Stefan Fürtbauer on the podium twice

Drexler-Automotive Formula Cup - Monza (ITA)

The Drexler Formula Cup had a very turbulent start to the season in Monza. The field of 34 formula racing cars was really busy. The overall win of the day on Saturday lunchtime went to Bernardo Pellegrini (HAT Powertrain) with the somewhat more powerful F3 Dallara, who relegated his compatriot Renato Papaleo (One Management) to second place by 1.154 seconds. Just behind the Formula 3 duo from Italy, Sandro Zeller (Jo Zeller Racing) settled for third place and at the same time won the classification in the Drexler Formula Cup. Like many other competitors, Zeller had not managed an optimum lap in the rainy qualifying session on Friday afternoon and only managed seventh on the grid. Danny Luderer (Vogtland Racing Team) and Formula 3 newcomer Stefan Fürtbauer (Franz Wöss Racing) did better in front of him. However, Fürtbauer had a moment of shock at the start on the way to the chicane and spun spectacularly. This threw him far back and after the chequered flag fell Fürtbauer was recorded in 22nd place due to his recovery. In the Drexler Formula Cup standings, however, it was still enough for the first podium finish in the still young season.

Danny Luderer was only able to complete four laps due to shifting problems. Thomas Aregger (Franz Wöss Racing) was not so lucky. Starting from the back of the field, he moved up to 15th place before a brake defect on the F3 Dallara forced him to retire on lap eight. In Formula 4, Benjamin Berta (Gender Racing) came out on top. He drove in the middle of the phalanx of Formula 3 cars. His rival Patrick Schober (Procar Motorsport) only managed one lap due to electronics problems. The second race on Sunday morning saw Sandro Zeller and Thomas Aregger in the worst possible starting position. While Aregger (33rd on the grid) made a great recovery, Sandro Zeller, who started from 28th on the grid, was hit in the rear by a competitor during a safety car phase at the beginning of the 13-lap chase and retired early. Francesco Simonazzi (BVM Racing) initially held his own against Bernardo Pellegrini at the front, but in the final sprint the Saturday winner took his second victory by a wafer-thin margin of 1.105 seconds. Thomas Aregger rolled up the field from behind with impressive overtaking manoeuvres and drove up to seventh place. Behind him was Stefan Fürtbauer, who once again delivered an impressive performance and kept the two other Drexler Cup drivers Vladimir Netusil (Effective Racing) and Danny Luderer behind him. As in the first round, Benjamin Berta caused a sensation in Formula 4, not only distancing Patrick Schober, but also leaving a number of Formula 3 and Formula Renault drivers behind him.

RS.02.05.2021
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