Benjamin Berta and Attila Penzes win at home race

Drexler Formula Cup - Hungaroring (HUN)

Benjamin Berta and Attila Penzes are the two winners at the opening weekend of the Drexler Formula Cup in Hungary. Both Formula 3 drivers were convincing at their home race on the Formula 1 circuit just outside Budapest. For the first round on the 4.381 kilometre Hungaroring, Benjamin Berta (Solution Racing SE) kept the competition at bay in qualifying. In rainy and therefore very difficult conditions, Berta impressively distanced himself from the competition and put his Dallara F314 on pole position with a 1:57.867 min. When the field set off on Saturday afternoon, two laps were completed behind the safety car for safety reasons. After the start, the Hungarian steadily pulled away from his rival Paolo Brajnik (NV Racing) and won by 37.122 seconds from the Serb. Behind Brajnik, Attila Penzes (Franz Wöss Racing) finished third. Newcomer Andre Petropoulos (Team Hoffmann Racing) achieved a feat. The German had first set the third fastest time in qualifying with the Formula Renault and followed up this fantastic performance with fourth place overall after the 13-lap chase, which also gave him victory in the Formula Renault category. Adam Kovacs (HF Racing Team) and Dr Norbert Groer (Team Hoffmann Racing) completed the Formula Renault podium with the other places behind Andre Petropoulos. Daniel Tapinos (Franz Wöss Racing) was fifth overall.

On Sunday, Paolo Brajnik initially turned the tables in qualifying. Brajnik and Berta had already not given each other a single metre at the opening weekend of the Italian Formula 3 in Mugello. He distanced Benjamin Berta by 1.217 seconds and put his Dallara F-308 on pole position with a qualifying time of 1:38,848 min. To the surprise of the competition, the favourites did not set the tone in the second race. In motorsport, too, the saying applies that when two fight, the third is happy. After the start, there was a crash in the first bend. Berta got into a tangle with Brajnik and the Saturday winner retired. Brajnik then went to the pits for a car check and rushed after the field with a gap of two laps. At first Daniel Tapinos took the lead, but it didn't last long due to electrical problems. Attila Penzes took advantage of this situation to lead the field with his Dallara F-316. Penzes did not make a mistake until the chequered flag fell and took the day's win. He relegated Janos Magyar (Magyar Racing Team) to second place by 2.389 seconds, followed by Canadian David Richert, who was competing for the first time for the Franz Wöss Racing team. As in race 1, Andre Petropoulos dominated the Formula Renault ahead of defending champion Dr Norbert Groer and Adam Kovacs. With this strong performance Petropoulos managed to drive into the Formula 3 phalanx. In Formula 4, Tommaso Lovati (Lema Racing) won ahead of Nikolas Szabo (Ideal Line&Performance/Gender Racing).

RS.10.04.2022
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