHitech GP+1.637s
2021Hunter YeanyUSACampos Racing+1.665s
2115Lirim ZendeliGERCharouz Racing System+1.717s
2231Reece UshijimaJPNVan Amersfoort Racing+2.073s
2324Federico MalvestitiITAJenzer Motorsport+2.102s
2428Enzo TrulliITACarlin+2.425s
2526Zak O’SullivanGBRCarlin+2.624s
2625William AlataloFINJenzer Motorsport+2.687s
2716Francesco PizziITACharouz Racing System+2.735s
2814Laszlo TothHUNCharouz Racing System+2.912s
2919Nazim AzmanMALHitech GP+3.165s
3027Brad BenavidesUSACarlin+3.169s
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